Dealing With Stupid Clients...

Gwenny · 02-11-2008, 12:02 PM

My first job, taking reservations for a very large hotel chain.

Caller: "Yes, hello, I'm looking for my boyfriend, he's staying in one of your hotels."

Me: "Which hotel?"

Caller: "How should I know?"

Me: "Do you know what city is he in?"

Caller: "I don't remember. It's a skiing area, he went skiing."

Me: "What state is it in?"

Caller: "I don't remember."

Me: "Look, I'm sorry but there's probably a hundred skiing towns in the US. I'll need to know generally where he is to start checking hotels. Is he in Colorado? Utah? Vermont?"

Caller: "I'm not sure... it was a really weird name. He flew on Alaska airlines."

Me: "Oh, is he in Alaska?"

Caller: "No, no it wasn't Alaska. Can't you just check and see if he's at any of your hotels? I have his social security number."

(Can you imagine? "Please give us your SSN in case anyone calls looking for you. This information will not be shared, thanks.")

Me: "No, ma'am, it doesn't work that way. Are you sure you don't know the name of the city?"

Caller: "Well it has a 'q' in the name."

Me: (long pause then inspiration out of nowhere) "Snoqualmie Pass, Washington?"

Caller: "That's it!"

Me: "Here's the number for the hotel..."

Caller: "Thanks. And try to be more helpful when people call. You weren't very helpful."

Alas. I only figured out that her boyfriend was in a town of 200 people knowing only which airline he flew, his intent to ski, and that the town had a "q" in the name.