It's Called a Map...Use It!

[flybye023]

I work in a shipping/receiving office so most of our customers are truck drivers. This past week we've had a lot of them get lost trying to find our place. We have very specific directions and no one else seems to have trouble finding us. Last night, though really took the cake.

This guy calls in saying he'll be bringing a load for us "probably by 2 o'clock". We tell him we only accept loads until 2:30. That's okay because he's a local (within 60 miles of us) but asks for directions and we give them. 2 o'clock comes around and he still isn't there. 2:30 comes and he calls saying he got tied up and won't be able to get there until much later. The manager talks to night crew who agrees to take the load because it' only 2-3 boxes of stuff. So, basically, this guy can now just show up whenever he wants because he whined and begged.

So, it's now 5:15, I'm into overtime and he calls again, lost.

SC: I'm on Hwy 5 (which is where he should be) but I don't see any of the other streets and stuff you gave me.

Me: Well, I'm sorry sir but I don't actually live around here. I don't know how to get you any closer. You should be heading east now on Hwy 5.

SC: I am

Me: Okay, just keep heading east and you should come to Main Street. This is a small town so it will be pretty obvious. Then you can turn left on Fruit Street or Tree Ave.

SC: Can you ask someone there?

Me: I'll try (go and find the TWO night crew guys, they don't live here either and have no idea). I'm sorry sir, they can't help us either.

SC: OK, I'll just try and find my way.

Hangs up. I feel kinda bad but I did help him the best I could. Another half hour goes by and I'm just finishing up my work when he calls again.

SC: I'm on some road, I think it's...yeah, it's Main Street?

Me: Okay, good, you're supposed to be on Main. Now just--

SC: I still don't see the street your talking about! I just see a pet supply store and a market. There's just two one-way streets

Me: (totally confused. There is a pet supply store west of us but no one-way streets that I know of.) Okaaay, it sounds like you over-shot us have you seen (give several landmarks)?

SC: No! just a sign for the hospital.

Me: Ok, great. If you haven't reached the hospital yet then you haven't reached us yet. You're on the right road, just keep going east and you'll see Fruit Street. It's another big cross street with a stoplight. Turn left at the light, cross the tracks and turn right on 5th (our street). We'll be on the right.

SC: I just can't believe no one there can give me directions! I guess I'll just have to follow the signs to the hospital and find my way from there!

Me: (I give up!) Okay, sir, go ahead and do that.

***
Really though! since when is it MY job to know where YOU are? Plus, there's not going to be anyone available for help when you show up 6 HOURS late for your appointment and you're left dealing with the TWO night crew guys. Everybody else went home! I should be home. You're lucky anyone even answered the phone! You're local! find a map, look up Mapquest or Google earth, and get the proper directions before you leave home.

[smileyeagle1021]

Thank you for pointing out my favorite sucky customer...
sc "i'm on (insert name of street), I just passed a 7-11, how do I get to your hotel"
me "do you know what cross streat your at and which direction you are going"
sc "no I don't know which direction i'm going, i just passed a 7-11 that's all I know"

hello, there are 7-11s every couple of blocks in some parts of the country... that aside, even if I knew exactly where you are, if i don't know which direction your going there's no way I can give directions.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I had a guy call once wanting to know which exit on the Parkway we were off of. I told him he could get off at XX4 or XX7 (3 miles apart) but I wasn't sure where XX4 actually puts you. XX7 puts you on the same highway we are on, north of the store, but I didn't know exactly where, either. XX4 puts you on a different road and you have to go through a light, make a left and go a mile or so. Seeing as how I rarely use the Parkway and never took it to the store, the best directions I could give were take XX7, get on Hwy X South, and drive until you see us.

So, I told him the 2 exits he could use, but that I wasn't sure exactly where he'd be, so XX7 would be best because at least I knew he'd be on the right road. He was coming from the south, so he would pass XX4, but at least I wouldn't get him totally lost. All he could say is "Well, that's 3 miles difference!"

All I had to say was (but I didn't. Well, I did cuz he was on the phone and couldn't see me. I apologized and ended up getting someone else to talk to him).

[repsac]

The ones I used to love (read hate) were the people that would call up and then want directions to your store. However rather than saying "I'm at so and so city, such and such street." they just say.


How do I get to where you are?


This usually caused a blank stare and then a soft "uh, depends on where you are..." After which a good ten minutes was spent with them repeating "Well it says you can give me directions. So you must know where I am."

[RecoveringKinkoid]

You know, I used to have to talk people through town to Kinko's on their cell phones all the time, but all of them had enough brains to be polite. Which was good, because if they were rude to me while I was tryiing to keep them from getting lost...not my job, mind, just me trying to help a stranger out...I can pretty much guarentee you that that person would have ended up in the ass end of outer bumfuck Mongolia on planet Zoomar somewhere.

In a swamp. With cannibals.