(While in high school, I work a couple days a week at a daycare after school. I am with the first- and second-graders, waiting for the older kids to join us.)
Second-Grader #1: “Are you a mom yet?”
Me: “Oh, no, I am still in school. I got to [High School that these kids have visited on a field trip].”
Second-Grader #2: “Isn’t that, like, really far away?”
Me: “Not really; it’s only about twenty minutes away from here.”
Second-Grader #1: “Wow… That’s like an hour!”
(At my office, we have a ten-minute late policy that we can be lenient on, but we usually aren’t if we are very booked. Today is one of those days.)
Customer: *calls in* “Hi. I am running a little behind; my mother’s car broke down.”
Me: “Okay, thanks for letting me know, but just so you know, we do have a ten-minute late policy; if you are more than ten minutes late we are going to have to reschedule your appointment.”
Customer: “But it’s not my fault; I’m not going to leave my mother out here alone.”
Me: “I understand, but we still keep the policy because we have other patients to see, as well.”
Customer: “Well, I’m not going to leave her alone out here.”
Me: “I understand, but like I said, if you are more than ten minutes late we will have to reschedule.”
Customer: “I don’t think you do understand; can’t you be a little lenient?”
Me: “Unfortunately, no. We have a heavy schedule today and we can’t budge on our policy.”
Customer: “Fine.” *hangs up*
(She shows up with only a few minutes to spare; luckily I am not the one who checks her in, but I overhear what she says.)
Customer: “The person we talked to on the phone was very rude.”
Coworker: “I don’t remember anyone being rude.”
Customer: “Well, they were, and I had to break all the laws to get here on time.”
(Next time just cancel your appointment; no one is forcing you to be here.)
(I work at a loan office that requires appointments. It is 1:15 pm, and a client is due in at 1:30. I get a phone call.)
Customer: “Hi, I’ve got an appointment at 1:30. What happens if I am late?”
Me: “We allow ten minutes leeway, but if you are any later than 1:40, we will have to rebook your appointment.” *thinking she is stuck in traffic* “How long do you think you are going to be?”
Customer: “Oh, I’m in town already, but I’m sitting in [Fast Food Place] and wanted to let my food settle before I come in.”
Me: *long pause* “Okay. See you at 1:30.”
(I work in an IT department that hires “co-op students,” or students studying IT at a local university. These folks are hired for four-month periods, and because they are new and young, they are subjected to some harmless hazing.)
Coworker: “Hey, [Co-Op Student], did you know that it’s your job to get us all coffee each morning?”
Co-Op Student: “Really?”
Me: “Oh, yeah. All the co-ops we’ve had do that for us.”
Co-Op Student: “Huh. Do you give me the money for the coffee, or…?”
Coworker: “Of course not! You have to pay for everything.”
Co-Op Student: *starting to look worried*
Me: “I can’t stand it; we’re just teasing, dude. You don’t really have to get us coffee.”
Co-Op Student: *relieved* “You guys are terrible!”
(A few weeks later, Daylight Saving is upon us.)
Coworker: “Hey, [Co-Op], don’t forget that Daylight Saving happens this weekend.”
Co-Op Student: “Huh?”
Coworker: “You know; ‘Spring forward, fall back’?”
Co-Op Student: *blank stare*
Coworker: “It’s the ‘spring forward’ thing this time, so that means that you need to move your clocks forward one hour.”
Co-Op Student: “Ha ha! You almost got me! Nice try, [Coworker].”
Me: “Uh, he’s not joking this time.”
Co-Op Student: “Yeah, right. ‘Move clocks forward one hour.’ As if!”
(It turned out that the student was from a province that didn’t use Daylight Saving. Guess who was late for work on Monday?)
(I have finished troubleshooting a customer’s mobile device and determined she needs to do a master reset. I am setting a callback to check up after it’s completed.)
Me: “And what time would you like me to call you back?”
Customer: “2:30.”
Me: “Okay, and what time zone are you in?”
Customer: “2:30.”
Me: “Yep, 2:30. Which time zone do you live in?”
Customer: “2:30… pm.”
Me: “Right. 2:30. I just need to know which timezone you’re in, because I’m in the Central time zone, and my 2:30 could be different than your 2:30.”
Customer: “2:30 pm… in the afternoon.”
Me: *long pause* “Okay, what state do you live in?”
Customer: “The United States.”
Me: “Excellent, and which one?”
Customer: “Atlanta.”
Me: “Okay, awesome. You’re in the Eastern time zone.”
Related
No Fortitude For Longitude, Part 11
No Fortitude For Longitude, Part 10
No Fortitude For Longitude, Part 9
