Directions, Compliance Not Included
(I work at a hotel. We often get calls asking for directions.)
Me: “Thank you for calling [Hotel]. This is [My Name], how can I help you?”
Man: “Yeah, I’m in downtown, just leaving [Restaurant]. How do I get there? I need to check in.”
(I start giving him directions. After a while, he should be on a certain road and very close by.)
Me: “Okay, sir, so you should be right down the road. If you just keep going straight–”
Man: “You’re not here. There’s nothing here.”
Me: “Okay, what businesses do you see?”
Man: “None, it’s all houses.”
Me: “There shouldn’t be any houses. Did you turn left at the last corner?”
Man: “No, I didn’t do any of your turns.”
Me: “Um, you didn’t turn where I said to? What did you do?”
Man: “You didn’t sound like you knew what you’re talking about, so when you told me to turn one way, I turned another. Now I’m around a bunch of houses!”
Me: “Can you tell me what road you’re on? Or if there are any businesses at all?”
Man: “There are no street signs or businesses!”
Me: “Sir, we have street signs on all roads. If you just go to a corner and tell me–”
Man: “There are no street signs at all. Now just get me back!”
Me: “Sir, I have no idea where you are and if you can’t give me an idea, I can’t get you back here.”
Man: “There are no street signs. How do I get back?!”
Me: “I’m sorry, sir. I have no idea.”
(That was a few hours before my shift ended. I never saw him and still sometimes wonder if he made it in since I didn’t know his name to check.)
Question of the Week
Have you ever met a customer who thought the world revolved around them?