The Born Loser by Art and Chip Sansom for March 16, 2025

Looks like Brutus’s wait time just increased dramatically.

Most reasonable customer service departments stay open until all customers in line are addressed.

Brutus, of course, has found the one that ISN’T reasonable.

Been there done that

Your call is important to us, but our work-life balance is much more important to us.

Just as well, none of their people speak English anyway.

“We care, but not that much.” Herb Cohen

Brutus will need to give it up for the day, sit down and have one of those apples in the bowl..It might cheer him up just a tad . .

Haha Chip, you’ve captured the absolute essence of ‘The Born Loser’ once again! But, hasn’t this happened to most of us at some stage? I guess we can all share the sense of losing at least once in our lives!

Next time call with 21 minutes left, so the person that would be leaving in a minute would need to stay after to answer the call.

Just couldn’t “wait” to see his face at the end…

What consumers need is an AI calling service that does all the “holding” for you.

The two biggest lies in the world are “Your call is important to us” and When a man says “No” when he is asked by his wife/partner/girlfriend “does my bum look big in this?”

“Your call is important to us and will be answered in the order it was received. You are currently number 2,746 in the queue”

all too true

hang in there Brutus, been there myself a few times

Brutus must have been calling to cancel a service. Notice that you never have to call anyone to subscribe to one.

When you finally reach a live representative, one of several things will happen: 1. Your call will get cut off. 2. The representative will not be able to assist you. 3. They will transfer your call elsewhere. 4. You will not be able to understand the representative. 5. They will tell you to use the company’s website.

Your call is important to us, but not enough to hire enough staff to handle the calls.

He must have been on the phone with DAMARK.

My call like that was 5 minutes wait. About time for me to talk to someone, line disconnected.

Did Brutus call Comcast?

I think I’ve actually had this call…

I hate it when that happens!!!

It’s the sign of the times,and a year ago I never could have seen it.Sadly, it will only get worse. At least now we have Amazon that will take pretty much anything back for any reason. Hang up Brutus, there is always tomorrow…….

It figures, Brutus.

While you’re waiting for a representative, please listen to this stupid, annoying trendy pop song.

One way to get them back quicker on the phone is to take a very quick potty break because you have been on hold for so very long. They will answer the call at an awkward time. Or take the dog outside on a leash. Just as you are ready to clean up – they answer. And they want information that is inside the house.

important my foot… maybe my foot should go through the phone and knock something over for wasting his time. ;)

That happens to everyone.

This is what happens when the workforce is cut to bare minimal, and robots take over who can’t understand one thing…..grumble grumble !

I find it highly suspicious that whenever I call the appointment desk at my cardiologist’s office during business hours, the same recorded female voice says, “We’re unable to take your call right now but if you will leave your name and number, we’ll return your call within 2 days.” Seriously, 2 days? I like my doctor, but this woman is a slouch. It’s time I reported her to the doctor. (I hope it isn’t his daughter.)

It’s not just a Born Loser who has this experience. I love the facial expressions on this one. Well done, Chip!

This has happened to me, too. I left the phone (a landline back then) connected to their hold music for a least an hour after the company’s closing time (for a total of two hours) before I finally gave up. I was surprised their system never disconnected me.

LOL

This kind of service is not restricted to born losers.

Customer Service number for[……] doesn’t matter which option you take on the first menu, they answer is always the same, all of our people are busy helping others, please hold. Then after about 3 min “your wait time is less than 5 min”. And again about 3 min later “your wait time is less than 5 min” And after you wait for 5 min, a different AI voice says “your wait time is 79 min” The only option on the first menu that a person will answer isn’t[…….] the menu says if you got an email from xxxxxx. press 3. you press 3 and a person answers, if you ask a question they will say, they can only collect a payment ref. the text message they sent. The person says for anything else go to[…….]home page and on that page you will find, after a extended search, a place to send an email, but first you have to go through a list of FAQ. So I finally sent them the email they requested after several failures and their response was we will get back to you in a few days. That was early last week, after I had been trying to find a person to talk to for over a month

I have had that experience! Except at the end they allowed me to leave a message… although they never called back like they promised…

I hate the automated phone systems, by the time I call customer service It’s because I’m over the wall and done. Last thing I want to do is deal with another machine. Representative!!

calling any business for anything is Absolutely my last alternative

wow, brutus actually has access to a phone line. here, you’re encouraged to waste time by interacting with a chat bot. naturally, you spend the little time you’re willing to waste (in my case) finding out that the only answer the bot is able to provide is “i don’t understand…” ☺

“Your call is very important to us. Please hold while we ignore it.”

It’s either that or the call gets disconnected.

Plastic grub for sure. Hope you’re not calling drug store for blood pressure meds Brutus?

Random musings:

Lesson learned, Brutus: Never call near closing time.

When I’m on hold in these situations, I use the time to sit at my computer and get other things done — including (depending on the time of day) heading to my kitchen — phone in hand — to eat lunch.

Unlike Brutus’ experience here, often my calls start with an automated menu. The first frustration is trying to navigate through that, to select the option that comes closest to the reason for your call. Then you have to listen to it tell you how many questions can be answered or problems resolved by going to their website. Then the system asks why you’re calling, and it replies, "Okay, so you’re calling about — " followed by a description that doesn’t remotely match what you tried to tell it. Then you have to yell at it at least 10 times that you want to speak to a representative. Then you finally find out what your hold time will be.