Ha ha! Here's mine. It’s long but funny.
My CD drive stopped working after an electrical storm. A hardware problem. The store I got it from no longer exists though it is a named brand.
Me: I Call tech support number
Automated System: Please enter your customer ID number.
Me: Damned Where is that? Try to bypass #, 0, 9 all kinds of combination then finally get transferred to sales.
Sales rep: This is ___ how may I help you?
Me: Me CD drive got fried after an electrical storm. Can you tell me the location for repair service in my area? The place I bought it from no longer exists.
Sales rep. You’ll have to bring it to the place you bough it sir, we only serve companies here.
Me: Like I said, the place I bought it from no longer exists. Can you tell me where I can service the computer in my area?
Sales rep: We can't do that sir, you need to call tech support.
Me: Why, is this information secret?
Sales rep: No but we can't tell this information to just anyone. You have to call tech support.
Me OK. I tried my I have to provide an ID code. I have no idea where it is.
Sales rep: The ID code is in the pamphlet.
Me: No, not there. I have it in front of me.
Sales rep. The code is also in the back out the computer.
Me: Dam, It’s going to take be a half hour to get the computer out of the desk. Well I’ll have to do it anyway to bring it to fix the CD. Are you sure you can’ tell me of any stores in my area?
Sales rep. No, you’ll have to call tech support. Do you wish me to transfer you?
Me: No, I don’t have the ID code yet. Thanks anyway.
Me: Get the ID code from back of computer. Dial Tech Support, Enter the code.
Automated Msg: AST computers is happy you have chosen us….. Your call is important to us… The waiting period is 45 minutes. (Oops. Did I just say the brand name here?
Me: wait
Another Msg: 45 min wait
35 minutes later:
Tech: I did is ___. Thank you for calling. May I have you ID code please?
Me: But I just entered it.
Tech: I know nut I still need it for confirmation.
Me: OK, here it is….
Tech: OK, Mr X, your information is coming up on my screen. Thank you for registering your product by the way. How my I help you?
Me: We had an electrical storm last night and the CD drive died. I’m calling to get the location of a repair shop in my area as it states that the warranty may be voided if not repaired by an AST representative.
Tech: Sorry, we can’t do that. I know how to fix the problem, just follow my instructions.
Me: Really? How?
Tech: Just insert the installation CD provided. It will wipe out your computer but your machine will work as new again.
Me: I don’t want to loose my data! But that won’t work anyway, the CD is physically not working. It’s not a driver problem. There is no lights at startup and the CD tray is not even working. I know computers. I’ve assembled 6 so far, This is the first fully built system I ever bought. I am also a windows developer. I know what I’m talking about.
Tech: Sir, I’ve been doing this for 10 years, I know what I’m doing.
Me (OK, I‘ll go along): OK, the CD is in the tray.
Tech: do you see the setup screen?
Me: No, the CD is not loading in the computer.
Tech: Sir, you must press the eject button so the CD tray to insert into the computer!
Me: OK. Done.
Tech: do you see the setup screen?
Me: No. As I said, the CD is physically broken. The electrical storm…
Tech: Try pushing the cd tray.
Me: Done
Tech: do you see the setup screen?
Me (Very annoyed a not have decided to play very dumb): No
Tech: That’s odd, Can you tell me what you see on the screen.
Me: I see the desktop. I also see the CD tray is now halfway closed.
Tech: That’s odd. Let me see what I can do…
Me (I hear some pages being flipped furiously over the phone): Can you just tell me of a repair shop in my area?
Tech: Sir, I have not exhausted all my options.
Me (muffled): Now my I’m getting exhausted…
Tech: Pardon me?
Me: Nothing. Have you found a solution?
Tech: I believe id did. Do you have access to the internet.
Me: Yes
Tech: OK, here is the url to the CD driver update (Proceeds on telling me how to use IE and enter a URL)
Tech: OK, call me back when it‘s done.
Me: Wait. I have high speed, just hold on.
Me: Download driver: Driver downloaded.
Tech: Good.
Me: Install Driver: Driver Installed.
Tech: Good, Now restart your computer.
Me: Done.
Tech: Now insert a CD in the tray. Do you see the setup screen?
Me: no, the CD tray is still half in. Now can you tell me where I can bring the computer in for repair?
Tech: we can’t do that.
Me (Ok, it was funny and entertaining and it did give me something to do for the evening but I’ve had it): Then how the hell am I supposed to fix my problem without voiding the warranty?
Tech: You can send it in we will fix it, all you have to pay is the shipping cost.
Me: You can’t just tell me who even sells your brand in my area? Maybe a store will take it in.
Tech: We can’t do that
Me: OK, I’ve had enough. You make no sense, Your repair procedures made no sense. The fact that you won’t tell me who repairs your brand in my area makes no sense. The fact that you will not even tell me who sells your brand in my area makes no sense. I’m just going to by my own CD drive from a regular store. That’s going to cost less that shipping. F_ck the warranty and f_uck you.
Tech: Sir, please wait, don‘t get upset, I’m transferring you to my manager.
Manager: Thank you for calling AST tech support, I’m ___ the manager here. ___ tells me she could not resolve your problem? I’m here to help. But first can I have you ID code?
Me: Arrgh. That would be the third time. But here.
Manager: Now sir, haw may I help you?
Me: You mean you don’t know?
Manager: I have the information ___ typed in but maybe you can tell me as I read.
Me: We had an electrical storm last night. It fried my CD. I need to replace it. I need to know where I can go in my area so fix it without voiding my warranty.
Manager: I see ___ suggested to reinstall the driver. Did that help?
Me: Arrrgg. Enough already. Either tell me where to go or I’m hanging up.
Manager. Ok, ok, no need to get upset, I have the information right here.
Me: Really? And you are going to tell me (sarcastic)?
Manager: This information we usually only give to corporations who have contracts with us.
Me: I’m sorry I’m not a corporation. I might have had better service.
Manager: Ok here is the number.
Me Thank you. Hang up.
Me: dial number
Automatic msg: Sorry, the number you have dialled in not in service.
Me: Arrgh, redial tech support. Repeat previous steps, wait, gets a tech rep.
Tech: This is ___ may I have your ID code.
Me: No, just give me your manager. I’ll give the code to him.
Tech, sir, I can’t transfer you without the code.
Me: OK. Here….
Manager (Same):This is ___ may I have your ID code.
Me (Patiently). My ID is….
Manager (Same):Hello Mr X, how may I help you today.
Me: You gave me the number to a repair shop in my area. The number does not work.
Manager: That’s strange. Let me transfer you to our sales representative. They have more information on vendors and repair shops in your area.
Me: Wait! I already talked with one. He wouldn’t tell me.
Manager: I talk with him and explain the situation.
Me: wait.
Manager. Ok, I talked with ___. I’ll transfer you now.
Me: OK.
Tranfer….
Ring
Ring
Ring
Ring
2 minutes later
Should I give up?
Ring
Ring
Sales rep (same as before): This is ____ how may I help you?
Me: This is Mr X. Mr ___, the thech support manager transferred me so you could tell me who to call in my area to fix my computer?
Sales rep: I’m a bit weary of divulging this information, This list is only for corporations…
Me: Are you worried I might use this information the buy or repair a computer?
Sales rep: Pardon me?
Me: Look, do you have the information or not?
Sales rep: Yes, what is your location?
Me Here….
Sales rep: Ok sir, here is the number….
Me: Wait! It’s the same number I was given before. It’s the wrong number.
Sales rep: Ok, we have another dealer. Here is the number…
Me (I won’t get fooled again): Listen, How many reps im my area total?
Sales rep: 7
Me: Give them all to me
Sales rep: I really shouldn’t
Me: Listen, if it’s another wrong number, I don’t want to talk to you guy’s ever again so bring it.
Sales rep: Makes sense. Here…
Me: Thanks and hang up.
Me, next day: try first number… Not in service, Try second… no answers. Try third number:
Tech: This is ___ how may I help you.
Me: I have this CD driver I need to replace under my AST warranty.
Tech: Sure. Bring it in. Here is the address…
Me: I am just a regular guy, not a corporation, are you sure there will be not problem?
Tech: Why would there be a problem?
Me: they told me you only service corporation.
Tech: No, we only service customers. Corporations, that’s another location altogether.
Me: Great.
Me: I bring it in.
Finally it’s over….
Later the repair shop calls.
Me: Hello
Shop: Sir, we have a problem with your computer. AST will not pay for the repair as we don’t have the same CD drive for replacement.
Me: Arrgh. All the footwork for nothing. Do it anyway. The warranty ends in 3 weeks anyway. I should have just done it myself.
Shop: Ok. You can pick it up today.
I get to the shop and the end of the day. Talked to the guy and looked at the computer. Wait a minute. It’s the same drive. Are you sure you replaced it?
Tech: Yep, here’s the work order.
Me: But it’s the same drive. The other guy told me you did not have the same drive and so on.
Tech: Oh, we found a drive in storage. It’s the same drive. Here is the broken one. Here is your bill…
The bill stated Under Warranty. Drive Cost 75$, 0 charged. Great!
A month later the dammed computer died. Saved the HD. Tossed the rest. I never bought a name brand computer again save for my HP laptop and believe me, it‘s crap too.
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