Ever have to correct a problem through telephone support? It's a painful process. I had to call 1-800-4MY-XBOX to find out why it is my Xbox 360 disappeared from records after I sent it in for repairs roughly 2 months ago. It felt like a boss battle with multiple stages.
Stage 1: Automated response.
- You call the number. Instead of hearing the voice of another person on the other end, you're greeted by a machine. It speaks slowly, and it doesn't give you an option that relates with your problem. After half an hour of screaming at the lifeless voice, it directs you to the next stage.
Stage 2: Foreign telephone operator.
- You struggle to understand a single word the character on the other end is saying. You feel like a jerk for asking him/her to repeat themselves over and over, but there's no other way. After half an hour of painful conversation, it becomes clear that this person cannot help you. You need a supervisor, but first...
Stage 3: You're on hold.
- Enjoy the soothing sounds of crappy elevator music as you wait an eternity for the supervisor to take your call. In my case, I got to listen to the Halo theme for twenty minutes. Prove your worth in the area of patience and endurance to reach the next stage!
Stage 4: The supervisor.
- She's fast-talking and overly pleasant. Her voice can shatter glass. Also, she has nothing to tell you that you don't already know. Essentially, she's just the telephone operator...but you can understand what she's saying. She apologizes half a dozen times before scheduling a telephone appointment in the future. She needs time to formulate an effective strategy for driving you crazy...
To be continued Wednesday at a time between 5-7 PM EST...
...and that's just with this one problem I have. God knows how much it happens overall. Damn annoying, I tell yah.
Stage 1: Automated response.
- You call the number. Instead of hearing the voice of another person on the other end, you're greeted by a machine. It speaks slowly, and it doesn't give you an option that relates with your problem. After half an hour of screaming at the lifeless voice, it directs you to the next stage.
Stage 2: Foreign telephone operator.
- You struggle to understand a single word the character on the other end is saying. You feel like a jerk for asking him/her to repeat themselves over and over, but there's no other way. After half an hour of painful conversation, it becomes clear that this person cannot help you. You need a supervisor, but first...
Stage 3: You're on hold.
- Enjoy the soothing sounds of crappy elevator music as you wait an eternity for the supervisor to take your call. In my case, I got to listen to the Halo theme for twenty minutes. Prove your worth in the area of patience and endurance to reach the next stage!
Stage 4: The supervisor.
- She's fast-talking and overly pleasant. Her voice can shatter glass. Also, she has nothing to tell you that you don't already know. Essentially, she's just the telephone operator...but you can understand what she's saying. She apologizes half a dozen times before scheduling a telephone appointment in the future. She needs time to formulate an effective strategy for driving you crazy...
To be continued Wednesday at a time between 5-7 PM EST...
...and that's just with this one problem I have. God knows how much it happens overall. Damn annoying, I tell yah.
