For the most part, Saturday was nearly suck-free. Nearly. It started out very slowly. For the first two hours or so I only wrote one sales ticket, and it was for a mechanic who works with me. A few phone calls, but that was it. I joked with the boss that everyone would come in when the food got there(We get a catered lunch on Saturdays). At least I thought I was joking.
When the food arrived the place went nuts. We had about 8 or 9 people waiting in line, the phone would not shut up, and they just kept coming and calling. I threw away a nearly full plate of food because cold lasagna tastes, well, like ass. Oh, and making jokes about my food sitting there while I'm helping you will not endear you to me, just so you know.
Holding is not just a football penalty
This is not the first time I have had a moron do this to me, nor will it be the last. This guy was special, however.
Me:
NHB: No Holds Bart
As I said, we were busy. I was handling counter customers as well as the phone, doing a reasonable job of keeping track of who called before who, and who had been there before the phone call, etc. Every one of the counter customers was pretty understanding and easy going about it. Not so much for NHB.
NHB had called, been put on hold, hung up and called back about 6 or 7 times before I started to recognize his perturbed and put-out "Fine" every time I asked him to hold. This went on for about 15 minutes before I realized that many of the calls I was putting on hold were the same guy.
Me: Parts, can you hold please?
NHB: <sigh> Fine.
Me: <recognizing the voice and whine>Sir, have you been hanging up and calling back when I put you on hold?
NHB: Yes, at least 6 times now! <Look how hard he's trying
>
Me: Please stop doing that. Please. If you had waited on hold the first time you called we would have helped you by now. I'll be right with you.
NHB: Fine.
To his credit, NHB waited. He was on hold for about 2 minutes when I got to him. His call only took about 2 minutes, minus the 30 second tongue lashing I got for "poor service". It took 4 minutes to do something he managed to stretch out to nearly 20 minutes with his asshattery.
This is the phone equivalent of getting out of line at the grocery store and going to the back of the line because it's "taking too long".
I just don't understand why people do this.
Holding, part II
This woman seemed to think that if she just started into her spiel when I asked her to hold I would give in and help her. She was so very mistaken. I had to ask her to hold 3 times before she gave me an exasperated "OK". When I came back to her call the first words out of her mouth were "Gee, do you think you have time for me now?" I so badly wanted to say "No" and hang up. So badly.
Sure, let's hear your life story
This woman wasn't sucky. In fact she was very nice, and she loves her truck. I know because I got a 10 minute monologue detailing how much she loves her truck and how she's always been a "Chevy Girl". I know more about her truck than I know about mine now. She only left when the phone rang and it was "for me". Turns out it was my boss who had overheard the pointless banter and called the front counter from his office. He said he thought I needed an "out". He was correct.
That is all(I hope) until next Saturday.
When the food arrived the place went nuts. We had about 8 or 9 people waiting in line, the phone would not shut up, and they just kept coming and calling. I threw away a nearly full plate of food because cold lasagna tastes, well, like ass. Oh, and making jokes about my food sitting there while I'm helping you will not endear you to me, just so you know.
Holding is not just a football penalty
This is not the first time I have had a moron do this to me, nor will it be the last. This guy was special, however.
Me:

NHB: No Holds Bart
As I said, we were busy. I was handling counter customers as well as the phone, doing a reasonable job of keeping track of who called before who, and who had been there before the phone call, etc. Every one of the counter customers was pretty understanding and easy going about it. Not so much for NHB.
NHB had called, been put on hold, hung up and called back about 6 or 7 times before I started to recognize his perturbed and put-out "Fine" every time I asked him to hold. This went on for about 15 minutes before I realized that many of the calls I was putting on hold were the same guy.
Me: Parts, can you hold please?
NHB: <sigh> Fine.
Me: <recognizing the voice and whine>Sir, have you been hanging up and calling back when I put you on hold?
NHB: Yes, at least 6 times now! <Look how hard he's trying

Me: Please stop doing that. Please. If you had waited on hold the first time you called we would have helped you by now. I'll be right with you.
NHB: Fine.
To his credit, NHB waited. He was on hold for about 2 minutes when I got to him. His call only took about 2 minutes, minus the 30 second tongue lashing I got for "poor service". It took 4 minutes to do something he managed to stretch out to nearly 20 minutes with his asshattery.
This is the phone equivalent of getting out of line at the grocery store and going to the back of the line because it's "taking too long".

I just don't understand why people do this.
Holding, part II
This woman seemed to think that if she just started into her spiel when I asked her to hold I would give in and help her. She was so very mistaken. I had to ask her to hold 3 times before she gave me an exasperated "OK". When I came back to her call the first words out of her mouth were "Gee, do you think you have time for me now?" I so badly wanted to say "No" and hang up. So badly.

Sure, let's hear your life story
This woman wasn't sucky. In fact she was very nice, and she loves her truck. I know because I got a 10 minute monologue detailing how much she loves her truck and how she's always been a "Chevy Girl". I know more about her truck than I know about mine now. She only left when the phone rang and it was "for me". Turns out it was my boss who had overheard the pointless banter and called the front counter from his office. He said he thought I needed an "out". He was correct.
That is all(I hope) until next Saturday.
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