Let’s get this party started with the story that started it all, shall we? This post originally appeared on The Toast.
It starts with a phone call.
You won’t call them. They’ll call you. When your phone rings, you’ll pick it up; but before you have the chance to speak, a voice will come through the earpiece: “Welcome to Boothworld Industries. My name is Samantha and I will be your operator for today. Name?”
Your operator’s name may or may not be Samantha; whoever it is, it will be an innocuous name. Forgettable.
It sounds like a customer service call, although you can’t recall having had any dealings with a company called “Boothworld Industries” before. Did Time Warner start outsourcing their Internet services? Unlikely. You consider asking your “operator” — whatever that means — to add you to their DNC list.
You don’t, though. You’ll admit it: You’re curious. Boothworld Industries already knows who you are, they tell you. So you’ll give the name of someone you know — an old flame, an ex-friend, your next-door neighbor. You’ll say something like, “Nathan Miller.” Why? You have no idea. Why not?
“Nathan Miller,” your operator will repeat back to you. “Remodeling is scheduled for December 9. Would you like to reschedule?” Again: Why not? You’ll reply in the affirmative. You will hear typing on the other end for a moment — heavy typing, pounded out with a heavy hand — before your operator tells you, “I have a Tuesday appointment available. Will that work?” Again, you’ll reply in the affirmative.
The last thing your operator will ask is, “Would you like a courtesy call?” A courtesy call? That sounds nice. For the third time and final time, you’ll say yes. “Wonderful,” your operator will tell you. “We at Boothworld Industries say thanks and welcome to the club. You have a marvelous day.”
On Tuesday, you will regret your request for a courtesy call. “This is Samantha with Boothworld Industries,” your operator will say when you answer. “Your courtesy call begins now.”
What follows is several minutes of Nathan Miller’s voice pleading and begging before being choked off into a wheeze. A slight rustling; more wheezing; and finally, silence. A new voice will then appear on the line. “The scheduled work has been completed,” it will say. “We at Boothworld Industries say thanks and welcome to the club. You have a marvelous day.”
So that’s what remodeling is.
***
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[Photo via MIH83/Pixabay]
My friends and I called this number just to play stupid. We used *67 to restrict my number. My question is this: Will Boothworld Industries be able trace my number even if I used *67?
Is there an alternate site to read on? My computer tells me the connection is not secure and asks for my username and password, and while this seems incredibly fascinating, I don’t really want to deal with any complications therein.
Hi! The Toast’s archives have actually been temporarily taken offline (hence the prompt for a username and password – nothing sketchy to worry about). This piece can be accessed via the Wayback Machine here: https://web.archive.org/web/20180127224636/http://the-toast.net/2013/10/30/boothworld-industries/
The entirety of The Toast is actually going to be archived by the US Library of Congress, as well, so eventually the site will be preserved for posterity there.
Thank you!
I called this number and it’s real but it hasn’t called me back yet . . . . . Anyone know why???
Ok so i called it and yes it said my call has been logged and traced. Did it really trace my call? And will it call back if i hung up early? And is this all true on your site?