Funniest Call Center Stories: Part II

In my continued 5 part series of Funniest Call Center Stories… In American society, invariably you’ve contacted a call center filled wall-to-wall with customer service representatives (CSRs) And for twenty years, I was a call center rat in some capacity. In some of those call centers, I rose through the ranks to be promoted to title of supervisor. Not only did we manage the workers, but we took escalated calls. The following is part 2 of 5 posts based on the humorous call center stories I have to share.

Funniest Call Center Stories: Part II – Curaçao

This story took place at Costco Travel, where I worked for 13 years. It was my first year, so I really wanted to make an impression. My trainer, Corrie, was promoted to supervisor that same year. She was my direct supervisor, in fact. Therefore she oversaw my development.

One of my Funniest Call Center Stories is another one regarding pronunciation of words. A Costco Member called in wanting to a book Southern Caribbean cruise that embarked from San Juan, Puerto Rico. He knew the itinerary but clearly didn’t quite know the ports of calls like I did.

We agreed on all but one: Curaçao. He had a Southern accent, but he insisted on calling it kur-ROCK-co. I explained to him the name is Dutch in origin, but he kept grating on my soul with his rough kur-ROCK-co. I was in my mid 20’s so I was in the “save the world, by educating everyone” with my correct pronunciation of the island. He refused. I found myself locked horns with a stubborn, uneducated Southerner over the how to say Curaçao.

After 20-minutes, I caved. I need a sale for the day, this guy was clearly in-it-2-win-it, so as I was announcing my recap of the itinerary, Corrie started walking around.

I timed her arrival, and my incorrect pronunciation of Curaçao with a loud “kur-ROCK- CO” which stopped her dead in tracks. She and I exchanged looks while I talked on the phone. She attempted to approach me but I held up my hand, then with my index finger and wagged it back and forth as warning to not EVEN think of correcting me.

I was dumber for this conversation as I could feel the “stupid” seeping into my brain.

Corrie knew from her experience with me to not question my actions so she asked later what was the drama, and why I purposely alerted to her to it. I said I was right, and should have been recognized. She smiled, and replied, “Los, sometimes the simple satisfaction of being correct should be it.”

Instead of being puffy-chested about it, and let my ego get in my way, I sighed. She was right. I let it go. ‘sides I got the sale.

So if you’re ever on the Dutch island of kur-ROCK-co, be sure to greet my a**hat client as I’m convinced he was left there by Carnival Cruise Lines.

Until next time, be good like you should, and if you can’t be good, be good at what you do!

Mic drop *bOoM*

‘los; out