Too much information

[friendofjimmyk]

I am sure this has been mentioned here before, but I haven't found a thread regarding this...and I am not talking too much information Oedipus-style - (where's the bleach!) I'm just talking about you asking one simple question and then hearing their life story.

I have these conversations all the time....

EXAMPLE:

ME: Hello, Mrs. Smith, this is friendofjimmyk with ********, my driver is with your vehicle, can you meet him please?

Mrs. Smith: Oh why yes, dear. You know I just love this service. You're always so helpful. Back when my husband was alive he made sure that we had this service every year and I made sure to keep it when he passed. I've never really used it, but it sure does come in handy, now doesn't it? I remember back when I had this flat tire....

I can understand an elderly person may be lonely and doesn't speak to others as often as some do but one today went like:

ME: Hello, this is friendofjimmyk with ******, I was calling to advise you that we have ****** towing coming out to assist you with your unlock and they should be there in 45 minutes or less.

DUDE: OH, that's great! Yeah, I was rushing around trying to get ready, I've got this meeting to go to. I had given my niece the car keys and she ran out there and locked them in the car. I won't be there, but my niece will be, they said all she has to do is show in ID [mind you, I can see this in the call notes] and you guys will unlock the car for her. I had all my stuff in there too and I am unprepared now! But, my niece will be there because I had to go.

Meanwhile, the radio is going off, the Nextel is chirping, and the other line is ringing.

Please, just answer my question and get off my phone!

[dragonflygrrl]

Yes. I absolutely hate that. If I could bill them hourly, I would. It never fails that someone comes in with their phone shut off, or wants to return a phone after the 14 day trial, and feels compelled to tell me this long, intricately detailed story about how they ordinarily would never be late, but their father is in the hospital, their cat died, their sister is in jail, aliens abducted them, they got in an accident, blah blah blah. Why anyone would so desperately need the approval of the girl behind the counter is beyond me. I think they are trying to justify to themselves more than anyone else. And either way, I'm not taking that return and it will take 2-24 hours to get your phone back on.

[friendofjimmyk]

Yeah, I think in my line of work, when someone does something they think is silly or embarrasing, like lock their keys in their car, they feel they have to give me the story so it won't look like their stupid. People, I am in this line of work, I receive calls like this EVERYDAY, it is not out of the ordinary, nor does it make you stupid if you lock your keys in your car...telling me that someone else did it, or your dog did it (yes, I have heard that one) or the kids did it, doesn't matter, I don't care. It happened...let it go...

Reminds me of an SC that a driver encountered just recently...but I have to start another thread on that one.

[Jester]

Last time I needed a tow service, it was because I managed to get the Jestermobile stuck in a ditch in Ohio….and yes, I told them that, not only because they probably needed that information so they could send the right truck out, but also because, well, it was vaguely hilarious that I was such an idiot as to get the Jestermobile stuck in a ditch!

It is situations like this that prompted my ex-fiancee to tell me, when we were together, “You are the King of All Idiots, and you rule by Divine Right!” Don’t know how many times I have laughed as hard as when she said that to me.

[friendofjimmyk]

Last time I needed a tow service, it was because I managed to get the Jestermobile stuck in a ditch in Ohio….and yes, I told them that, not only because they probably needed that information so they could send the right truck out, but also because, well, it was vaguely hilarious that I was such an idiot as to get the Jestermobile stuck in a ditch!

Yeah, pertinent information is all right, even if it happened and you are laughing about it...some stories can be rather amusing. Maybe I am just getting cumbersome in my job and I have heard it all that I find myself annoyed rather than amused. Maybe I need a vacation! Key West maybe?

[Jester]

Promises, promises.

If you do come on vacation down here, though, you might want to do it sooner rather than later, since next summer will see me loading everything into or behind the Jestermobile and moving back to the beautiful Arizona desert. Until then, though, you have at least one tour guide/bartender/smartass you know down in the Keys.

[friendofjimmyk]

Promises, promises.

If you do come on vacation down here, though, you might want to do it sooner rather than later, since next summer will see me loading everything into or behind the Jestermobile and moving back to the beautiful Arizona desert. Until then, though, you have at least one tour guide/bartender/smartass you know down in the Keys.

Well, unfortunately, it won't be before you leave. I don't think I'll ever make it to Arizona unless I am just passing through on the way to California.

[Jester]

Damn shame on both counts: you not making it to Key West before I leave, and you not making it to Arizona at all. Both are wonderful, beautiful, fun places.

[TNT]

nor does it make you stupid if you lock your keys in your car...

Then again...

I had to call once because I locked my keys in the car.

It was one of my few excursions to the Fields of Hell, otherwise known as the golf course. I had two good ideas:

1. Leave my keys on the front seat so I wouldn't lose them out on the course.
2. Since the keys were lying right there on the front seat, I'd better lock the doors.

Two good ideas, but with a slight flaw which I didn't figure out until the moment the door closed.

I had to make several calls to get a locksmith out there. And, for reasons unknown, I lead off each call with, "You're not going to believe what I just did..."

[Bliss]

If I ever visit Arizona, would you tour me on the deep desert Jester? and help me find a band of coyotes to spend the night with, running around the desert and hinting mice with them?

[friendofjimmyk]

1. Leave my keys on the front seat so I wouldn't lose them out on the course.
2. Since the keys were lying right there on the front seat, I'd better lock the doors.

Two good ideas, but with a slight flaw which I didn't figure out until the moment the door closed.

I had to make several calls to get a locksmith out there. And, for reasons unknown, I lead off each call with, "You're not going to believe what I just did..."

Yeah, I have had stupid moments like that as well...

As I said, it's probably that I've been doing this job for too long now and in my current position, I am too busy to listen to these stories but I can understand someone wanting to laugh or explain themselves...I shouldn't be so hard on them.

[Jester]

If I ever visit Arizona, would you tour me on the deep desert Jester? and help me find a band of coyotes to spend the night with, running around the desert and hinting mice with them?

I am from the suburbs, kiddo! I can tour guide you around Arizona, but as for the deppe desert: (a) I don't know any bands of coyotes, (b) if I did I would want to be somewhere other than near them, and (c) coyotes, as far as I know, don't hunt mice....they prefer larger dinners.

[I See Stupid People]

"Mrs. Smith" would be my mother

[Getoutofmylobby]

This isn't real, just an exggeration

"Thank you for calling **** my name is getoutofmylobby, how can i help you?"

"I'd like to reserve a smoking room for tuesday night, my husband is going to the hospital down the highway, and you know, he's had a bad back since 1977 and wouldn't you know the first cold weather we've had in months and he slips on a wet patch on our deck, not the upstairs part of the deck but the downstairs where the washer is and where we keep Jimmy's bike when he comes over to play."

"And how many nights will you need."

"Two at the most but no more than that since i have to be in Kentucky for Josie's wedding. Its not like i want to go, i mean, she is marrying a mexican, but she's my goddaughter so i must keep up appearances. But you know how that is."

"Since your husband is at the hospital there is a special ra.."

"Last year we went there for my eye infection. I rememeber going to sleep and the next morning my lids were glued shut with this godawful yellow pus. I had to burn my pillows and everything. And i told Maxwell let's stay at the **** down the highway because they make the nicest cookies in the lobby when we stay..."