Thursday, February 2, 2012

What Happens When Customer Service Does Not Speak Your Language

One of the best Christmas presents was sent in a gigantic box from their aunt.  A bounce around. It even SOUNDS fun. They couldn't wait to play on it. But it was December and too cold to set it up outside.  I called customer service. Here is the conversation.
"Hello, customer service.  Can I help you?"
"Yes. My kids got a bounce around for Christmas, and I was wondering if there would be any problem using it inside my house."
"No, you can't do that."
"Ok why not?"
"It is too big."
"Oh, well we have a very big house and a big basement."
"No, you can't do that."
"Why not?"
"It is too big."
"Yes, my husband measured the dimensions, and it will fit in our basement."
"No, it won't fit.  It is too big."
"I understand what you are saying and realize how big it is.  We have a very big house.  I was just wondering if there are any  safety hazards with this being inside."
"Look, lady, this is too big to put in your house."
"Well,  if it fits can I put it the house?"
"No, it is too big."
They spent many hours jumping around in our inside bounce around.
Posted by Annmarie Pipa at 8:39 AM

61 comments:

  1. ah, the joys of customer service!

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  2. Good Grief! I get so frustrated somnetimes with customer service. The gift sounds like a load of fun, though. Thanks for stopping by my place.

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  3. i dont understand why people work in customer service if they can not even pretend to be polite ;-)

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  4. Well now, what a helpful conversation! :)

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  5. hahahaha! Mom I remember those good ole days..we did have so many hours of fun on that. I dare to say it was the attraction of the neighborhood!

    -Mikey

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  6. Ha! Why do I feel like I have a conversation like this EVERY TIME I call customer service??? :)

    Gave me a morning giggle. Thanks. :)

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  7. LOL. Had to laugh out loud at this one. But, then I toned down the laugh just incase it was "too big". Oh, this is one of the funniest I've heard in awhile.

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  8. Worst time I ever had with customer service was when my alternator died on an on ramp. I spent 20 minutes trying to explain that I wasn't on either road but on a road between them, and no it didn't have a street name. I would love to find who decided to outsource AAA so I can slap them...

    Glad your kids go to enjoy to toy! I remember when our family about my cousin a Barbie Cadillac for Christmas (we live in NY) she loved playing with it, but was really happy when it 'learned' to move in the spring!

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  9. Sometimes you just have to say, Happy Day to You and hang up.
    Maybe that is all his/her guidebook had to say if asked this question?

    Pam

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  10. LOL! Tech help does not deviate from the guide books. Funny story!

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  12. I would rather walk across sharp pebbles than call customer service. I avoid it at all costs. Thanks for stopping by my blog becoming a "follower", I just joined up as one of your "followers". 8 children? That's wonderful. I've looked around a bit at some of your posts, lots of humor mixed in with good stuff we all need to be reminded of. I like it here!! ~ Abby

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  13. Yep we would have done the same thing!!

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  15. That's hilarious. That was probably his easiest call all day! Glad they enjoyed it! I'm a new follower all over, from Diva's Blog Hop. I will be back!
    Kim
    http://www.mytwintasticlife.com/

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  16. Thanks for making me laugh! It seems like every single person I talk to in customer service has a foreign accent with somewhat limited English. Global economy is one thing but I would think a strong command of English language would be a prerequisite for customer service positions!!!

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  17. Yes, most 'customer service' is not helpful at all.

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  18. Ai, such a topical conversation. Here you sometimes can not even understand what the customer service person says due to bad English accents.

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    1. Oh yes, and hanks for following. I hav rather inscribed through my reader on your Rss feed-it' s all I se these as

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  19. I have often pondered why customer service is actually called that...

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  20. YES...BUT...is it TOO BIG? lol xo Diana

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  21. So, you never did get that question answered, huh??? :O)

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  22. That's hysterical! How hard is it to hire people who speak English?

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  23. Broken record anyone? Yikes!

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  24. Wow, you just made my day! The joys of talking to customer service representatives...

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  26. LOL!!!!!! We had one in the shape of a firetruck. It was a gift to all the kids for Christmas one year & we DID set it up in our living room. When the kids came out Christmas morning- there it was for them. We ended up only using it outside one time- our temps here are usually one extreme to the next so we figured it is more fun in a controlled temp. I totally see your frustration with this phone call.

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  27. HAHAHA! That's pretty funny! Thank you so much for commenting on my journal...I love your sense of humor and your post! I'm your newest follower!

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  28. So funny!

    I went through the same thing when I was having my dining table delivered. We bought two tables that seated six and put them together. Well, the delivery man thought he was going to end up putting one back on the truck, I guess. He stood at my door for the longest time telling me that nobody can get two dining tables!

    Of course, we've been enjoying those two tables for a lot of years now.

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  29. Thanks for following and linking up :) following you back. The Microsoft wordless wednesday was so funny! As far as customer service...that is probably the answer they give them for your question. They have no clue!

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  30. Thanks for stopping by today! I did come over and like you on Network Blogs and Follow you on Google Friend Connect. I have six kids, so I can relate! Also, I just want to say that I know many people who use the Bounce things inside their houses....

    Amy B

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  31. Oh, that was funny. Gotta love the "wisdom" of some of these customer service folks. I emjoy your blog and I'm a new follower~

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  32. LOL! I would liked to have seen that bounce around in that big basement! :)
    Be a sweetie and thanks for popping in to see me,
    Shelia ;)

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  33. must be the only answer they have on their cheat sheet..

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  34. OMG seriously? That is hilarious!! I bet that person really hates his/her job. This cracked me up!!

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  35. Following you back! Thanks for visiting me!

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  36. Hi there! Thank you for stopping by my page! You were my newest follower and now I am yours! You have a beautiful family! I can't wait to read your new post! Take care. Lauren

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  38. lol, I needed this, thanks! Still laughing!

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  39. Oh gosh this is so funny. Customer service can be soooo bad.

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  40. That's so funny! Before anyone hires a customer service rep, they should definitely make sure that person has an excellent command of English.

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  41. lol, that's funny. Gotta love customer service.

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  42. It drives me crazy that so many of the CS Reps don't understand what we are actually calling about. I wish they would do something about that!!

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  43. HAHA That is to funny. (well probably not on your end.. but I'm definitely laughing!) Some people do not need to have customer service jobs. Glad the kids got to enjoy their present =]

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  44. Hah! At least customer service is good for one thing.. Funny blog posts. =)

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  45. Glad you were finally able to just put it up! I know other people that have put them up in their basements. How frustrating when customer service doesn't seem to understant what you are saying. I am sure difficult for you at the time, but at least you got to post it and give everyone else a laugh. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to give customer service-type responses to people for a day!

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  46. Home sick reading through blogs, needed that laugh. Thanks for sharing. Hope you were able to set it up and have fun with the kids. :)

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  47. that is so cool! When all else fails use your won common sense.
    It would be nice to have a basement like that. Enjoy!

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  48. Ha ha. That's very funny! Thanks for sharing! Needed a laugh!

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  49. Oh yeah this sounds very familiar.

    Thanks for coming by my site and adding your blog to the hop :)

    http://scatteredmusings.net/2012/02/featured-blog-hops/

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  50. I can so see this conversation...

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  51. But wait a minute...how did you manage to put it in your house? Wasn't it too big?

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  52. It wasn't too big, their thinking was too narrow!

    @SnyMed
    http://www.snymed.blogspot.com

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  53. Hahaha!! Um...sounds like she/he was trained not to use his/her brain. Silly people.

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  54. That is too crazy!!! If only everyone would have an open mind! I am so glad that you found my blog!! I followed you right back! =)

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  55. Just how big was this thing! I'm imagining something room sized right now;) Thanks so much for linking this up on our Little Comedy Club! I just switched the link right to this directly. This was the one, yes? You had Customer Service as the title.
    Cheers!
    Courtney

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  57. Glad to see you got that all sorted out :)...gotta love customer service!

    Also glad that your kids have been enjoying it so much and that you have a big enough basement for them to do so.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog and following. I am following you back and hope you have a wonderful week.

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  58. LOL!!! Did they say it louder and louder as time went on? Like you're deaf or something? That conversation sounds like ones I used to have with my ex-boyfriend...

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  59. Hey I love this story and absolutely adore your blog! I clicked right over when I saw your comment and am so glad I did! I can't wait to read all your stuff and continue hearing what you post in the future! Following ya:)

    Amy @ sugar and spice

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