I recently discovered that Sprint PCS offers a discount to Microsoft employees. Wahoo, I thought -- a chance to save a few dollars. I emailed the Sprint account rep for Microsoft and asked how to do it. He explained that he couldn't make the change, but to call this number and give them a discount code.
OK, I called that number. Then I tried to figure out what to do while "Claire, [my] Sprint PCS virtual service representative" offered to help me. Virtual service is right. Eventually, "Claire" gave up and connected me with a human being. Who told me that oh, no, they couldn't do that; I needed to call a different number. Total time: 12 minutes.
Off to the second number. I wait on hold a long time waiting for someone, but at least that annoying Claire is gone. No phone tree at all, in fact. I finally connect to someone — who explains that, actually, they can't add discount codes; that's handled by a different office. With a different phone number. Total time: 8 minutes.
OK, try the third. No hold time this time around. My call is prompty answered by a human being — who explains that all of their computers are being 'upgraded', so can I please call back a few hours later. Total time: 1 minute.
All the above happened yesterday. So today I call the third number, and, after just a couple of minutes of hold time, am connected to a person. Even more amazing, this person claims to be able to do what I want. For reasons I can't understand, this still seems to take a long time, but eventually, she assures me that it's done. Total time: 11 minutes.
So, 32 minutes on the phone to do this. Sheez...
Posted by Mike at July 9, 2002 11:36 AM