This is a phone call I had yesterday.
Me: (store) computers, this is HawaiianShirts.
Caller: Yeah, can you help me?
Me: I can try.
Caller: Has anybody called this number for a Mark Smith*?
Me: Has anybody called us asking for Mark Smith? No, I don't think so.
Caller: Are you sure?
Me: Well, I haven't taken any calls where someone asked for Mark Smith. Why?
Caller: I'm confused now. I thought sure it was you guys.
Me: Are you looking for Mark Smith? Is he supposed to be here or something?
Caller: Could you ask if anybody else got a call for Mark Smith?
Me: Sure.
(Using the store's headset-walkie-talkie thing to ask the appropriate question. I got no response, so I assumed no one had taken such a call.)
Me: Nope. No one here has had a call from someone asking for Mark Smith.
Caller: Well I don't know what to do, then.
Me: What do you mean? What's going on?
Caller: Well, I missed a call a few minutes ago, and I thought it was you guys, 'cause I left my computer there to be fixed and I was supposed to hear back from you today about it.
Me: Wait. Are you Mark Smith?
Caller: Yeah.
Me: Are you asking if someone FROM here called YOU?
Caller: I guess so.
Me: Hang on.
(I check with the techs. Sure enough. We have Mark Smith's computer; it's fixed; one tech just tried calling him about twenty minutes ago.)
Me: What's your name again, sir? (Just to be certain.)
Caller: Mark Smith.
Me: Your computer is ready. Come pick it up anytime we're open.
Caller: Oh, okay. Thanks. (click)
Now, I can see from his first line where I might have just misunderstood. He might have thought he was asking if someone called his number asking for him. But even if that was the case, the question was worded confusingly, and I did try to clear it up. He could have stopped me any time and clarified his question instead of making me play detective and figure out what he really meant.
*name changed.
Me: (store) computers, this is HawaiianShirts.
Caller: Yeah, can you help me?
Me: I can try.
Caller: Has anybody called this number for a Mark Smith*?
Me: Has anybody called us asking for Mark Smith? No, I don't think so.
Caller: Are you sure?
Me: Well, I haven't taken any calls where someone asked for Mark Smith. Why?
Caller: I'm confused now. I thought sure it was you guys.
Me: Are you looking for Mark Smith? Is he supposed to be here or something?
Caller: Could you ask if anybody else got a call for Mark Smith?
Me: Sure.
(Using the store's headset-walkie-talkie thing to ask the appropriate question. I got no response, so I assumed no one had taken such a call.)
Me: Nope. No one here has had a call from someone asking for Mark Smith.
Caller: Well I don't know what to do, then.
Me: What do you mean? What's going on?
Caller: Well, I missed a call a few minutes ago, and I thought it was you guys, 'cause I left my computer there to be fixed and I was supposed to hear back from you today about it.
Me: Wait. Are you Mark Smith?
Caller: Yeah.
Me: Are you asking if someone FROM here called YOU?
Caller: I guess so.
Me: Hang on.
(I check with the techs. Sure enough. We have Mark Smith's computer; it's fixed; one tech just tried calling him about twenty minutes ago.)
Me: What's your name again, sir? (Just to be certain.)
Caller: Mark Smith.
Me: Your computer is ready. Come pick it up anytime we're open.
Caller: Oh, okay. Thanks. (click)
Now, I can see from his first line where I might have just misunderstood. He might have thought he was asking if someone called his number asking for him. But even if that was the case, the question was worded confusingly, and I did try to clear it up. He could have stopped me any time and clarified his question instead of making me play detective and figure out what he really meant.
*name changed.
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