…The Incompetence
Some days you feel like Mr. Burns suffering through the clodish ineptitude of simpletonian scallywags.I’m taking a new programming class online through MATC. I need to get the book for the class. So, I go to the West campus (where I went to get the book for my last class) and gave the bookstore employee my class information.
They do not have my class listed. They have a similar class listed with a similar book.
What about my book for my class?
“Go to the North Campus.”
The north campus is in Mequon, …waaaay out of my way. So. I’m thinking, perhaps this book is the correct book after all. I mean, the classes are very similar, in fact the only difference seems to be that my class is online while the other class occurs in a classroom.
So, I ask the bookstore employee if they could look up the ISBN number for my class. They do, it’s the same, but the computer tells me I have to go to the north campus to get my book. It’s possible that the north campus has a different version of the book, who knows. They cannot look up my class schedule info, so I seek out the library and look it up myself. The ISBN numbers are indeed different for my class.
It’s my lunch hour, so I go back to work. Later, I decide to call the downtown campus to see if they have book. The downtown campus is more conveniently located very near my house.
“Hello, MATC bookstore.”
“Hi. I’m checking to see if you have a book I need for my online class.”
“What’s the book?”
Now, I know she’s not going to scan all the bookshelves for my book title, so I help steer her along. “How about if I give you the class number and section?”
“OK”
“Ok, it’s xxx-xxx, …”
“Ok, hold on.”
“Wait, I didn’t –“
CLICK
I didn’t get a chance to give her the section number which would identify my class as the online class. Well, let’s she what she comes up with.
…5 minutes, …10 minutes, …the muzak ends and the phone rings again. An automated voice suggests I leave a message. I decline. Back on hold. …5 minutes, the muzak ends and the phone rings again.
“Hello, MATC bookstore.”
“Yes, I’m checking on a book –“
“Hold on.”
CLICK
…5 minutes, ...10 minutes, …the muzak ends and the phone rings again.
“Hi, hold on.”
CLUNK. The phone has obviously been placed on the counter. She picks the phone up again.
“Are you waiting for Michelle?”
“I don’t know, I’m checking on a book.”
“OK, hold on.”
CLUNK. In the background I can hear her say, ‘I’m going to have to call down there again.’
…5 minutes …”Are you still waiting?”
“Yes.”
“Ok, hold on.”
…5 minutes, …in the background I hear a lot of chatting, gossiping, and occasionally someone wondering where Michelle is.
I would have liked to have hung up long ago, but I really need this book and don’t want to wait another day. After another 5 minutes it becomes apparent that they have forgotten about me. I hang up.
I call the North Campus. My hopes are not high.
“Hello, …uh, …um, ….MATC bookstore.”
“Hi, I’m checking to see if you have a book for my online class.”
“What’s the book?”
“How about if I give you the class number?”
“OK.”
“Ok, it’s xxx-xxx –“
“OK, hold on.”
“Wait, I –“
CLICK
ARRRRGH!
…5 minutes. “Ok, uh, …what is the class again?”
“The section number is xxx.”
“OK, hold on.”
Minutes later …”OK, you need to contact the Mequon campus.”
For crying out …
“Uh, you ARE the Mequon campus.”
“No, you need the North Campus.”
“You ARE the North Campus.”
“Wait, where am I?” I fucking kid you not. ”Am I in Mequon?”
“Yes.”
“Oh. Hold on.”
…5 minutes.
“Yes we have it.”
No way do I trust that this person actually has my book. “If you don’t mind, can you read my the ISBN number?”
Now this bitch takes a shitty tone with me. “Um, OK, you see …you need to give me all the information you need right up front, ok?” Said in the tone you would use with a 7 year old. “I’ve got a store full of people here.”
Goddammit you fucking ignorant bitch! You’re the one who put me on hold before I could even give you my section number and explain what it was I needed! Stupid fucking whore! “OK.”
“The number is xxx….”
“Ok, thanks.”
CLICK
Long story short, THAT number was also wrong. I wanted to bludgeon someone. MATC has two versions of the same book listed for my class. I made my best guess as to the correct version and ended up buying the one at the West Campus after work.
Next time, I buy online.
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