Cam I Am

Since I have some spare time right now, I was going through some pictures that I took on my cell phone, usually while working. Here are a few things that I found amusing.

I know that it’s a little fuzzy, but I found this on the lid to a big Rubbermaid storage bin. The caption reads “Warning: Suffocation Risk.” Really? You think?

This just looks like a tragic accident. I don’t know who I feel sorry for: the mouse or the wheel!

The slogan at the bottom of the right door reads “Let us remove your shorts!”

That’s all!    

Telus just keeps giving me more and more fodder to talk about!

Back in March, I posted my experience with their billing department trying to bill me for service two months past I had switched over to Shaw Digital Phone.  

Well..  they called me again in the last week..

I answered it, and they confirmed that I was me.  Then they asked me if I was still with their service..

Umm.. shouldn’t they know? 

I said no..  I had switched to Shaw.  The guy on the phone had me confirm two more times that I was no longer with them.   He sounded very puzzled.  Eventually he thanked me for my time and hung up.

At no time during this phone call did I mention that I worked for Shaw and had no intention of switching back.  That being said, at no time did he even ask if I wanted to switch back!  He took no opportunity to see if I was having problems with my new service.  He didn’t try to find even a remote possibility of me wanting to switch back to them..

How can Telus try and retain/capture market share if they don’t ASK the customer if they want it.  One of the very basic fundamentals of marketing is to ask the customer if they would use/try your service/product!

In the end, I stood there with the phone in my hand..  amazed..  or dumbfounded..  I still haven’t decided..

I’m a Facebook addict..  I freely admit that..  While I’ve been off work, I’ve spent more time logged into Facebook than I care to admit..

So, while I was on today, and one of my friends, John Giles,  posted an interesting link about Mac users vs. PC users.  At the end of this rant, was an interesting quote.  The author was commenting on the iTunes End User Agreement; specifically about how we are not to use iTunes to create biological or nuclear missiles..

After I laughed my ass off, I decided to check it out..  and sure enough, it does state that!  In fact, here is the actual wording:

“By using the Apple Software, you … agree that you will not use these products for any purposes prohibited by United States law, including, without limitation, the development, design, manufacture, or production of missiles, or nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons.”

There it is..  I’m not allowed to make a nuclear weapon using iTunes..  That’s too bad!  I mean, that “Launch Missile” icon in it is just going to waste!   What are they thinking? I know that they are covering all the bases with endless possibilities, but still..

Something else that is bothering me is this political correctness crap.  “Season’s Greetings” or “Happy Holiday’s”..    We live in Canada, where we predominantly celebrate Christmas..  So say Merry Christmas!  What’s the big deal?  Are we REALLY offending anyone with wishing them a Merry Christmas?   I’m not knocking on their doors like JW’s trying to get them to convert to my beliefs!  (I’ll save my opinion on THAT issue!)..

It’s a holiday..  Yes, there is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, but it’s about being with family..  it’s about giving gifts to those who you love..  it’s generally a happy time of year..  If  you don’t celebrate Christmas, that’s fine!  When someone says Merry Christmas to you, just say thanks and move on!

The political correctness pendulum has swung too far…

A few months ago, I posted a quick story about being called a cable insulter by someone in the elevator..

My brother, Andrew, just sent this to me, so I thought I’d share it with everyone..

I just got the most entertaining e-mail.  I thought that I’d share it with everyone!

As I posted yesterday, I’m trying to track down and buy a Nintendo Wii for Christmas this year.  In addition to me calling store upon store, I thought that I’d put an “item wanted” ad on Craigslist and Kijiji.  While on those sites, I came across an ad stating that he had a total of 6 for sale.  So, I e-mailed him to say that I was interested..  Here was his reply:

Price: $300.
Free shipping.
This is new in sealed box and with 1 year warranty.
Shipping method: eBay Courier.
Time delivery: 3 days.
 
I’m from Romania and in my country PayPal service is not available yet.
We can use eBay Exchange Package.
I’ll send the product via eBay Courier 3 days Air.
After that you will receive the instructions for payment via email and you will send the money via Western Union to an eBay agent.
eBay will inspect the goods and will confirm the payment and will make the exchange.
This method is ok for you?
 
I’ll wait for your reply asap!
 
Best regards!

Well..  Let me tell you..  I laughed my ass off!   I then replied that I know a scam when I see it… 

That should take care of that! 

Well, I thought that I’d post a few “Cable Guy Stories”…  I posted one quite some time ago about a customer who didn’t get my job title quite right!  

I’ve told a number of people this story, but one of my brothers, Andrew, has requested that I post it on my blog.

This happened back in early April..  I was working in Abbotsford at the time, installing digital phone service for customers..

I pulled up in front of this house, walked up to the front door, and rang the bell.  After about a minute, this guy answers the door.  Here’s how the converstion went..

__________________________

Me: “Hi, I’m here from Shaw Cable to install your digital phone”

Customer: “Okay….”

At this point, the average person would invite you in..  Not so much in this case..

Me: (After several silent seconds) “Okay, well I have to install this device in your house”  (I now show him the digital phone terminal)

Customer: ”Okay…”

Me: “Would I be able to have a look around inside?”

Customer: (several seconds of a blank stare) “Sure..  But that thing has to go in the house?  Are you sure that it can’t go outside?”

Me: (getting a little sarcastic here!) “I’m sure..  it would be fine until the first time that it rains, then it would short out!  I need to install it in the house near an electrical outlet, cable outlet, and a phone jack”.

Customer: (a long blank stare) “Um..  we have a problem..”

At this point the customer turns around, and goes into the house and up the stairs..  I don’t know why this guy is looking stunned at everything I say, but I follow him up into the house… 

Customer: (we are now in his kitchen) “Well, here’s the phone jack… (a long pause follows), and the cable is in the living room.”

There is another period of silence..  I’m still waiting to hear what the “problem” is, and aside from the very 70’s decor in the house, I’m failing to see a problem.  At this point, I restate that I need all three requirements together, but tell him as long as I can have it near an electrical outlet, I can install phone and cable.  He stares again, as if I’m a martian or something, and then says that he should call his wife..  He calls her and it seems that the conversation went about as strange as the one that I had with him.  In the end, his wife tells him to have it installed in the basement, in a storage room.  He takes me downstairs and opens the door to a room that is completely dark and is full of boxes and other things.  With the door open, he just stares at me.

Me: “Is there a light in there?”

Customer: “Um, no…  we use this.” 

With this, he turns on some light within the room..  I’m beginning to wonder what this guy is on..

Me:  “Okay..  is there cable and power in here?”

Customer: “No..  is that going to be a problem?”

Me:  “Well, in order for this to work yes..  I can install it in here, but I’d need to have all of these boxes moved so that I could run the lines to where I need to”

Customer:  “Well..  I’ll have to reschedule again.”

Me: “Okay..  for next week?  What works for you?”

Customer: “In May” (keep in mind this happened in early April)

Me: (getting frustrated with this guy!) “Okay, I’ll have the order cancelled and you can call in to re-order once you are ready.”

This is where it gets interesting!

Customer: (leading me to the front door) “Okay..  You’ll have to excuse me but I’m recovering from…. (long pause)..  exercise..  I’m not a professional or anything, but I’m recovering from….exercise..”

I’m thinking, WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN?  Recovering from exercise? And your not a professional?  AT WHAT?  Exercise?  Is that why you seem to have the ability to react as fast as a snail on a skating rink?

With that, I left..  Believe it or not, I’ve shortened the story to spare you all..  In total, I spent 20 minutes with this guy…  It was a very long 20 minutes at that..