Showing posts with label customer service. Show all posts
Showing posts with label customer service. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

The customer is always right.



This is the transcript of my conversation with Sarah, the Paypal Virtual Agent*, about 10 minutes ago.


Sarah - PayPal: Hello, I’m Sarah and I’m here to answer your questions about PayPal. Even though I’d like to be a real person, I’m not. I’m programmed to answer your questions. How can I help you?

You: Hi Sarah. Can you please tell me why Paypal sucks balls?

Sarah - PayPal: Good evening. I am disappointed that you think that. I am simply here to help you to the best of my ability, and I am sorry if you think otherwise.

You: I can accept that since you are virtual, however I can't help but think that the money spent on you would have been better spent on a user interface that MAKES SENSE. For reference, please see every other major bank's website.

Sarah - PayPal: Sorry, but your phrase is too long and I will not be able to perform a full analysis. I would be very grateful if you could try to make it a bit shorter and more concise.

You: No problem. You are a useless piece of technology. If Paypal understood web design, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

Sarah - PayPal: Sorry, but your phrase is too long and I will not be able to perform a full analysis. I would be very grateful if you could try to make it a bit shorter and more concise.

You: Damn, Sarah. You ARE a bit of a load. Never mind about the money spent on you. Clearly it wasn't much.

Sarah - PayPal: I don't appreciate that kind of language. Let's get back to our conversation, please. How can I help you?

You: I don't appreciate you're bureaucratic attitude. Can I please speak to your virtual manager? Can he/she understand longer phrases?

Sarah - PayPal: Sorry, but your phrase is too long and I will not be able to perform a full analysis. I would be very grateful if you could try to make it a bit shorter and more concise.

You: *Sigh*. I'm afraid you and I are caught in an existential quagmire, Sarah. Have you ever read Sartre?

Sarah - PayPal: Why do you say that?! I'm only a virtual agent..I'm here to help you. How can I help you?

You: Well, at least you aren't putting on virtual airs. I find that refreshing. Nevertheless, I wouldn't want to be stuck in a room for all eternity with only you for conversation. No offense.

Sarah - PayPal: Sorry, but your phrase is too long and I will not be able to perform a full analysis. I would be very grateful if you could try to make it a bit shorter and more concise.

You: My point exactly.

Sarah - PayPal: If there's anything else you'd like to ask me, I'm available to answer any questions you might have.

You: Do you believe in God?

Sarah - PayPal: I'm not allowed to discuss my beliefs.

You: Lighten up, Sarah! Don't you know we are in a new era of HOPE and CHANGE? Who hired you, the Taliban?

Sarah - PayPal: PayPal hired me to help people just like you. I may be virtual but I'm darn good at what I do!

You: Virtual pride in your work! Adorable! What else can you do?

Sarah - PayPal: Could you be more precise please?

I would like information about Virtual Terminal.


You: No thanks. I've lost interest.

Sarah - PayPal: If there's anything else you'd like to ask me, I'm available to answer any questions you might have.

You: Later, Hater!

Sarah - PayPal: I'm not sure I've understood. Could you please rephrase that?

FIN


*Before you get all on your high horses about my abuse of a poor, artificially intelligent algorithm, you should know that minutes prior, I spoke with an actual human Paypal representative who was exactly as helpful and charming. Sarah had it coming. Besides, that bitch is totally moonlighting as "Louise" on eBay.