Dating a customer?

[TNT]

Okay, we've talked about dating co-workers and we've talked about unwanted advances from customers... but what about actually dating customers, especially customers a person meets over a phone. When I was much younger and used to work in a bar my family owned, I dated a few of the female customers. That seemed okay because it was always someone I actually knew -- although it usually turned into trouble.

But I've been working in call centers on and off for ten years now, and I've only ever met up with one customer in real-life... but while it's a bizarre story, it had nothing to do with romance or sex or anything like that.

I've never hit on customer who called in, and I'm sure I never will. But this woman who called a few days ago... she didn't hit on me or anything, but while making small talk during an endless series of computer reboots, it happened to come out that we were both single, in an appropriate age group for each other, etc. And when the call ended, she said, "I normally don't like calling tech support for any reason, but this was fun. Give me a call sometime when you're not working. My number's on my account, of course." And then she hung up.

It was a fun call... she was very intelligent and funny, the two things that motivate me.

And yet... the whole thing seems like trouble looking for a place to happen.

I don't know...

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Hey, it's hard to meet people. I don't see anything wrong with you calling her. It's not either of you outranks the other professionally or anything.

As hard as it is to meet compatible people, I think you shouldn't throw away a possible opportunity that might turn out nice for you.

[Rapscallion]

It's easy to meet people. I suspect the main problem is that it's usually too hard to work out if they would be amenable to the demands of your glands.

RK? Didn't you once say it's better just to be open and tell someone to get the crap out of the way? Was it someone else?

Rapscallion

[dawntazz]

i don't see a problem with talking to someone who you've never meet. if you think about it ain't that how you make friends?

i've met a few people on the net most live a good ways away. we talk for awhile online, then we think about what it would be like to actually talk.

then we end up calling and half there is no way of ever meeting, but then there's a few it would be very interesting to meet someday.

don't see no harm in talking as long as you have boundaries. lol

[TNT]

Honestly, I can't see myself ever meeting someone in real life that I've met on the internet. One the great benefits of having internet friends is... they're on the internet. I think meeting them in real life would change the dynamic.

More to the point, though, I think there's a few compelling reasons not to call this woman. One is that a very pleasant phone call sets up certain expectations -- I'm far different on the phone than I am in real life (I'm considerably more likable on the phone), and I assume the same holds true for her. Two, I always like to get to know someone in a general situation before seeing her individually. And three, I don't like mixing business with pleasure -- those things can back in the most unexpected ways.

Not that any of it's going to stop me... I'm certain I'll actually call her. It's just a matter of when. I've always had this weird feeling that when I finally meet The One, it's going to be under most unusual circumstances. I'm not sure what those circumstances will be, but it'll be something like, "Yeah, weirdest thing... she called for internet tech support and one thing led to another..."

[Antisocial_Worker]

As a hotel clerk, this is something I know a little about, although if a guest is making eyes with you it's not because they want to date you.

If you get my drift.

I must be weird, though because I've never once while I've been working here, had anyone at any time hit on me. This is strange because when desk clerks have occasion to gather, the stories they could tell could sustain a soap opera. Every possible permutation of coupling... There are six hotels at this interstate exit, and the cloud of hormones hanging over us often obscures the view of Bearwallow Mountain.

It may very well be just me, because even while I've been on duty, on two occasions my boss was invited up to a guest's room for a hot time. She declined, of course.

Perhaps I am hideously ugly.

Regardless, to get this back on topic, I don't really see a problem with getting to know someone if there's interest and if this person is not a regular customer/caller. If they were, and it didn't work out, it would be very awkward for everyone.

[Rapscallion]

Thinking about it, the best way to date a customer is to get an x-ray and count the rings.

Rapscallion, running away to hide

[Antisocial_Worker]

Thinking about it, the best way to date a customer is to get an x-ray and count the rings.

Rapscallion, running away to hide

Call me old-fashioned, but I would prefer to cut them down and then count the rings. An axe cuts cleaner than a chainsaw, which can leave the surface where the rings show up the best too bumpy and ground up.

[Bella_Vixen]

I don't know what to tell you.

I met my ex boyfriend at work; he was a regular customer. It wasn't akward even after we broke up. The weird thing is, that my store is/was out of the way to the job he had at the time, but he would still stop by regularily...still does, but not as often.

[technical.angel]

Not that any of it's going to stop me... I'm certain I'll actually call her. It's just a matter of when. I've always had this weird feeling that when I finally meet The One, it's going to be under most unusual circumstances. I'm not sure what those circumstances will be, but it'll be something like, "Yeah, weirdest thing... she called for internet tech support and one thing led to another..."

I feel the same way about the circumstances thing, I had quite a doozy with the ex. But, from here, I sense some potential ickiness. If she's not as nice as she seems on the phone, or something, and you call by getting her number from her account info, I could see some issues appearing with work, because you were using her account information for personal use.

And from someone who's always dated the technically inept, there are good and bad things about being tech support in a relationship. Bad: Doing the tech support Good: Payment in carnal favors.

Jenni

[TNT]

Thinking about it, the best way to date a customer is to get an x-ray and count the rings.

Once upon a very long time ago, when my family still owned a bar, we had a woman customer of somewhat advanced years (at least to me at the time) who thought she was the hottest chick in the entire universe. She used to have a fondness for men young enough to be her son, and always brought them into our place to show them off.

For a lot reasons, I didn't like her... I didn't like her at all. She felt the same about me.

Anyhow, one day she came in along with her latest conquest. She was wearing a white top with a pattern of narrow horizontal stripes placed close together. As she was prattling on about how wonderful she was, I said, "Yeah, but now that you're topless, we can count the rings and figure out how old you really are."

Only one thing saved me from being torn apart... her boy laughed. By the time she was through with him, she didn't have enough energy to attack me.

Ah, the stories I could tell from that bar... some of them funny, some of them downright scary.

[ArenaBoy]

I have no problem with it as long as they're not SCs. I have to go but this is still funny for me, but at the time I was quite upset. Earlier this year I worked both shows of the Tim McGraw/Faith Hill tour at my arena. The 1st night I was sending cars right to the freeway and traffic came to a dead stop for a few minutes because of the long line. There is this very beautiful girl who looks to be my age and is actually checking me out. I start glancing at her and she actually opened her window and I decided to walk up and talk to her while traffic is stopped. Just as soon as I get there, traffic starts moving again and I didn't even get the chance to talk to her. I was pretty much in a bad mood for the rest of the night.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

It's easy to meet people. I suspect the main problem is that it's usually too hard to work out if they would be amenable to the demands of your glands.

RK? Didn't you once say it's better just to be open and tell someone to get the crap out of the way? Was it someone else?

Rapscallion

Well, true, it's easy to meet people...but it's harder than that to meet people you might consider dating.

I don't know if it was me who said that or not, but it might as well have been. Certainly sounds like me. Especially when you consider I married the first guy who was actually straightforward, in-my-face honest with me about what he wanted. Right up front. No games, no bs. It was great. He'd wanted to date me for a long time, so he just out and said so on our second lunch date. Said he wanted to see each other exclusively.

His honesty was refreshing. How sexy is that? A man who knows what he wants and isn't too shy to say so. Rare...and awesome!

[TNT]

Especially when you consider I married the first guy who was actually straightforward, in-my-face honest with me about what he wanted. Right up front. No games, no bs. It was great.

Can't say as that one ever worked for me.

Anyhow, back to the original post. The moment has arrived to pick up the phone... wish me luck.

[Jester]

Good luck! We want details of the outcome!

Ah, the stories I could tell from that bar... some of them funny, some of them downright scary.

Please, by all means...share both kinds!

As for dating customers....hell, give the lady a call. Worst case scenario is the date sucks. Since SHE told you to call her, and you were merely following the customer's suggestion...what is that about the customer always being right?

(Okay, the worst that can happen is the date is so bad that she gets super-pissed, and goes to your company with stories, true and false, and gets you fired, perhaps with pending litigation against you and the company for sexual harrassment, perhaps with criminal charges against you for other trumped up bullshit. Or maybe she goes Fatal Attraction on you and not only kills the bunny, but you and everyone you love as well. THAT would be the worst that could happen. But not very likely! Besides, much of that could happen with any woman you meet.)

Myself, in the restaurant business, I have hooked up with one or two of my customers when I was waiting tables (though I can only clearly recall one). I did pick up a few more from doing magic at my friend's bar. But by far the best gig I ever had for meeting women was when I DJ'd in a clothing optional bar. Maybe it is a distant cousin to the whole musician thing, but having several hundred watts of power behind an already DJ quality voice and being a funny smartass and playing kickass music....usually didn't do squat for me. But when it DID, it was AWESOME!