Sears - Press 1 for English (rant)

[lago]

I purchased a lawn tractor from Sears about 2 weeks ago. Yesterday, the wife answered the phone and it was Sears, 'press 1 for english, 2 for spanish'. She refused to press 1 and she finally hung up. Not sure what they wanted but they will never be able to contact us if they continue that tactic.
Lago

[dbhost]

Marque el dos para Espaniol....

Facts is facts, the Spanish influence in the United States is unquestionably sizable, and they are a sizable market. For every one person like you they tick off, they gained 100 Spanish speakers...

[LinuxRandal]

I put peoples hold on hold, I also would be saying, for English press 1, for xxx press flash...............

[cabinetman]

In South Florida, at least understanding Spanish is helpful. It's difficult to get CS on the phone that speaks "understandable" English. If it's real bad, we have to ask for an English speaking service person by saying "no comprende".
.

[Len]

When I get CS reps on the phone that can't speak "understandable" English I start speaking Japanese at them. That usually gets a supervisor on the line fairly quick.

Len

[dkerfoot]

I have no problem with language options, but it REALLY irritates me to be called and put on hold or asked to respond to a machine.

If the call isn't important enough to them to have a real person make it, it certainly isn't important enough for me to respond to it.

[dbhost]

I have no problem with language options, but it REALLY irritates me to be called and put on hold or asked to respond to a machine.

If the call isn't important enough to them to have a real person make it, it certainly isn't important enough for me to respond to it.

I hang up on machines immediately. If they can't be bothered with THEIR time to actually talk to me, I can't be bothered to listen to their machine.

[leehljp]

When I get CS reps on the phone that can't speak "understandable" English I start speaking Japanese at them. That usually gets a supervisor on the line fairly quick.

Len

Now that is just plum kashikoi!

[Mr__Bill]

Years ago... in a place far far away... I took a course in stage dialects. The only dialect that I truly mastered was Northern Minnesotan aka Swedish/Norwegian/Finish-English. So when I can not understand customer service I answer in NM dialect but rather than getting a supervisor the person usually just yells into the phone that I am making fun of them and hangs up.

I too have to admit that the only recorded incoming message that I will stay on the line for is the one that starts with.... "Please stand by for a Tsunami warning alert..."

Bill, now on the Sunny Oregon Coast

[gsmittle]

Years ago... in a place far far away... I took a course in stage dialects. The only dialect that I truly mastered was Northern Minnesotan aka Swedish/Norwegian/Finish-English. So when I can not understand customer service I answer in NM dialect but rather than getting a supervisor the person usually just yells into the phone that I am making fun of them and hangs up.

I too have to admit that the only recorded incoming message that I will stay on the line for is the one that starts with.... "Please stand by for a Tsunami warning alert..."

Bill, now on the Sunny Oregon Coast

NM is a fun dialect, doncha know...

If it's a machine, I hang up. If it's a person, and I have the time to spare, I'll mess with their heads a little bit. That includes a mishmash of German, Russian, Deep Southern English, and as many other dialects as I can think of. If they're offering a mortgage, I feign misunderstanding and keep asking them how I get my free money.

g.

[Uncle Cracker]

The only automated phone greeting I want to hear is one that says "Please hold for Ms. Locklear..."

[LCHIEN]

The only automated phone greeting I want to hear is one that says "Please hold for Ms. Locklear..."

Is that Heather Learjet?

[Uncle Cracker]

The most attractive woman I've ever been ignored by...

[LCHIEN]

regarding the original topic I'm not so stubborn I'll cut off my nose to spite my face.
Sears is a private business and they are trying to make their customers happy (well OK that may be another story) and comfortable. If their research indicated that a Spanish option is necessary and they've implemented it, then its more power to them. As a company they should not be trying to implement any policy agenda for languages and I guess if you have feelings about this you have the right to shop elsewhere.

Now, bilingual ballots? That's a political issue and I can't and won't go there.

[docrowan]

Sears is a private business and they are trying to make their customers happy (well OK that may be another story) and comfortable. If their research indicated that a Spanish option is necessary and they've implemented it, then its more power to them. As a company they should not be trying to implement any policy agenda for languages and I guess if you have feelings about this you have the right to shop elsewhere.

Now, bilingual ballots? That's a political issue and I can't and won't go there.

I agree with you, Loring. Private business has to satisfy and communicate with their customers. If they determine they have enough customers that speak a particular language to make it worth their while to translate their documents or advertising, more power to them. I'm personally not offended or concerned, but I will hang up on a machine that calls me no matter what language it's talking in. I also will take a slightly dimmer view of a company that uses a machine to cold call me.