A foreign country.

[Deceptitech]

I like Puerto Rico. I was there a few years ago, and loved it there. Sometimes however, people who live there need to understand they are not a state in the US. Worse than people there are the politicians.

As working for an online call center, we unfortunately have to deal with the same morons, only those morons are too dumb to either follow simple directions, or want to bitch at the first person they talk to.

"Thank you for calling RS.com, How may I help you today?"

"Yes, My name is Roberto and I want to speak with the owner of your site."

"And this is in reference to?"

"Yes, one of my constituants called this number earlier, and was told you do not ship to Puerto Rico, because it is a foreign country. Do you realize that Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States?"

"Yes sir, I am aware of that."

"Then why do you not ship here? This is discrimination."

*mute*Oh smeg, I hate politicians, and those who think they are more important than they really are*mute* "Sir, we currently ship to the Continential US, Alaska and Hawaii. We are currently working on shipping to Puerto Rico, but at this time we do not ship there."

"Why not, we are in the US. I want to speak with the owner now."

"Sir, I can help you get to a supervisor, but this is not the number to call to speak to the owner."*mute* And if you had brain one, you can see the corporate office number on the site, if you used the one brain cell firing up there in your head*mute*

"Tell me, do you ship to Washington DC?"

"Yes we do sir."

"Do you know Washington DC is not a state, but a territory just like Puerto Rico? As a result, you should ship to Puerto Rico, as we are a part of the US. Get me your supervisor right now, I am a busy man, and I will not tolerate this anymore."

"Yes sir, but as I said, we deliver to the continential US, Alaska, and Hawaii. This is mandatory under Federal regulations, that if you deliver to any US state, you must deliver to all states, and DC. Puerto Rico does not fall under federal regulations, since it is not a state."*mute*Since you're a senator, you should know this you bumbling twerp*"I shall get a supervisor to speak with you. Please hold."*retard*

After calling for a supervisor, I explained the situation, and after she had a laugh, she told me to transfer him over.

"Sir, I have a supervisor here now, Please wait while I connect you."

"I am going to have you fired because you do not ship to Puerto Rico."*transfer, mute*I hate stupid people, and you sir, are a shining example of why I don't take people seriously.

They want our tax money, they want our priveledges, but they are unwilling to pay the taxes we pay for these priveledges. I can't wait for Christmas.

[lordlundar]

*mute*Since you're a senator, you should know this you bumbling twerp*

Wouldn't bet on that. Consider the Alaskan governer who transferred a portion of funds that was set for Katrina relief efforts to his state because he thought it was more important. This is the same guy wo thinks the internet is a series of tubes.

[chainedbarista]

he also overlooks the fact that district and territory are not the same thing and that wa dc is actually INSIDE the continental us, unlike puerto rico.

man...

[susan]

While I can understand your frustration with the customer, because believe me there have been plenty of times I have tried to patiently explain something I have no control over and the customer just keeps babbling on and on, I can also see his point of view.

At my company we used to charge a flat rate shipping fee for Fed-Ex delivery, even to Hawaii and Alaska. Often the actual cost of shipping to those destinations was two or three times higher than what the customer was paying. However, customers in PR had to pay the actual cost at international rates, which are exorbitant, if they wanted something Fed-Exed. PR is much much closer to the Eastern Seaboard (where we are located) than either AK or HI. It made absolutely no sense to me and pissed me off, not to mention our customers.

And I'd also like to point out that there is a Statehood party in PR, just like in DC. It is a hotly contested issue, although I think it's died down some in the past few years. There is a large percentage of the population who would be willing to "pay" for the "priviliges" of statehood, rather than being a neglected stepchild.

So, to sum it up, the customer was sucky because he was too busy pursuing his own agenda to allow you to do your job, but he lives under a system that sucks for him and fellow citizens and shows no signs of changing anytime soon. So it's understandable that he would be frustrated and sucky, however not excusable.

[phillippbo]

However, customers in PR had to pay the actual cost at international rates, which are exorbitant, if they wanted something Fed-Exed. PR is much much closer to the Eastern Seaboard (where we are located) than either AK or HI. It made absolutely no sense to me and pissed me off, not to mention our customers.

When I worked answering the phone for Fed Ex, I'd get some irate callers with the same issue. Basically, what it boils down to is the US Customs Service rules. Shipping from the US to Puerto Rico is domestic because the Puerto Rican government doesn't require customs-like clearance for packages originating in the United States. Going the other way, however, is international shipping because the package has to clear US Customs like any other international package. If memory serves, the reasoning behind this was that Puerto Rico was treated like any other US Territory on imports and the Puerto Rican government was not as strict as the US government on things like produce and animals (among many other things).

Unfortunately, the only entity that can help that situation is the government, but don't hold your breath on that one just yet...