h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

There is a 50% chance the receptionist is going to be Good. Which, of course, leaves a 51% chance he/she will be Bad. I say those odds are good enough to hate them all.
Me: "um, hello" (winning smile)
REC: "the queue's over there" (files nails, reads magazine)
Me: (30 minutes later) "um..." (weak grin)
REC: "no, over THERE. Wait your turn, please." (sharp look of understated annoyance)
Me:'(1 hour later) "Hi, I've come to see about my loan/dog/appointment/bill/lost hat/divorce proceedings..."
REC: Either a.) "oh, you need Cheryl. She's not in today, but I can take a message"
b.) "no, you have the wrong department. You want next door. And they are closed"
c.) "We are closing/my lunch break is in 30 minutes, which means we are actually closed"
d.) "We are closing now. Please come back tomorrow, and as tomorrow is Friday, come back on Monday"

Hmmmm.....why do I not like you now?

I am a poor defenceless receptionist.

I am only doing my job.

I cannot help it if the person you want is at lunch.

Vicki, I'm sure that drumz doesn't mean tha you're one of the receptionists in the 51% that are bad.
Yes, you're only doing your job, but you yourself have to admit that the scenario he describes would be rather infuriating.
If the receptionist in question is more interested in his/her magazine than actually trying to find out why the person in front of him/her is looking lost, I guess I'd be a bit grumpy as well.

I know. I just like to wind people up really.

I am also a telephonist so when people phone up and try to sell something, I refuse to let them speak to anyone. I tell then to put it in the post and the partners will then deal with it.

I just hate telesales.

Oh, don't we all??

In all honesty, I've learned to accept telephonists and their attitudes when I call soemwhere, since I do that all day long in my line of work. And I've worked in a similar role as well, so I know what it's like.

I can live with telesales as I've done that for a job - pays the university fees.
But did you see that? She admitted it! She LIKES to wind people up! I knew there was a conspiaracy amongst receptionists!

I have worked as a receptionist in a number of places, and have tried to always fall into the category of 'good ones'. However, being a receptionist also means manning the switchboard, and I've had some real pains on there. People who proceed to tell me their life story rather than telling me who they need to be put through to. People who know they need to talk to somebody other than the receptionist, but don't know the name or department. People who complain to me about the way the company has treated them over 'whatever' and expect me to be able to do something about it. People who think that being abusive will suddenly make the person they want to talk to, available.

I could go on, but I'll stop there. I'm starting to annoy myself

I came across this useful site in the battle against telesales...
http://www.xs4all.nl/~egbg/counterscript.html

Medical receptionists are especially bad, IMHO. Yes, they are very hard-pressed, and people who appear late or not at all for their appointments are a real pain. But I've never been late for a Dr's appointment. Ever. I've also never been called in less than twenty minutes after my appointment time. Please, when we check in, can you tell us what time we might expect our 3-10 appointment to occur?

PAIN ON PHONE: Can I speak to who ever pays the gas bill please?

ME: We don't have gas.

PAIN ON PHONE: Well, can I speak to who ever pays the bills.

ME: He's out at lunch at the moment. What is it concerning?

PAIN ON PHONE: Your gas bill.

ME: We don't have gas.

PAIN ON PHONE: Is it possible to speak to the owner of the business please?

ME: Can I ask what it is concerning please?

PAIN ON PHONE: Your gas bill.

ME: We don't have gas.

PAIN ON PHONE: Can I speak to his secretary then please?

ME: You're talking to her.

PAIN ON PHONE: Can I take your name please?

ME: Sorry, It's company policy not to divulge that information.

PAIN ON PHONE: I'll ring back another day.



This conversation actually happened. AAARRRGGGGHHH!!!!

The Eternal Struggle: Telesales vs Receptionists
That would be a bad conversation on either side of the coin.
Just remember, most telesales hate what they do and only do it to put food on the table. It is a miserable job that most checkout operators and septic tank fixers would not envy.
And yeah, medical rec's are the worst of the lot.
And my original point didnt state clearly enough that many receptionists are bloody brilliant. Not to mention pretty.

I think I might come under the "bloody brilliant" section.

BTW Do we have a smiley yet for looking smug?