Materials? We don't need no stinkin' materials
by Flyebye023
Recently our phone center has been understaffed and I have been underworked. So I volunteered to answer phones a couple of times.
First day:
Me: Thank you for calling Our Store, how can I help you?
Customer (male): Yeah, I need to see if your store carries some materials?…..
Me:…..(thinking, "we have lots of materials, what specifically do you need")
Customer:…..
Me: um, what kind of materials?
Customer: It's a corner that goes on the outside.
Me:….(well that really clarifies things) I'm sorry, I need more details, please.
Customer: It's white and 10 feet.
Me:….(oh that really helps…NOT) I'm sorry, sir, I need you to be really specific so I can transfer you to the right department.
Customer: I have a UPC (gives me the UPC, it's missing numbers and is totally useless)
Me: I'm sorry, that UPC isn't working
Customer: But that's the UPC!
Me: It's not working. Can you give me some specifics so I can transfer your call to the correct department?
Customer: Oohhh, Roofing.
Me: Thank you, here you go.
Second day (actually a couple of weeks later)
Me: Thank you for calling Our Store, how may I help you?
Customer (male, considerably older that 1st customer): Yeah, I need to see if you have some materials?
Me:..(whaaa? here we go again)What kind of materials?
Customer:…. What?!
Me: What kind of merchandise are you looking for?
Customer: I don't know!
Me: (thinking, "well how'm I supposed to know then") What are you going to use it for?
Customer: What?
Me: How will you be using the materials?
Customer: I don't know, you tell me!
Me: Can you tell me what project you're working on?
Customer: What? Look, all I need is some paint. Can you get me to someone who knows about paint? (Actually said somewhat politely)
Me: (so that is what this is all about) Certainly. I'll transfer you right now.