Frito-Lay Week 8

I can't believe it's been 8 weeks! This week's Consumer Affairs highlights...

Best names
Women:
Lourdef
Leundra
Gianna
Terryl
Verta
Latosha
Verada
Thomesha
Teyle
Ginger Shea
Geneva
Enis
Ramona
Ebony
Rahsaan
Rachana (sh sound)
Lericka (luh-REE-kuh)
And my personal favorite, Laryquennta

Just one male finalist this time:
Gruby

Best last name:
Buzzard

Weirdest questions
How many sunflowers does it take to make this package of sunflower seeds?

Do you need any refridgeration/coolant products for the plants? I'd like to be in the bidding.

I have a bag of Fiery Habanero chips. How do you say that first word? Fear-y?

Weirdest complaint
"My chips are see-through."

Dumbest complaint
I got a lady who was mad that a 7/8 oz bag listed nutrition facts for a 1 oz serving just like the larger bags. She said it was deceiving- the bag should say 7/8 of serving. I didn't even get to find out what kind of chips she was talking about because she said, "I don't like the way that company does business. I'm going to find some other chips," and hung up. Didn't report that one!

Shortest attention spans
When I asked for the UPC about 30 seconds into the call- " I bought 2 packages. The other's in the back of the car. I'm calling on a cell phone."

Best call that went down the drain (just like McGeorge's clarinet lessons)
A kid called about 2 Flamin' Hot Cheetos in a regular Cheetos bag, and when I asked him for bag information he said, "I don't really care- my mom just told me to call." I told him I needed bag info to file an accurate report and he said, "That's ok, just wanted to let you know." Sorry, buddy, no one's going to know! That's a complaint that we should really know about, too.

Chief ding-dong consumers
Consumer: My chips are stale.
Rep (it wasn't me): Are they harder or softer than usual?
Consumer: They just LOOK stale.

When I asked for the barcode- "I don't think there's a barcode on it- standby!"

When I asked for the expiration date on the bag- "July 11." "That's today's date, sir- I need the date on the bag." He still didn't get the message.

Best locations from which to call
Rolla, MO (For those of you not familiar with the classic documentary film "Spellbound," Rolla is the home of our friend Ted Brigham in said film.)

Louisville, CO (Pronounced like our Lewisville. :) Also the home of a friend from BYU.)

I also got my first calls from Alaska and Hawaii this week. That's a milestone. :)

Most original use of the word fluffy
"I don't know why these chips are broken- I always buy the fluffy bags."

Best alternative names for a colon
dash
semicolon
2 dots
time mark

Weirdest suggestion
An old lady wanted us to take the picture of salsa off the Tostitos Scoops bag- she said it was picante sauce, which is not good for dipping Scoops because it's thinner than salsa.

Weirdest compliment
"My cat loves Nacho Cheese Doritos!! I can't leave the bag out or he'll eat them all!!" (I think she might have been on something- her voice was a little too loud and enthused.)

Nicest call ever/Best joke
This guy was complaining, but you wouldn't think so by the way he was talking to me. After I answered he said, "What a polite greeting!" and asked me to repeat my name because it was important for him to call me by name (although he kept calling me Summers). Whenever I asked him for bag information he said "it would be my pleasure." And when I asked for his name he said, "Well, everyone calls me Mr. B, but my proper name is..." He kept saying how much he appreciated being treated with courtesy by such a polite, professional representative, and that he hoped I felt I had been treated with the same respect. (Yeah that's right, I sound professional. :) ) And then at the end of the call when I asked him if there was anything else, he asked if I had time for a quick story, then proceeded to tell me a joke about a couple in marriage counseling. The therapist told them they really needed to know each other and asked the husband if he knew the wife's favorite flower. The husband replied, "Yeah, it's Pilsbury, isn't it?" Classic.

Most obsessive caller
An interesting woman called...she was polite, but she kept repeating information slowly and loudly as though I was deaf. She felt compelled to give me her address and phone # 3 times, and her first and middle name. (She's Ginger Shea in the name list.) I thought she might be a repeat caller, and I was right- this was her 40th call since 2003. I couldn't report her though, because it has to be their 8th call in the same year and this was only her 6th or 7th.

Hope you enjoyed! In related news, I am no longer a nomad moving around the office- I have my own desk now! And every so often my manager issues a challenge for who can take the most calls. I tied for first place for taking 66 calls yesterday between 10 and 4. I took 91 calls total- that's definitely a record. I just got lucky with a lot of short calls, though. And my prize was a set of Quaker oats, raisins, 2 spoons and 2 bowls. Sweet! In nonrelated news, I finally have my permit! Forgot to mention that last time. Have a great weekend!