Yes. After establishing a bit of a relationship with them, I tell them that communication is paramount to my making a living and I've found that it's important to give a phone number slowly. I make up some mumbo-jumbo about numbers being harder to transcribe than letters or words. Nobody seems to be offended at that.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything. "The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
