Is winter over yet?

[friendofjimmyk]

Had a gem a few minutes ago. By the time I talked to this member, he had been waiting over 4 hours for service. It's to be expected, we are busy as hell. This person was broke down outside a Walmart. People who are at home or in a position where they can wait warm and safe - they are not top priority.

ME: uh...well....
DA: Dumbass

ME: Hello, I was calling to see how your service is going?
DA: GOING!?!?! IT'S NOT GOING!!!! He isn't here yet!
ME: I'm sorry, I will call the station to fin...
DA: I've been waiting out here in the cold for FOUR hours! I am freezing!
ME: Sir, are you no longer outside of Walmart?
DA: YES! I am outside of Walmart!
ME: Sir, if you would like to wait in Walmart where it is warm, the driver will call you when he is on the way. This way you...
DA: I CANNOT WAIT INSIDE WALMART!!!
ME: Sir, if you are freezing outside, I suggest you wait inside the Walmart so that...
DA: I CANNOT WALK TO WALMART!
ME: Are you not in the parking lot?
DA: I AM in the parking lot - I am all the way in the back and I am NOT walking to Walmart!
ME: Well, sir, let me call the station to get an update on the time. In the meantime, I suggest you walk into Walmart to stay warm.
DA: Just call the damn station!

I call the station, was advised that it would be another 40 minutes, called the member back for more fun....

ME: Sir, the station advised that they are working on the call ahead of you and will be there in another 40 minutes or less.
DA: You need to call someone else.
ME: Sir, I cannot do that at this time as that would only increase your wait time.
DA: YOU WORK WITH A BUNCH OF CROOKS! I AM DISGRACED BY YOUR PRACTICES!!!
ME: Sir, the driver will be calling you when he is on the way. I suggest you wait inside Walmart to stay warm and the dri....
DA: YOU ARE NOT LISTENING TO ME, I AM NOT WALKING TO WALMART!
ME: Sir, if you are freezing, I suggest that you do so.
DA: I AM ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE PARKING LOT!!! I AM NOT WALKING TO WALMART!!!! YOU ARE DESTROYING MY HEALTH!!! YOU OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES! YOU ARE CROOKS....
ME: Sir, I am trying to help you..
DA: YOU ARE NOT HELPING ME!!! YOU ARE KILLING ME!!!
ME: Sir, would you like me to call the emergency services for you? I can get them out there to help you get to Walmart. (Asking to call the police or an ambulance always calls their bluff)
DA: NO! YOU WILL GET YOUR STATION HERE NNNNOOOOOWWWWWW!!!!!!
ME: Sir, they are on the way, they will be there in 40 minutes or less. Thank you, have a nice day.


I didn't hang up on him, as I am not allowed to do so, he continued to rant for about 10 more seconds, then he hung up.

I loved how he said I was "destroying his health"

I laughed heartily at that one!

[ShadowTiger]

Your patience is astounding. I wouldn't be able to handle not being allowed to hang up on people. ;_; Oh wow.

[Bloodsoul]

How cold was it, exactly? My car was in the shop over the weekend and I've found myself walking to work (about a good 4-5 miles, I'd say; I live in southern CT near NYC, although Sunday night was fairly warm).

[bainsidhe]

The fact you know threatening to call an ambulance ALWAYS calls their bluff is a little sad.

[EvilEmpryss]

I like the part where you say "have a nice day" and then go into silent running mode. Are you allowed to pretend you're no longer there so they hang up, or do you still have to respond to irrational questions?

[friendofjimmyk]

I like the part where you say "have a nice day" and then go into silent running mode. Are you allowed to pretend you're no longer there so they hang up, or do you still have to respond to irrational questions?

I wouldn't necessarily call it "pretend" to not be there. If they keep ranting, I either continue to ignore them, or repeat, "I'm sorry you feel that way". Until they tire and give up.

And as far as how cold it was today - this call was in North Dakota. So, it was pretty cold up there...but he could've very easily walked into Walmart to stay warm. However, maybe he was afraid of ending up on peopleofwalmart.com? Who knows?


And as far as knowing that offering to call emergency services always calls their bluff...that's not 100% of the time, sometimes, people will say "yes, please call"...which, I then call and get the police or an ambulance or both out. If it's going to be a long time before a tow truck can come out, my company ALWAYS makes sure our members are not stranded in the cold with their vehicles. Our main priority in this weather is our member's safety. However, there are many calls where people claim they are "stranded" and need service IMMEDIATELY because they will freeze to death or their health will be destroyed and they are sitting outside a grocery store or another place of business like a gas station that is open.

I had one of those the other day. It was going to be some time before the truck could get there and the member was at a gas station. I asked her if the gas station was open and her response?

"This gas station is owned by foreigners and I don't want to wait inside!"

Really? She then pulled the "I have a passenger who has SERIOUS health issues and I need to get them home!!!!!" To which I immediately replied, "I will get you medical attention immediately!! Please hold" and she retorted, "NO! NO! NO! Not necessary, just GET someone HERE NOW!"

[EvilEmpryss]

Ah, North Dakota. Lived there for a few years. Nice place to be from.

One thing I liked was the fact that it was illegal for you to pass a stranded motorist without stopping to ask if the needed assistance. People really do freeze to death in their cars every year (that, and drive it to the bottom of a lake that isn't quite frozen yet, but that's a different story).

Knowing he's from ND, though, explains his reluctance to walk from his car to the store. Snowplows could bury the car. He could get hurt on uncleared paths. There may be 10' drifts between him and the store. The list is actually very legitimate. He's still an ass for his attitude, but he may have had a reason not to walk anywhere.

[protege]

Of course, we all know when the guy screams "I'm across the lot," it really means "I'm sitting in the fire lane, and can't get off my ass to walk the 2 feet into the store"

[It's me]

DA: I AM in the parking lot - I am all the way in the back and I am NOT walking to Walmart!

DA: YOU ARE NOT LISTENING TO ME, I AM NOT WALKING TO WALMART!

DA: I AM ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE PARKING LOT!!! I AM NOT WALKING TO WALMART!!!! YOU ARE DESTROYING MY HEALTH!!! YOU OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES! YOU ARE CROOKS....

Ummm... what the heck he was doing parked at WalMart if he wasn't going to go into the store?

[EvilEmpryss]

Ummm... what the heck he was doing parked at WalMart if he wasn't going to go into the store?

That was the closest place to pull over when his car died?

With winter in ND, you sometimes have to search for a place that is clear of snow, and that may have been the only place available. Considering there are people there who really hate the big box stores from running the little mom-&-pop places out of business, his attitude isn't all that surprising.

[Soulstealer]

Considering there are people there who really hate the big box stores from running the little mom-&-pop places out of business, his attitude isn't all that surprising.

Even if that's true I doubt it's worth getting hypothermia or potentially dying.

[EvilEmpryss]

Oh, I agree with you. I don't care if it's a crack house, I'm going to get inside and get warm. The typical SC, though?

"But it's the principle of the matter!!!eleventy1!11!!

[friendofjimmyk]

No, he had been in the Walmart - the veh would not start when he left. He did not just pull in there because his vehicle was dying and thats where he made it to. The notes in the call lead me to believe that he was shopping and then the vehicle wouldn't start.

He just wasn't getting his way. It wasn't about snow drifts or unplowed lots...or fear of getting his veh snow covered....he was just upset that he had to wait longer than expected and wanted to take it out on me with a barrage of excuses in response to the help I was offering. When he threatened that I was "destroying his health" and I offered to call the police or other emergency services and he declined....he must not be all too worried about his health than. I don't care how cold or what the weather conditions are...if I am merely a walk across a parking lot to warmth and safety - I'm walking. If I a more concerned about my car than my health - then my priorities are crooked.

After nearly five years at this company, you get to know what's up.

[EvilEmpryss]

No, he had been in the Walmart - the veh would not start when he left. He did not just pull in there because his vehicle was dying and thats where he made it to. The notes in the call lead me to believe that he was shopping and then the vehicle wouldn't start.

I concede, your customer was truly being a suck wad. I didn't catch that he had been shopping at the Walmart prior to the call to your company. There's no excuse for his attitude after that.

[Magpie]

I concede, your customer was truly being a suck wad. I didn't catch that he had been shopping at the Walmart prior to the call to your company. There's no excuse for his attitude after that.

Even if he refused to shop at Walmart that's not an excuse either. I actively do not shop there (somewhat due to them picking the worst location every for the store, not on a single bus route but more due to lack of money), and I'd go inside to get warm.