A New Customer Trick

[shanmonster]

Me: Thank you for calling *** Hotels. How may I help you?

Silly Customer (SC): Hi! I'm Mr. Joe Blow. I've been a longtime customer of yours. Do you remember me?

Me: No, I'm sorry, sir. I can't say that I do.

SC: No matter. How long have you been working for the hotel?

Me: Just under a year.

SC: Ah. I've been retired for two years. In any case, I'd like to book a room for Dr. John Doe. He's very famous, works for a university, and has written lots of books. I got him hooked on your hotel about twenty years ago, and I'm sure he's in your system. He's very famous.

....

Me: *quotes room*

SC: Can he get a lower rate? He's very famous.

Wow. Name dropping for hotel booking. Fun.

Comments

[sageincave.livejournal.com]

Isn't it lovely when people ask how long you've been doing your job?

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

It's rather strange, really.

[sageincave.livejournal.com]

I think people do it so that they can call the phone rep inexperienced later in the call, or so that they can compare your length of employment to their length of customer-hood, time at similar job, etc. This particular guy sounded like he wanted to establish his authority (and John Doe's) as compared to yours.

I suppose you refrained from telling him that you have written a couple of books yourself, or asking him why he's running someone else's errands since he's "retired".