I'm now in the Phone Center of a large warehouse company, known for its' bright day-glo orange aprons. YOu know the one.
Calls I got today:
Customer: What time are you open until?
Me: Six, sir.
Customer: Six Am????
Me: No, Six PM sir.
Customer: Oh!
Me: Good morning, Happy Canada day, <place of employment>, Horsetuna speaking! We close at 6 tonight!
Customer: But what time do you OPEN?
Me: Good morning, Happy Canada day, <place of employment>, Horsetuna speaking! We are open until six!
Customer: Are you open today?
After asking questions and searching the computer, I had to tell this poor fellow we do not carry replacement pumps for his 50 dollar garden fountain:
Me: I'm sorry sir, but our associates in that department say we do not carry parts for the fountains.
Customer: So what am I supposed to do?
Me: Well, you could try contacting the manufacturer...
Customer: That's in CHINA! It would take them another year to get the part to me! You mean to tell me that <Day Glo Orange Apron> doesnt carry spare parts for its' fountains?
Me: I'm afraid not sir. You would have to go to the manufacturer
Customer: This is unbelievable! I'm not going to call CHINA for this pump! Can I talk to your manager please?
Me: One moment sir.
I briefed the manager, then put the guy though. And yes, he did say Please. He wasn't really screaming angry either, but obviously expaserated.
As well, I found an excellent time-saving measure. We're open usually until 10, and thus, after 6, I found out a way to easily cut half my calls' time in half, by changing my greeting from:
Good morning, Happy Canada day, <place of employment>, Horsetuna speaking!
To:
Good morning, Happy Canada day, <place of employment>, Horsetuna speaking, we close at ten pm tonight!
Associates listening to me after six tend to stare at me in amazement, especially after I smile, say "Have a good evening sir/ma'am" then just hang up. One guy thinks I'm psychich. So do a lot of customers (With some who obviously are amused by my greeting, I jokingly offer winning lottery numbers, then say "Well, you cant have them! I'm not allowed to gamble on company time!")
I have, so far, only deliberately (Re, Not hit the wrong button) hung up on one man so far though in my two months at Day Glo Orange Apron. The guy wasnt really upset at ME, but upset at Day Glo Orange Apron in general, so was ranting.
Him: Its just unbelievable that Day Glo Orange Apron would not.
Metrying to interrupt, incredibly too polite) sir, is there-
Him: *more complaints, and whining*
Me: Sir!
Him: *Now beginning to talk about the economy in general and how horrible it is*
Me: Uhm...
Him:*getting into the employment problem in Alberta and starting on the Federal government*
Me:*click*
No complaints were made, that I am aware of, and I did tell my supervisor just in case the guy called back. He found it amusing.
Another nice old lady called, and she was rather sweet:
Me: Good morning, Happy Canada day, Day Glo Orange Apron, Horsetuna speaking!
Her: Well, Hello. I seem to have a bit of a problem (In that slightly-old, soft spoken way. I bit my lip too. Ever seen American Dad? Her voice was a LOT like the Aliens' voice)
Me: Yes? *proddingly*
Her: *she goes on about her concern. I forget about what it was. A delivery, I think. I look into it, and sadly cant find much information for her. She goes on a few minutes about how upset she was with Day Glo Orange Apron and such, without really being angry at me, or on the phone. Nice old lady. The call took about ten minutes to finish*
I hope she got her problem sorted out. Nice lady, if a little longwinded and squeaky voiced.
I had a similar older gentleman who went into, and I swear to god, the typical "In my day and age, we walked uphill both ways to school in the snow barefoot and we LIKED it!" kind of rant. Again, not directed at me, but at Day Glo Orange Apron, about how service has gone downhill and stuff. Again, amusing but not really. I hope his problem was solved too.
I also had TWO women who, having blinds miscut, said "People can see me walk around the house naked!" when I said there wasnt' much we can do with special order Blinds the same day. I was tempted to tell them to tack up blankets or sheets. It seems many young wives in this city wander the house by the picture windows without anything on. No wonder we have so many stalkers.
More stories to come. I have a journal now to record my experiences in.
Calls I got today:
Customer: What time are you open until?
Me: Six, sir.
Customer: Six Am????
Me: No, Six PM sir.
Customer: Oh!
Me: Good morning, Happy Canada day, <place of employment>, Horsetuna speaking! We close at 6 tonight!
Customer: But what time do you OPEN?
Me: Good morning, Happy Canada day, <place of employment>, Horsetuna speaking! We are open until six!
Customer: Are you open today?
After asking questions and searching the computer, I had to tell this poor fellow we do not carry replacement pumps for his 50 dollar garden fountain:
Me: I'm sorry sir, but our associates in that department say we do not carry parts for the fountains.
Customer: So what am I supposed to do?
Me: Well, you could try contacting the manufacturer...
Customer: That's in CHINA! It would take them another year to get the part to me! You mean to tell me that <Day Glo Orange Apron> doesnt carry spare parts for its' fountains?
Me: I'm afraid not sir. You would have to go to the manufacturer
Customer: This is unbelievable! I'm not going to call CHINA for this pump! Can I talk to your manager please?
Me: One moment sir.
I briefed the manager, then put the guy though. And yes, he did say Please. He wasn't really screaming angry either, but obviously expaserated.
As well, I found an excellent time-saving measure. We're open usually until 10, and thus, after 6, I found out a way to easily cut half my calls' time in half, by changing my greeting from:
Good morning, Happy Canada day, <place of employment>, Horsetuna speaking!
To:
Good morning, Happy Canada day, <place of employment>, Horsetuna speaking, we close at ten pm tonight!
Associates listening to me after six tend to stare at me in amazement, especially after I smile, say "Have a good evening sir/ma'am" then just hang up. One guy thinks I'm psychich. So do a lot of customers (With some who obviously are amused by my greeting, I jokingly offer winning lottery numbers, then say "Well, you cant have them! I'm not allowed to gamble on company time!")
I have, so far, only deliberately (Re, Not hit the wrong button) hung up on one man so far though in my two months at Day Glo Orange Apron. The guy wasnt really upset at ME, but upset at Day Glo Orange Apron in general, so was ranting.
Him: Its just unbelievable that Day Glo Orange Apron would not.
Metrying to interrupt, incredibly too polite) sir, is there-
Him: *more complaints, and whining*
Me: Sir!
Him: *Now beginning to talk about the economy in general and how horrible it is*
Me: Uhm...
Him:*getting into the employment problem in Alberta and starting on the Federal government*
Me:*click*
No complaints were made, that I am aware of, and I did tell my supervisor just in case the guy called back. He found it amusing.
Another nice old lady called, and she was rather sweet:
Me: Good morning, Happy Canada day, Day Glo Orange Apron, Horsetuna speaking!
Her: Well, Hello. I seem to have a bit of a problem (In that slightly-old, soft spoken way. I bit my lip too. Ever seen American Dad? Her voice was a LOT like the Aliens' voice)
Me: Yes? *proddingly*
Her: *she goes on about her concern. I forget about what it was. A delivery, I think. I look into it, and sadly cant find much information for her. She goes on a few minutes about how upset she was with Day Glo Orange Apron and such, without really being angry at me, or on the phone. Nice old lady. The call took about ten minutes to finish*
I hope she got her problem sorted out. Nice lady, if a little longwinded and squeaky voiced.
I had a similar older gentleman who went into, and I swear to god, the typical "In my day and age, we walked uphill both ways to school in the snow barefoot and we LIKED it!" kind of rant. Again, not directed at me, but at Day Glo Orange Apron, about how service has gone downhill and stuff. Again, amusing but not really. I hope his problem was solved too.
I also had TWO women who, having blinds miscut, said "People can see me walk around the house naked!" when I said there wasnt' much we can do with special order Blinds the same day. I was tempted to tell them to tack up blankets or sheets. It seems many young wives in this city wander the house by the picture windows without anything on. No wonder we have so many stalkers.
More stories to come. I have a journal now to record my experiences in.
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