Transcribed from a real conversation. I couldn’t add much that the story doesn’t already say.

(Customer has called the repair service number provided by the local cable tv company)

Customer: My cable has been out all morning!

CSR: What state do you live in?

Customer: California, why do you ask?

CSR: Well let’s see, we have an outage in San Bernardino

Customer: I don’t live in San Bernardino

CSR: It could be what the problem is. I’m not sure.

Customer: How can we find out:

CSR: We can send a service tech out. The first available appointment is Tuesday of next week.

Customer: (dumbfounded) Well maybe the picture will come back on before that?

CSR: OK, by the way, do you know about our telephone service package?