(This story first appeared two years ago on our old blog, The Free Financial Advisor, but during a recent discussion with some friends, they’d completely missed it….so we’re bringing back the “Joe’s dumbass stories”. I know you’ve missed them…..)
Backstory: I’d just gone fishing with my dad and some of his friends in northern Ontario. I wasn’t sure if my phone would work in the Canadian wilderness, so I asked my dad.
Dad: Sure, it’ll work fine.
Me: You sure? I MUST be able to stay in touch with the office if something goes haywire in the markets or with my clients.
Dad: You’ll be fine.
The short story: I wouldn’t have a tale for you today if my phone had worked in northern Canada for even a moment. The fishing lodge owner ran into town about twenty miles away and bought me a phone card. He was nice enough to let me stand in his living room and use his personal phone for about 15 minutes each day.
It was ugly.
A couple months later I was headed to Toronto for a business meeting.
I’d learned my lesson.
Being the think-ahead-guy I am (you may recognize that as another joke if you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time), I decided to call Sprint to verify that I could keep in touch with clients and my office. This is where our story actually begins…..
Sprint: Thank you for calling Sprint. This is Betty. How may I help you?
Me: I’m headed to Toronto in the morning and I wanted to verify that I’ll have phone service.
Betty from Sprint: I’m happy to help you with that, sir. First, I need to verify some personal information.
It’s clear to me at this point that she didn’t even hear my question. We verify that I really am Joe Saul-Sehy, quite a sexy dude.
Betty from Sprint: Okay, now how can I help you sir?
Me: I have a work trip to Toronto, and I’d like to make sure my cell phone will work while I’m in Canada.
Betty from Sprint: Certainly. I can look that up for you. Where was that again?
Me: Toronto, Canada.
Betty from Sprint: Hold on a moment, sir. I’ll find out for you. Can you hold please?
She’s gone for flippin’ ever. I don’t mean “walk around the house” ever. I mean “fix lunch and dinner and mow the lawn before she gets back” ever.
Betty from Sprint: I’m sorry for the delay, sir.
Me: (I was starting to think she’d hung up on me) That’s quite alright.
Betty from Sprint: Where was it you’re heading?
Me: (amazed) Toronto. Ontario. Canada.
Betty from Sprint: Certainly, sir. Can you hold again? I apologize.
I remember her being very nice about it. Now I’m starting to think something is wrong.
It turns out, something was wrong. Very, very wrong.
Betty from Sprint: Sir?
Me: Yes?
Here’s where the Sprint woman gave me the awful news for Americans everywhere. You may want to sit down before you read the next line.
Betty from Sprint: It appears that Toronto, Canada isn’t a part of the United States.
I couldn’t help it. There was only one possible reply.
Me: (indignant) SINCE WHEN?
I hung up on her. What else was there to say?
(Not that it matters, but my phone worked. There were huge roaming fees…maybe so they could hire a couple geography experts.)
How about that? Canadians, are you sad you aren’t a part of the United States? Americans, are you sad the awesome city of Toronto isn’t part of the United States? What’s your best customer service story?
LOL, you really said “Since when?” That is AWESOME. This is why I love your blog, Joe. I can always come here for a depths-of-the-belly out loud laugh. Thank you, my friend. 🙂
Classic!! Where do these people come from? And I’m definitely with Laurie on this one. Your reaction is pure perfection!
Gone forever…on another customer’s call. Great service…
And LOL! ‘Toronto isn’t a part of the United States’…and she surely graduated from high school >.<
Ha! You are much nicer than me… I probably would have had some extremely choice words for that level of stupidity. My knee jerk right now is to say, “No SHIT, that’s why I’m calling.” Don’t worry, many Canadians have iffy comprehensions of American geography and international geography, too. We can all be failures together.
I got to spend time listening to phone companies/internet companies try to compete for who had hte worst customer service this weekend. If anyone knows how to turn off the G+ noise on my phone, that would be fantastic.
That sounds so painful. Nothing I like better than spending time with service people who make me go through the same moronic process over and over and over before they’ll actually LISTEN to my problem.