I realize that just occasionally the views I express in my soapbox tirades may not be shared by everybody. However, after just getting off the phone I feel another one coming on and this time I suspect that every grown up feels the same way as I do- at least those of us who have a life that is. And just what bee has gotten in my bonnet today?
Voice mail- that’s what. Now I don’t expect in this busy, imperfect world for every call to be answered by a human. That would only happen in a perfect world. However, what’s really ticking me off is that all the voice mails are set up differently.
Even personal voice mails are a pain. No two are the same. Which means that unless you just call the same people over and over that you must listen to all the prompts to ensure you’re doing the right thing. With some you just leave a message, hang up and you’re good to go. With some others press *, then 9 or some other random ass number, then hang up and you’re good to go.
It’s a pain. Basically, I don’t even leave messages on personal voice mails anymore. it’s not that I think I’m that special, it’s just what I do. And according to my kids, none of the younger generation leaves them either. People see they missed me and if and when they want to chat, they’ll call back. Of course in case of an emergency I would always leave a message.
But as bad as personal voice mail is, leaving a message for a business is so much worse.
There are businesses where you must listen to an entire commercial before you can leave a message. Those really infuriate me. Hello- I’m already calling you. Knock off the sales job. Just let me through to leave my damn message.
At some companies you need the name of the person you’re actually trying to get. Sometimes you don’t happen to have that information. And since usually you can’t leave a message for just anyone you don’t really know just who you need to speak to. Catch 22.
There are companies where trying to leave a message is like a game of Mousetrap. First you must listen to their spiel, then you press * or #, then an extension, then the first few letters of the persons name, then you must calculate the square root of the angle of the moonbeam reflecting off the pinky toe of the virgin just as she’s pushed into the volcano somewhere in Indonesia. Then maybe, just maybe, you can leave a message. What’s with that??
I can understand why companies make their complaint line difficult to use. I don’t like it; but I understand it. Most unhappy customers eventually get frustrated and just hang up, thereby giving the company exactly what it wants-fewer complaints. One time I was on hold 15 minutes on the Popeye’s complaint line to complain about the bad service we’d had at their restaurant. That’s just wrong. Usually though I’m just calling for information and in the process get sucked into voice mail Hell.
I’m on the phone a lot every day; and even if I’m in a good mood when I start all my calls, by the time I’m finished leaving so many messages and having had to crawl through all the voice mail goo I can feel my molars clenched tight.
Life is too short for this. You can put the tranq gun away now. I’m done.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I STOPPED CARRYING MY CELL EVERYWHERE I GO! If someone needs a doctor or emergency 911, not me, I’ll know soon enought. off tread, but just my beef and how I fixed it…TRACK
Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do. I totally understand.
NEPHEW HERE TODAY AND BUILD THE OTHER COUNTER NOW WAITING FOR THE TOP TO ARRIVE. dID A NICE JOB AS ALWAYS AND SURPRISED ME WITH A NEW MONITOR FOR COMPUTER, LARGER AND BETTER THAN OLD, SO HAPPY. hE’S A SWEET YOUNG MAN, MY SECOND SISTERS’ SON.
Congratulations. Sounds like that kitchen job is almost done. Isn’t the best gift one that you get when it’s not expected? Your nephew sounds like a great guy!
I’m reading through your older blogs, the ones before I arrived at VN – and hey Michelle, did you know with many businesses (like for instance our health insurance and our Internet people), if you get caught in “Voice Mail from Hell”, you can short-circuit their system and get a human being by just pressing the 0 over and over?
I read/saw that tip somewhere and it almost ALWAYS works. The computer voice suddenly calmly informs you they’re now transferring you to a customer service rep. And then, of course, you get put on hold…….
Huh. Oh well, at least you still get a human being a lot sooner.
Yes kiddo I knew that and it usually works. But what makes me truly crazy is when you can’t get a human at all and have to depend on them to call you back. It makes smoke come out of my ears!
Yep, agree with you on that one! Sometimes fire with the smoke.
If I only knew they were bursting into flame when I got so aggravated it would almost make it worthwhile.