Knows Zip About Zip Codes, Part 4
I work in a national call center for repair service. We often get callers who think we’re local, but this one takes the cake.
A man calls in for service. I have to get his information in order to send the tech out. Everything up until the end goes smoothly — specifically meaning he doesn’t seem to be really young, have a hearing problem or a learning disability, or any other reason that could explain what happened next.
Me: “Okay, I just need your city, state, and zip code.”
Customer: “[City].”
Me: “Okay, state and zip?”
Customer: “What? It’s [City]!”
Me: “Got it, [City], and what state is that in?”
Customer: “I live in [City]!”
Me: *Guessing that he thinks we’re local* “Okay, I’m sorry, sir, but this is the national call center in [Town], Texas. I don’t know what state your city is in.”
Customer: “Oh. [State].”
Me: “Great, and what’s your zip?”
Customer: “My what?”
Me: “Your zip code.”
Customer: “How should I know?”
Me: “Well, it’s part of your address.”
Customer: “I don’t know.”
Me: “Do you have some mail laying around?”
Customer: “I don’t know. Maybe.”
Me: “Okay, well, if you could find some mail and let me know what zip code it says on it, that would be helpful.”
Customer: “Okay, hang on.”
I hear some rustling around.
Customer: “Okay, I’ve got it.”
Me: “Great, if you could just read me the numbers after [State].”
To this day, I have no idea how this guy functioned without knowing his own zip code or possibly even knowing what a zip code was. Had he seriously never had to fill out a form or send a letter?
Related:
Knows Zip About Zip Codes, Part 3
Knows Zip About Zip Codes, Part 2
Knows Zip About Zip Codes
Question of the Week
Tell us your story about a customer who couldn't understand the most simple concept.
