Just Say ‘Forty-Two’ And Be Done With It

Me: “Good Morning, [My Name] at [Company], how can I help you?”

Caller: “Hi, can I ask you a question?”

Me: “You sure can, go ahead?”

Caller: “What should I ask you?”

Me: “What do you have a question about?”

Caller: “I don’t know. Should I ask about [common thing a lot of customers ask about]?”

Me: “Yes, if you want to know something about it.”

I am not going through the entire spiel about it when I don’t know what the issue is.

Caller: “I thought you would tell me what I want to know.”

Me: “Yes, if you ask me a question.”

Silence.

Me: “Okay, look, go and think about what you might need to ask a question about, and then call back and we’ll be happy to help you.”

Later, the customer called back and asked a proper question, was given a proper answer, and exclaimed: “So that’s how it works!”