There are many advantages to living in Hawaii . . . warm winters, year-round tans, the food, the people, the lifestyle.
However, recently I came come across a disadvantage. When people find out you’re from Hawaii, that’s all they want to talk about. Now, normally I really don’t mind. I love living here and sharing our wonderful islands and culture with the world. However, when it interferes with with my objective for calling, it can get annoying.
Case in point. Yesterday I was on the phone with a lady from Verizon Wireless to see when my new phone should be arriving. This is how the conversation went.
Lady: And where are you calling from today?
Me: Umm, home?
Lady: No, I mean from what state?
Me: Oh! Hawaii.
Lady: Really? So, is it summer there now? I hear your seasons are the opposite from the US Mainland. What’s the temperature like? Were you born there? Do you like living there? Is it hard to live on an island? Do you get to travel off the island much? (on and on and on)
Me: (after answering her questions) So, when do you think I could get a replacement phone?
Lady: It should be there any day now. So how long does the mail take to get there? I guess you would have to send everything by plane since the boats would take too long. Do you go to the beach a lot? Is there one in your backyard? (on and on and on)
Me: Will it be a brand new phone or a refurbished one? I don’t want a refurbished one.
Lady: I’ll have to check on that. So, when do you think is a good time to visit? I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii.
Finally, after answering all her questions and not really getting any answers of my own, she says,
Lady: So, is there anything else I can help you with today?
Me: Do you think Verizon will ever carry the Treo 680 like Cingular does?
Lady: I don’t know. But I hope you have a wonderful day!
ARGGGHHH!
22 Comments on “Customer Service?”
8:50 pm
LOL I can completely relate. It’s like all of a sudden you’re the representative for all things Hawaii. I can’t say that I get the same living in Florida, but I do get a similar dialogue when I tell people I’m originally from Puerto Rico.
“So, do you speak Spanish? Say something in Spanish! What’s it like down there? bla bla bla bla bla…”
I haven’t lived in PR since I was 8, but somehow I end up being the rep for the entire island.
http://ntycnboricua.blogspot.com
8:53 pm
LOL - that’s too funny. I’m sorry for you lack of customer service though - that is frustrating. I’m sure I’ve been guilty of dropping the standard “Oh I’d love to go to Hawaii” when someone tells me they’re from there but I don’t think I’ve ever started in on 20 tourist questions. Maybe you should come up with your own brochure so you can just hand it out?! LOL
Hugs,
Holly
Holly’s Corner
9:10 pm
You could say
Hawaii, whats your address?
and for every question she asked you.. ask one more personal in return.
9:16 pm
Maybe she’s confusing Hawaii with Australia. Summers opposite there
You should have said Wyoming. No one has a comment about Wyoming. Except maybe that it’s cold.
9:55 pm
wow, that’s crazy, but I can totally see that happening. I dont’ think I was ever like that on the phone when I was in tech support, unless of course i was talking to a celebrity. But then … who could resist, right? besides, they usually would change the phone to someone else (like their agent). LOL
11:21 pm
Frustrating!
When people find out I live in Colorado they want to talk about snow, skiing and the mountains.
2:06 am
Ha..I just have rotten luck getting any information from those people! Of course, they dont give a quack that I’m from Georgia, nothing interesting here LOL
3:42 am
Even here in British Columbia, I get dumb people asking dumb questions - grrrrrr… it makes me avoid even using the darn phone! It’s so much easier to send an email
3:42 am
LOL I guess it’s frustrating. It seems like talking to someone from Hawaii or Alaska is like talking to someone from a different country. “Enquiring minds want to know.”
4:00 am
ok maybe I will stop talking about Hawaii in your blog
5:08 am
isnt that just like us to be fickle about where we live and want to know about everybody else. I do love hawaii, but Im sure it gets old answer questions!
Mahalo!
I really don’t mind as long as she helps me get my phone delivered.
5:27 am
That was very sweet of you to answer all her questions, but I sure wouldn’t have. When you answer one inappropriate question, folks tend to ask more…like you gave them permission to do it.
I would have cut her off at “is it summer…” and said, “I’m really sorry but I called you to get MY questions answered…if you can’t do that for me, I’ll need to speak to your supervisor.”
I guess that’s why I’m not cut out to work in a customer service related field though.
5:54 am
Sistah, that’s da kine you like reach in the phone and wring their necks! So uns! “What, lady! When I going get my phone awready!” LMAO!
OMG! I haven’t heard the word “uns” in such a long time! LOL!
8:23 am
I’ll trade your customer service lady, with my 2 hour doctor’s visit again for Lindsey’s one year checkup! Details to follow!
You were more patient than I would have ever been.
Umm, it’s okay. I’ll stick with mine. hee hee. I hate going to the dentist even if it’s not for me!
1:07 pm
lmao “I don’t know” but seriously how long did it take to get a real person on the phone. I hate automated crap lol
1:42 pm
we’re just so enamoured of your state is all.
The rest of us don’t get to live in paradise all the time. ha ha.
2:51 pm
That’s too funny! I’m sure you get that a lot, and I can see why it can be a pain.
9:29 pm
Gotta love costumer service. I think thats one reason why I dont like to make phone calls, people can never get the answers they want, b/c others are too busy taking up your time with stuff that is none of their business.
I usually don’t care to handle things over the phone but I was just so desperate to get a replacement!
8:17 pm
gar! How annoying! I once called customer service bacause my fridge hadn’t shown up yet… after already calling them twice. I was explaining the sitch, and the “person” on the other end said, “you don’t have to tell me all yourbusiness.”
Ummm, I was like- WHAT? This is YOUR business, you are customer service, are you not? Let me speak to your supervisor.
Oh, I’m sorry ma’am, I just need a little info first….
GRRR! I’m mean sometimes, but only when provoked.
And when people act stupid. LOL!
2:30 am
Sorry, but it’s one reason I stop by here! I can’t get enough of anything and everything Hawaiian! Hundreds of millions of people are jealous of you
I really don’t mind talking about Hawaii. It’s just that I’d like to get a replacement phone at the same time. LOL!
8:46 am
Web Hosting Providers Directory…
Sorry, it just sounds like a crazy idea for me :)…
2:41 pm
Online Travel Guide…
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting…
(I'll take good care of it.)