PayPal Virtual Agent Fail
I’m sitting there conversing with Sarah about an important financial transaction and just as things start to get heated, I realize she is a “Virtual Agent.”
Related Stuff
Blog post March 10th, 2010 by emory @ clickfire in Webmaster Life 7 Comments »
March 10th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
Sarah Palin?
March 10th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Dude, I had that same problem a couple weeks ago. I got the same message in response to a very simple worded question. I instantly realized she’s a dumb bot. That was pretty annoying.
March 15th, 2010 at 10:11 am
I would have liked to believe those “virtual agents” were real people. It’s sad companies have gotten so cheap…
March 21st, 2010 at 2:09 pm
i have got messege from paypal also a long time later.
March 27th, 2010 at 10:52 am
Here is my experience:
Sarah – PayPal :
Hello, I’m Sarah and I’m here to answer your questions about PayPal. Even though I’d like to be a real person, I’m not. I’m programmed to answer your questions. How can I help you?
You :
Hi, I have a web developer that is setting up a web site for me to use paypal. He is telling me that he needs access to login to my paypal account to set up to receive payments at my web site. Is this true? Is there another way to do this? Thank you, Dave
Sarah – PayPal :
I’m afraid I didn’t understand your question. Can you ask it more simply?
You :
Are you an automated artifical human?
Sarah – PayPal :
I’m a virtual person. My software allows me to speak with you. Let me know if there is anything else I can do for you.
You :
How about answering my question?
Sarah – PayPal :
Okay. How exactly can I help you?
You :
have a web developer that is setting up a web site for me to use paypal. He is telling me that he needs access to login to my paypal account to set up to receive payments at my web site. Is this true? Is there another way to do this?
Sarah – PayPal :
I’m afraid I didn’t understand your question. Can you ask it more simply?
You :
web developer needs access to login to my paypal account Is this true?
Sarah – PayPal :
I found the following information. You can click to learn more.
I can’t log in to my account.
My PayPal account is limited or restricted.
You :
Not what I asked.
Sarah – PayPal :
I found the following information. Click and I’ll tell you more.
I can’t log in to my account.
My PayPal account is limited or restricted.
You :
This would be funny if I had time to waste….
Sarah – PayPal :
I love to be in good mood but I also don’t play around when I am talking about business! Let me know if there is anything else I can do for you.
You :
You don’t help either.
Sarah – PayPal :
I’m sorry you’ve had a frustrating experience. Perhaps I can help you if you ask me a short, clear question.
Sarah – PayPal :
I’m opening a page which will allow you to send a copy of our conversation.
Sarah – PayPal :
I’m opening our user survey for you now.
April 19th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
LOL!!!! A real failure. I think it is better if such questions are sent to real customer service people. Virtual Agents must be used for simple queries.
July 17th, 2010 at 12:44 am
Yet more utter insanity – everyone likes talking to fake people about delicate financial transactions!
I can’t believe PayPal is so short of cash they would resort to such idiocy. I realize everyone is on this tangent of “best way to be competitive is to keep labor costs down,” but I know that’s a fad pure and simple. The more important something is, the more you want to pay for labor, for good service.