Words/Phrases You're Sick Of Hearing?

[Ace-Garageguy]

Wouldn't it be nice if they were just honest across the board and said something like:

"OK, this is "customer service". Yeah, right. There's no one here who really gives a rat's rear about your little problem, and we only have this phone number to call because our marketing department thought you'd feel better if we had one. In the unlikely event you DO stay on the line and go through 15 minutes of pressing "one" or "two" with intervals of low-fidelity and annoying music, the human you might eventually talk to is many time zones away in India, isn't really named Mike, and can't possibly do anything for you anyway. Wouldn't it be easier for everyone concerned if you just send your payment in and accept that we're screwing you? Thanks, and have a nice day."

[Crazy Ed]

   Harry, it's simply 'cause there are those that like to think it's Luck 'O the Draw and would hangup otherwise. Simple Minds require Simple Solutions.

[Snake45]

 

Well fellas, the Oxford online dictionary seems to think, along with me, that one 'correct' use of the word "may" is as a modal verb defined as  "expressing possibility".

Thought you'd like to know.     http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/may

From your own link:

Expressing permission: you may use a sling if you wish

may I ask a few questions?

[Ace-Garageguy]

From your own link:

Expressing permission: you may use a sling if you wish

may I ask a few questions?

Yes, I'm aware of that. My post says that ONE correct definition of "may" is expressing possibility. My post does NOT say it's THE ONLY definition of "may". YOUR (and Harry's) previous posts implied that the ONLY correct use of "may" was as expressing permission.

May I inquire as to whether you may have misunderstood my meaning?  

Edited February 24, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[Snake45]

I MIGHT have misread or misinterpreted your answer as "THE one correct definition." (I've been fighting a killa case of bronchitis for a week and admit that I MIGHT not be at 100% mentally.)

[Ace-Garageguy]

I MIGHT have misread or misinterpreted your answer as "THE one correct definition." (I've been fighting a killa case of bronchitis for a week and admit that I MIGHT not be at 100% mentally.)

I hope you feel better soon, really. It bites to be sick. Last winter I got something pretty bad. Lucky so far this year.

Take care of yourself. 

[Roadrunner]

Ok... I'll agree that "your call may be recorded" can mean "there's a possibility it will be recorded," but I still don't see why they say your call "may" be recorded when what they really are telling you is that your call will be recorded, and there is no possibility that it won't be.

Try telling them that you might also be recording the conversation. They'll stop dead in their tracks and want to know if you are or not. If you say that you are not, the call will proceed, if you say you are, they'll hang up, if you refuse to give a definitive answer, they'll hang up.

[SfanGoch]

Try telling them that you might also be recording the conversation. They'll stop dead in their tracks and want to know if you are or not. If you say that you are not, the call will proceed, if you say you are, they'll hang up, if you refuse to give a definitive answer, they'll hang up.

I once asked a telemarketer who was annoying me what was her cup size. She said it was none of my business. I asked, "Why not? You want my personal information." She let off a string of expletives before she hung up.

[Crazy Ed]

I once asked a telemarketer who was annoying me what was her cup size. She said it was none of my business. I asked, "Why not? You want my personal information." She let off a string of expletives before she hung up.

   I've got to remember that one! A Whole lot more fun than asking them to hang on, setting the phone to Mute and walking away or asking then for their Home Phone number because you're busy and want to call'em back.

[Snake45]

I once asked a telemarketer who was annoying me what was her cup size. She said it was none of my business. I asked, "Why not? You want my personal information." She let off a string of expletives before she hung up.

A simple "What are you wearing?" delivered in a sexy voice does a great job, too. Doesn't matter if it's a man or a woman. In fact, it works EVEN BETTER on men, unless it works TOO WELL, which is a whole nuther problem.

BTW, if you ask "What are you wearing" and the answer is "Khakis," the correct response, delivered without hesitation, is:

"You. Sound. Hideous." 

[Tom Geiger]

Here's another one I hear all the time....  "Cold Slaw".   It's "Cole Slaw"

[Mark]

There used to be an Off Track Betting parlor on Second Ave., between 52nd and 53rd Streets, in Manhattan. It featured a full service restaurant and bar, in addition to betting windows. It also had a dress code. A betting parlor with a dress code! Jackets required. If you didn't have one, the maitre'd (yup) would provide you with a gawd-awful Kelly Green blazer.

 

There was an upscale department store in downtown Buffalo in the Nineties, that had a dress code.  I missed it by a year or two; I was working downtown for a few months in 1989.  The store lasted about a year.

Yeah, you're going to save hundreds of dollars on your car insurance by switching to GEICO or Progressive.  They don't spend any money on commercials, they must get free air time.  I should start switching insurance companies...if each one will save me hundreds, I only have to make four or five switches before they start sending me money...

If they're telling you that your call may be monitored, they probably just want to try and discourage you from swearing at their call center people. 

[blunc]

they should just change the standard line to: "Your call will be monitored and recorded, we will decide later what to do with it."

[Crazy Ed]

<after a big ol' Snip> If they're telling you that your call may be monitored, they probably just want to try and discourage you from swearing at their call center people. 

      A week or so ago I had the need to talk to "Customer Service". Following that message and the required  number of "Your Call is Important" messages I got to the Service Rep who I asked to remove their earpiece until the Noise ends. Told her I wasn't angry at her but wanted the Monitors to know how I felt - a required $75 Service Charge was waved. Heck even if it hadden't been I sure felt better.

[Snake45]

Yeah, you're going to save hundreds of dollars on your car insurance by switching to GEICO or Progressive.  They don't spend any money on commercials, they must get free air time.  I should start switching insurance companies...if each one will save me hundreds, I only have to make four or five switches before they start sending me money...

 

We closed on a house last month and in the interests of expedience, we kept the same home insurance company and agent. It's one of the BIG BIG names. The guy (nice guy) starts bugging us to switch our car insurance to them too, with the house and two cars all together, we'll save HUNDREDS of dollars a year. Today, just since the car insurance is coming due and I was home sick anyway, I called the guy up and gave him all the particuilars of our auto insurance. He ran all the numbers thru his BIG NAME computer and quoted me a price that was almost 50% more a year than I'm paying now. He was stunned when I told him what I was paying. I'm with a company you might never have heard of. They're national and have a great reputation (and they've always treated us right) but they do NOT have national TV or radio advertising. Once in a great while I'll hear a local radio commercial for them but no national TV, ever. Coincidence? I think not.

[kurth]

Many people misuse the term "tax return"

You file a Tax return to the IRS.

If you have paid more taxes than you owe you will receive a tax refund. (not a tax return)

It is understandable, but it annoys me. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 25, 2016 by kurth

[Ace-Garageguy]

... quoted me a price that was almost 50% more a year than I'm paying now. He was stunned when I told him what I was paying. I'm with a company you might never have heard of. They're national and have a great reputation (and they've always treated us right) but they do NOT have national TV or radio advertising. Once in a great while I'll hear a local radio commercial for them but no national TV, ever. Coincidence? I think not.

One of the simple truths the vast majority of the population seems to be too dense to grasp is that advertising and marketing are now such a significant part of the cost of most products and services, a large part of what they pay for ANY major brand is going to support the legions of marketing people trying to get them to buy the stuff, NOT FOR THE PRODUCT.

It's not too hard to read the labels on products like antacids, cold medicine, or aspirin...or to compare the quality and taste of the store-brands of mayonnaise, salsa, etc...and to see that you get EXACTLY the same for much less money by buying generics. Yet, a lot of shoppers firmly stick to a brand that's a rip simply because the advertising has them brainwashed.

Sheeple. Tell 'em what to do often enough and loud enough, they do it.

Edited February 25, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[Harry P.]

As far as car insurance goes, I now get quotes from everybody at regular intervals. No sense paying more than you have to. And I always get direct "apples to apples" quotes, based on my exact current coverages/limits.

For many years I was a State Farm guy. Then one day I decided to get some quotes from the others, and I became an Allstate guy. And then, last year, in another one of my "get a quote from everyone" phase, I found that Geico offers me the exact same coverage I was getting from Allstate at literally half the price. HALF the price!

You can guess who I use for auto insurance now. He's cute, and he's green.

I'm not pushing Geico, or any other insurance company, because everyone's particular situation is different, and "your results may vary." But my point is... shop around! Get quotes! It costs you nothing... and could save you a lot.

[Snake45]

I got a quote from Geico a couple years ago, and they also weren't even within hollerin' distance of my underwriter. Was kinda surprised.

[mustang1989]

Here's another one I hear all the time....  "Cold Slaw".   It's "Cole Slaw"

That's pretty good. lol. My sister in law says, "Post to". As in "You're post to obey the law." But then again she aint the brightest bulb either. Funny story....and true unfortunately. I went over to her house to pick up my son a few years back. I walked through the living room (the front door was wide open) and noticed the TV out in the living room was on but was blacking out and coming back to "TV" in a rhythmic way. So I go back to her bedroom where she's watching TV in her room with my son and asked her what was up with the TV in the living room blinking on and off the way it was. She replied, "It's those dang airplanes that fly over with their radar on." ( She lives near an airport that has Navy trainer planes doing "touch and goes" all the time).  I couldn't help but notice the TV in her bedroom was working just fine so I said , "But Liz, your TV in the bedroom works just fine." Her reply?............"That because they don't fly over this side of the house stupid!"...................I turned and just walked away with my son. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

The one I'm MOST sick of hearing is "I CAN'T" when it means "I'm too damm lazy to try hard enough".

[Harry P.]

I got a quote from Geico a couple years ago, and they also weren't even within hollerin' distance of my underwriter. Was kinda surprised.

Yeah, there are so many variables. Your age, your driving record, heck, even where you park your car at night (in a garage vs. on the street). So there is no "one size fits all" answer. That's why I get a quote from everyone. In my case, based on my specific factors (age, location, record, car, miles driven per year, etc.), it just so happened that Geico had the best rates for me and my specific situation. For someone else, it could just as well be Farmers... or Progressive... or whoever. The point is, shop around!

[Harry P.]

Her's an interesting story regarding auto insurance.

I got a call from Allstate (or was it State Farm?)... one of those two. Anyway, they wanted to give me a quote on auto insurance. So I said fire away! But you aren't going to beat the rate that Geico is charging me.

And here's the weird part... they asked me what car I was insuring. So I told them, 2007 Mustang GT. And here's the really weird part: they told me that they do not insure my car! Yep, they flat out refused to offer me insurance based on the car I own.

Needless to say, I was pretty shocked. If my car is some sort of "high risk" car, you'd think they would jump at the chance to insure me and stick me with some outrageous premium! But no... they just said that insurance for my car was not available.

[vintagedragcrazy]

I once asked a telemarketer who was annoying me what was her cup size. She said it was none of my business. I asked, "Why not? You want my personal information." She let off a string of expletives before she hung up.

I had a friend that someone called him at supper time about his phone service so he told the person that he didn't have a phone and they said ok sorry to bother you and hung up! How stupid is that. I had one call one time about a credit card that I was approved so I told them that would come in handy since I just filed bankruptcy and could use the cash then the guy said he would get back with me he had to talk to his boss.

vince

[Tom Geiger]

 

And here's the weird part... they asked me what car I was insuring. So I told them, 2007 Mustang GT. And here's the really weird part: they told me that they do not insure my car! Yep, they flat out refused to offer me insurance based on the car I own.

Here's one that happened to me...  I owned a full size Dodge van and my wife drove a Dodge Caravan. We bought a brand new Caravan and I still had the old one on the insurance as I planned on selling it privately.  I called in the insurance on the new van, got an instant insurance card and thought all was well...  then I get the phone call.  They were refusing to insure the new van and dropping me.  Why?  Because I must have been running a taxi service or a contractor business since I had three vans!  They didn't even have the courtesy to ask a question!