Rediculous questions we are asked at work.

[Leight0n]

I'm an estate agents and quite often have to call people up who may have offered on a house just to let them know that i have only been able to leave a message for the owner, and that i will come back to them once the owner rings me to discuss the offer further.

50% of the time i will be asked the question.
"Do you know when you will ring me back?" or "Will you be ringing me back later today?" etc etc.

What a stupid question! How the hell do I know the answer to that?

What gets your goat?

[Sasha13]

When I worked at a Chinese Take Away and people called to ask 'Could they order some food please' - Why else would they be calling?????

[pterodactyl]

God, Sasha.....I say that! It's because I don't know how to start the conversation off.
Any tips on correct etiquette would be well received!!! :o)

[banjobabe]

I work in the accommodation office at a university, an english student came in to ask if she could have an extension to the deadline for her essay!!!!!

[~Wingnut~]

lol I do it too for the same reason pterodactyl!!! Gonna get Hubby to ring from now!

[Sasha13]

Dunno - bit of a no win situation cos if they just launched into 'Can I have a sweet and sour chicken with egg fried rice' I thought they were a bit rude! Maybe it was just something to do with the fact that I hated my job and was in a bad mood everytime i went there!

[Leight0n]

I totally know what you mean with the take away ordering! I always ask.

"can I place an order for delivery" or "can I place and order and i'll come and collect it"

It's not as stupid as asking "can i order some food please" and not as rude as "I'll have sweet and sour chicken with egg fried rice'

Try it out. I don't feel such an idiot if I use one of them.

[redcrx]

i always say 'Id like to place an order please' hoping that its polite enough :)

[kwicky]

Can I have a pay rise, my wife has just given birth to a new baby?

[Sado]

I was asked at what time the total eclipse some years ago would take place. When I answered 'about 11:20' the reply came back, 'is that day or night?'
Doh!

[curlyperm]

when you ring for the takeaway, you could just say 'Right have you got a pen?' when they answer the phone?
the question i hate, and i realise they HAVE to ask is, when you popped into Tesco or wherever for 2 things, and they say 'Would you like any help packing?' !!!!!!!! surely a slice of initiative is required here? ; )

[whiffy]

I just give them my house number, and they know at once to bring Naga King Prawn Phall, I never have to even mention it.

[rogerr]

My favourite is when someone phones you late at night and they say--sorry did I get you out of bed?
I always answer No I had to get up anyway to answer the phone!

[PAWSABELLE]

I always say that I'd like to place an order.
One of my pet hates is when people ring for a colleague who is on the phone and when I relay this to the caller, they say "how long will they be?". Oh just let me get my crystal ball!
Or when I send an email giving lots of information and people reply asking a question which is answered in the email which they just couldn't be bothered to read properly!

[joko]

i dont think you are actually asking permission to place a food order, more just informing of your intention - its a curious quirk the way people phrase things - things such as going in to a shop and asking -
" you don't have a 'whatever', do you?" - why not just ask for what you want, simply with a "do you have...", instead of starting by telling the shop assistant that they don't have it!

or people who ask a question that pointlessly starts with "is it just me or does..." - well obviously its not just you, so why say it?

i wonder if people feel subconsciously that it is more polite? or to sort of soften the blow of disappointment with a statement that, if the answer is negative, can be responded to with "oh, didn't think so" or "ahh, thought not"...?, as though they knew all along.

i mean is it just me or is this really irritating?
you don't agree with me, do you?

[meglet]

I really hate people that say "At the end of the day....". Its such a nonsense thing to say! Another one I hate is when you phone a company to ask something and get put through to someone who then says "Oh you've come through to the wrong department" like its my fault. No I haven't, I've BEEN PUT THROUGH TO THE WRONG DEPT!!!!!!!

[maidon]

i know this isnt really a question but I work as a cemetery assistant and was asked by a lady to find info on a lair the family had - i said i would call her back and she gave a mobile no - a while later I called and asked to speak to the woman and the voice at the other end I swear I'm sure she said "hang on a minute she's dying" - well I though omg what am I gonna do now. In actual fact what the lady did say was hang on a minute she's driving - well that was a relief I can tell you - I couldnt stop laughin when I came off the phone !