05 October 2007

Abusing the help

Phone: Ring Ring
Suebob: Hello?
Robert: Hello, Sue, this is Robert from the Company X newspaper and this call is being recorded for your protection.
Suebob: Yelping, in a voice that sounds totally over-the-top nutso MY PROTECTION? WHY IS IT BEING RECORDED? WHAT ARE YOU PROTECTING ME FROM?
Robert: quite nervously Um, it's just standard procedure, to protect you from scams and such...
Suebob: SCAMS? WHAT SCAMS? THIS IS FREAKING ME OUT!! Why are you recording outgoing calls?
Robert: No, it is standard for everyone, it is because of California state law that we have to inform people that they are being recorded.
Suebob: But it isn't California state law that you have to record people, is it? Doesn't that seem weird? I don't LIKE that. I mean, recording outgoing calls seems WEIRD to me! I don't understand how that protects me!
Robert: Uh, Sue, Sue, it's ok. Anyway, I just wanted to call to thank you for being a subscriber and to offer you...

Anyway, I don't know what possessed me. I consider it providing a service actually, because now poor Robert with the terrible phone sales job will have a "What a freak!" call to talk about on his 10-minute coffee break.

*******
I hate to swear (yeah right) but G***d*mn Red Sox. The Angels lose 2 in a row in the playoffs, and it just HAS to be to the most loathesome team in baseball. Great.

Did you watch the Yankees/Indians game? THE BUGS! That was one of the most disgusting things I have ever seen at a baseball game.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

You kill me. I'm sure he got a kick out of telling that story later.

It does seem like a disconcerting way to begin a call - the opposite effect of what they intended.

Count Mockula said...

Ha! I responded to someone who has called about 15 times to try to get me to take a survey (and they'll pay me $25) today with... "NOOOOO!!! Not you guys!!"
"Well, we'll pay you $25..."
"I'd pay YOU $25 to stop calling!"

Chris said...

Sounds like you flustered poor Robert, hee hee. I am so tired of those calls, especially the recordings.

Anonymous said...

That cracks me up. I bet they change their calling script after that. ;-)

super des said...

ha ha ha. I find your insanity hilarious.

the mystic said...

That's funny!

As part of my job, I make telephone cold calls - 2 or 3 a day usually. And trust me, you're probably not even close to the craziest person that guy has talked to!

Anonymous said...

That's awesome. I used to work for an insurance company as a liability adjuster and I had to take recorded statements all the time. I was always surprised that more people didn't refuse.

Anonymous said...

"The most loathsome team in baseball."

Seriously? That's absolutely ridiculous! RIDICULOUS. Why would you dislike them so? The only people who *truly* hate the Red Sox are Yankees fans and even THEN, there's a small modicum of respect. I, who loathes the Yankees, can respect that they're decent ball players and are a good organization. I hate them, but I respect them.

People hating the Patriots? That I kind of understand. If you're not a New England fan, it's hard to like them.

It's just so ODD that you would hate them so -- you're not even in the same division! Does it stem from hatred of all things Boston from the basketball days? How horrid! HORRID!

Suzanne said...

I'm with jonniker. I think the most loathsome team in baseball is the Yankees. But at least Colorado is kicking some butt. Congrats to your cousin. (And good-bye Cubs. Your crappy playing made me think that I was watching my beloved Mets in the post season after all. I knew I was right to give up on you after you blew the wild card in 2004.)

Suzanne said...

Sorry - I just realized that your cousin is with the Dbacks, not Colorado. Still my congrats to him. Their win is well deserved.

Anonymous said...

hmmm guess i won't wear my red sox red socks (you know i have some) to lunch in sb ...

SUEB0B said...

Oops, sorry Jonna. No, it comes from the fact that Red Sox fans are so very annoying when they come to Angels stadium. It is legendary. One screamed at my friend J the other day because he dared to have Angels insignias on his car...in ORANGE COUNTY. And when I saw the Dodgers V Dbacks, 2 Red Sox fans showed up in full regalia and paraded around...huh?

And yes, after the Celtics v Lakers, a pall IS cast over all things Bostonian. That, and the race riots. Ok I will stop now because you go a long way toward redeeming Boston in my mind.

mar said...

i would only ever think of saying something like that after i had hung up. the most i do is that random telemarketers always mispronounce my name & i tell them there's no mare-en here or i'm not mare-en. since it's pronounced mah-ren.
and buh-bye cubbies. at least the regular season was semi-entertaining. i'll give lou another year to pull it all together

John said...

I heartily agree with you on the Red Sux. They are the new Yankees...easy to hate. Red Sox nation?? What a joke! They win one(!) world series in a hundred years and suddenly they have a nation? Riiiight!

Anonymous said...

John -
Not that it matters, but the Red Sox have had a "Nation" since 1986. It was a term well before the World Series.

That being said, I understand if they're not your favorite team, BUT, Suebob, Boston is a great city, really it is, and no matter what your feelings on the Sox, I will stand by the city! I will! When I move back, you can come visit, and I'll take you anywhere you want to go. By the time you leave, you'll love it.

And yes, it has a horrendous history in terms of race, certainly, but L.A. has its moments in history, does it not?

SUEB0B said...

Jonniker - nah, in LA everyone of different races sits around holding hands on bus benches, singing "Kumbaya." You should see it - quite touching, actually.

Major Bedhead said...

I think a lot of people have jumped on the Red Sox bandwagon, just like so many people jumped on the *spit* Yankees when they started winning all the time. Dyed in the wool Red Sox fans are not (that) obnoxious. Yeah, we're psyched that our team is finally winning all the time and that we've gotten rid of Dan Duquette, but don't judge all of us by a few assholes.

The Yankees are the most loathsome team and even then, I have a lot of respect for individual players (except for Damon-the-traitor and A-Rod the whiner) and I think Torre is one of the best managers out there.

TheyDHD said...

Gods, I LOVE doing that! *cackle*

At least I'm not the only one!

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