Your opinion on telephone ettiquette please...?

if you call someone's home and the person you are looking for is not there, do you leave a message even though the person who answered the phone didn't ask?

The person who answered the phone is in breach of etiquette if they do not offer, so don't worry about asking them to take a message. No one should answer the phone without pen in hand if there are others living at the home who are not in at the time. That's just the way it is.

We deal with this a lot at work. We deal with an unfortunate level of clientele and getting them to take a message that is TO THEIR BENEFIT is like pulling teeth. We had one who said, "I don't have to write it down, we got caller ID." Another time I heard on the speaker phone my coworker giving the number and then saying, "Okay, read it back." The guy had to confess he didn't write it down. It's simply mind-boggling.

just ask that person if its okay to leave a message. problem solved with no wondering involved.

no. if they're not interested in asking you, they're not interested in hearing the message, and they'll forget it in five minutes. best just to ask what time your intended will be home, and leave it at that.

Absolutely. Would it kill whoever is on the phone to take a name, # and brief message. That's just common courtesy

Ask if they can take a message and get it to them that day. Unfortunately, roommates and children aren't very good at messages, that's why I like cell phone messages and email. I always know what's needed.

If it's urgent, then yes, if not I call back later and hope for the person I'm trying to reach or a more polite response.

Yes.
If this is the number you are to use to reach a person then anyone answering should relay the message.
If there are problems on that end, the person should not be answering or the one you are calling should have have an alternate contact number where you can leave a message.

You have a couple of options, either of which are completely acceptable.
"May I leave a message please? Are you sure you don't mind?"
OR: "I'd like to try reaching him/her again. What time do you suggest I call back?"
And then, of course, thank them profusely for their time.

Yes, you should request to leave a message.

First off, if the person isn't there I don't wait i move on ...leaving a message is pointless, it wasn't important to begin with if they were not there.

It would not be proper to leave a message, but it is proper to ask to leave your name and number.

Yes

I think its fine to say, "Hi my name is ___ I am would like to speak with ___, is he/she available?... no? Well would you be willing to leave them a message for me? I can wait until you have a pen and a piece of paper ready. Ready? Okay. My name is ____ and my number is _____,I am calling in reference about ____. Please ask him/her to call me back when they are able to. Thank you for you time! Bye!

Only if the answerer is my callee's significant other, or someone I also know personally. No slight intended, but sometimes kids and hired help simply don't know what to do or can't be trusted.

Ask, "May I leave a message?"

say, could you tell so and so that I called, I'd appreciate it. thank you

I always ask if I can leave a message. If the person says No--then I thank them and hang up. I'll call back later.

If I need to leave a message I just ask people politely whether I could leave a message for the person and it's usually no problem. I don't see anything wrong with that as long as you ask politely.

Yes.