On the road
Sign on the side of a plumber’s van: “Flowjob Inc.” Clever, catchy, accurate, I’d hire them.
Marquee of a former movie theatre now used by Christian community: “What we do in life echoes in eternity.” Wait a minute, is that from the Bible, or from Gladiator? The Book of Maximus?
A Fil-American friend in the US had a problem with his credit card so he called their helpline. He got their call center in the Philippines. He knew the call center was in the Philippines because although the phone was answered by an agent affecting an American accent, he could hear the people around the agent talking loudly in Tagalog. It was like listening in on your neighborhood sari-sari store. “Kumusta kayo diyan?” my friend asked.
The call center agent replied, “I’m sorry sir, we’re not allowed to speak in Tagalog.”Â
P.S. from Din: There’s an auto detailing shop in our neighborhood where cars are polished with genuine carnauba wax, meticulously and painstakingly by hand. I can’t for the life of me remember the name of the shop, but I’ll never forget their slogan: “Best hand job in town.”
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
August 25th, 2008 at 07:15
that’s true, though. some call centers don’t allow their agents to speak in tagalog…
August 26th, 2008 at 16:16
well at at least the agent was polite.
August 27th, 2008 at 01:21
“He knew the call center was in the Philippines because although the phone was answered by an agent affecting an American accent, he could hear the people around the agent talking loudly in Tagalog.” – yeah, I get this ALL time!!! The agents ALL deny they’re in the Philippines.. even though sobrang obvious because parang palengke ang background noise. The agent will tell you, “No Ma’am, were in (xx city) in California (or some other city in the East coast)….”
August 27th, 2008 at 16:40
“I can’t for the life of me remember the name of the shop, but I’ll never forget their slogan: ‘Best hand job in town.'”
Now, that’s what I call GREAT copywriting!
And about the tagalog (or Pilipino) in the background noise…Well, contact centers should invest in noise-cancelling software aside from non-wage benefits especially those working on the late night and early morning shifts…