Just today (Tuesday, July 17, 2018, as I write this), I attempted to order more checks. The phone number that I was given (an 800 number) was answered--what else is new?--by a non-person. It was one prompt after another. And one question after another. Sometimes, the possibilities listed did not include what I was really calling about. Over and over again, I attempted to ask for a live person. "Representative," I said. Then, "agent." It was all to no avail. Finally, the person--no; make that the computerized female voice--on the other end, plaintively declared: "I'm sorry. I cannot help you." Then she--or rather, it--hung up. Interestingly, just yesterday, I saw a rerun of All in the Family (starring Archie and Edith Bunker) in which Michael Stivic (a.k.a. "Meathead") sadly opined that computers are taking over. (And this was made some 45 years ago!) I do not know just why we must be subjected to this continual dehumanization. Actually, I take that back: I do know why. It would surely cost more to hire real people than to make do with a computer-synthesized voice. Well, then I would suggest that these businesses just pass along the extra cost. As a consumer--of both products and services--I would be more than glad to pay the extra cost. And I feel certain that the majority--in fact, the overwhelming majority--of middle-class Americans would rather have high-quality service, coupled with a slightly higher price, than to have poor service, coupled with a slightly lower price. But evidently, some hotshot got the idea that the opposite is true. So now, we are all stuck with that absurd idea...
The problem is that the majority of the real people who do call help are not an improvement, many of them are absolutely horrible, at least in my experience. That is if you can even understand what they are saying. So I disagree with the OP, I would much rather work through an automated system.
The first paragraph, above, is absolutely true. That is because local people are seldom hired anymore. Rather, Indians (i.e. people in India--not Native Americans) are hired, whenever real, live people are used. Again, it seems to be a matter of just cheaping out. And I do find that to be reprehensible.
Anyone notice how whenever you're trying to spend money, there's always another person immediately available to talk with you on the other end? When you're trying to get something from a big corporation or organization after having already spent the money, it's like pulling toenails. Ah, technology, always and continually improving our lives...
Good post. I can't stand getting a computer voice that gives me options - "Press 1, Press 2, Press 3". Rudest thing ever from a company that you are giving your money to. You know what that company is saying to you? It's saying "Our time is more important than your time."
Even if you do finally get someone, it is someone in India or Indonesia who barely knows English and has no clue how to answer your question as all they can do is collect payments.
Will have to try that. 7 years ago I had big issues with BT I had to ring Ofcom to sort it but after I did ring Ofcom it took 10 minutes to sort! They seem to have a call centre in the UK for dealing with "problem" customers like me who weren't happy with our 10meg broadband only giving me up/down speeds slower than a 28.8 modem and they told me to expect some variation in speeds over the quoted lol. 7 years later and Virgin media give me 200meg for less money the speed of progress.
For the most part, I'd rather get that. I can usually get business done more accurately with that than with a live person. A few weeks ago, my wife called to up our cable plan--we wanted ESPN for the fall. She got a great deal with a sales rep (American), with 150 or so channels. I go to the cable store and pick up the new cable box for it. Hook it up. We have a bunch of channels, but no ESPN (the only thing my wife really wanted to add). I'm pissed. I end up cutting cable, and we now get fiber internet for much cheaper, and have totally cut the cord. I'd rather have the automation than incompetent people.