A funny thing to do (phone, school, story, people)

[HIF]

Frequently, when I call a customer service number, my question will be answered and when I thank them, the CSR will ask if there is anything else that he/she can help me with. This got me thinking how funny it would be if, every time the question is answered and they ask if there is anything else, another question would be posed. How long do you think this would go on?

And is there anything else that I can help you with today? Oh, yes, can you tell me.....

Has anyone done this?

[fuzzymystic]

Yes, I did that not too long ago. Had to call the cable company-the remote wouldn't work, couldn't change the channel, nothing would work. So, after being on hold for a while, she comes on and I tell her the problem. I tell her nothing will work, not the cable guide, I can't change the channels, nothing! She says ''okay, go up to the cable box''-ok I am there, she says ''see the power button'', YEP!!, ''ok push that and see what happens...
Soooo...after that she asks if there is anything else she can help me with. I say, yes. Our remote hasn't been working too well lately. She says, well usually we tell people to try putting new batteries in. I tell her we tried that, can you just bring one over? And I am sure she believed me!?! (but it was true!)

[square peg]

What I seem to do invariably with customer service people is to ask them where they're located. "I'm in the Indianapolis area, sir" "Wow, your Colts are sure rippin' it up this season." "Oh, yeah, they handled the Jags pretty well last week." It seems that most workers (male & female) with a phone attached to their heads are sports fans and somehow getting a person to relate on a common subject can really help things along on these types of calls. Short of that, mentioning the weather will always garner a comment.

When I place a call of this nature, I want action and have always figured that a little personality goes a long way toward getting results. Heck - phone people are just people when you get right down to it.

But then there's the types that you're talking about who are semi-clueless. I say go get em'.

[fuzzymystic]

Maybe I didn't say that right-the cable box was off!!?! All I had to do was turn it on. Ooopsy.

[square peg]

I'm sure you did. It's the egg nog doin' the talking here! ( Being clueless can be fun! )

[Northwoods Voyager]

OK. how about this: Remote wouldn't work. Called dish...Female voice asks how she can help, etc. I explained the situation, she says, is the TV on, I say, yes. She says: Can you change the channel?, I say, no, that is why I am calling, remote does not work. She says, change the batteries, I say I have already done that. She says she is sorry that I am having these troubles, I say thank you, but what should I do?

She says, turn the TV off. and wait, etc, I say I have tried that, my remote does not work, she says, I am sorry for your troubles. This continues longer than I normally would have allowed. I ask 'where are you located? She rep[lies:'In India'. Ah ha, I should have known. She again says she is sorry for my trouble. I request to speak to her supervisor. She puts me on hold. No one ever comes to the phone, so I hang up and dial again.

This time I get someone that sounds as if they just might be within a thousand miles or so from here. How refreshing!. Explain 'problem' one more time, go through almost the same, but then, Finally, person agrees to send a new remote. After 10 days with no new remote, I call, and was told that I had hung up on one of their telephone assisters and they weren't sure if I really wanted a replacement. After assuring the person that, yes, I was serious, and did indeed need, desire, have to have, etc. a replacement, person said that they would send one to me.

Morale of story: Make a sandwich, some Sweet tea, get a comfortable chair, something to write with, a pen, pencil, lipstick, crayon, (depends on how far you went in school) some paper, any kind will suffice, dial the correct number of whatever company you are prepared to hold a meaningless conversation with and sit back, relax and have a jolly good time.