Real people answering business calls

I'm in a really good mood these days, all because of the many phone calls I've been making. I occasionally email or do online chat with businesses, but nothing is as satisfying as talking to real people. In the past couple of years, those I've connected with were all about getting business done and moving on to the next customer.

Not so in my recent contacts with these companies...

TimeWarner: signed up for their 3-way package and then called them several times re how to's and accounts. Two credit card companies: questions about charges and balances. Apple sales, applications and technical representatives about my new Mac Mini. Everyone has been pleasant, helpful in referring me to the right person, and patient with my questions about where they're located, what's the weather like there, etc. Some even initiate the more personal location/weather questions. TW is top rated on my list. The most pleasant and helpful - females. Men are pleasant and helpful, yes, but they get right to business, get it done and say goodbye.

Of course, all these contacts come only after managing to get to a real live person in the land of "press 1/2/3/etc". I appreciate a challenge. Takes me back to the days when I worked in a municipality and navigated the phone lines finding insurance and retirement info for employees. No "press 1/2/3/etc." but lots of "hold on, please, while I transfer your call.

We have a choice. We can moan and groan about getting through to a real person, the right person, or we can have fun with it. I choose to have fun. Then there are those who own cell phones, connections via Twitter, etc... They don't know what they are missing, talking with real life business reps, getting to know them, asking where are you, what's the weather like.

When signing up for cable, TW rep was up for a long chat. I was dreading the thought of so many commercials when she asked if I wanted DVR. Tell me about it, I suggested. She took the time to tell me about her own experiences with her DVR. Turns out we like a lot of the same shows. As soon as she mentioned pausing for commercials and then coming back to fast forward through them, I was sold.

No sun yet today, but the birds are singing this morning here in New York State's Southern Tier. Talked with a credit card rep last night. She said the birds there in Idaho start communicating the moment it starts to get light at 4 A.M.