Adventures in Customer Service

[mapsedge]

The phone rings. DG's already on the phone doing a demo of one of our products (that becomes important later on), so I pick up.

Me. Hello, this is William.

Phone. Yes, this is {salesgirl} from {Unfortunate Auto Dealer in Florida}. May I speak to John?

She sounds young and perky, the kind of voice that can still buy its undergarments from the petite rack and gets carded at the local bars.

Me. There's no one here by that name.

Salesgirl. Is this 816-792-5555?

Me. Yes.

Salesgirl. I have an email inquiry from "John" at this phone number.

Realization is standing just behind me, tapping on my right shoulder and humming, "How Great Thou Art."

It occurs to me that DG is doing a demo for the Duval Honda sales manager of a new widget we placed on his website. The customer fills out a form and gets back a text message with the latest service specials. He's had enough time on his call to get to that stage. Have to say this for Miss Perky: she's on top of things. Mostly.

Me. I see. Last name "Public?"

Salesgirl. So is John there?

Me. John, middle initial "Q", Public?

Salesgirl. Yes. May I speak to him?

I'm hoping that Realization will go away, and, job done with me, he does. He switches to ZZTop's All Your Lovin', lights a cigarette and leaves, hopefully for an extended visit to Miss Perky.

Me. Ma'am, "John Q. Public" is a test name that we plug into all of our forms when we're testing features on your website. We are providing widgets for your website and we've been showing your boss how it all works.

Salesgirl. Oh. There is a pause while she processes this.  Okay, have a nice day.

*click*

Comments

[grizesme.livejournal.com]

Oh how FUNNY!!

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

Ye little weeping gods!

Funny and tragic at the same time. I'm still coping with the fact that not only are kids not taught enough math to know how to count back change but even worse, that they're not being taught how to write nor read cursive.

*facepalm*

[renniemom.livejournal.com]

Devil's advocate here--do you actually write in cursive? I don't know too many people that do (don't know too many people that write anything on a daily basis, actually). Men, particularly, print. I have a bastardized combination of script and print that I have created over time and that changes from day to day but is easy to read.

The change thing didn't really hit me until I was a the grocery store one day and the monitor actually displayed WHICH COINS to give back. I was embarrassed for the employee and the store owner, both.

[mljm.livejournal.com]

You're kidding, coins?? As in pictures of with the numeric amount next the picture?

What are they teaching kids these days? Katie can read cursive, but she can't write it yet, just her name. But to be honest as well, my handwriting wouldn't pass my 3rd grade teacher's (Mrs. McClanahan) standard of proper letters. Mine is a mix as well. It's mostly cursive though, but not proper though.

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

Yes, actually I do.

The point, though, is what happens if anybody wants to go back and read anything old? Might as well be hieroglypics....

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

Yes'm, I do actually write in cursive unless it's on a form. Personal notes, lyrics, prose, etc: cursive.

[glesyn.livejournal.com]

Oh good grief....