No, we are still not the State Rail Authority, no matter how many times you ask...

We get a lot of phone calls from people looking for State Rail. I've answered the phone many times to hear: "Hello, I am looking for the train schedule from Asquith to the City and I want to leave around 6.30pm and I need to get in by --" and it's at this point that I try to cut in and say, "I'm sorry, but this is not State Rail. We're a web development company. We build websites." People are usually taken aback or irritated and still try to pump train information out of me or ask me what number they should be dialling - unfortunately I know nothing! Don't know the train schedule and I don't know the real number. I love it when people get all uppity like, "But I READ this phone number in a brochure!" and I wanna say, "Congratulations, but this still isn't the right number! The number has changed. It's time to move on..." ;-)

My favourite wrong number happened recently with this old guy who I'm guessing was in his 70s or 80s. He, of course, asked for State Rail Authority.

Man: "Hi, is this the State Rail Authority?"
Me: "No, I'm sorry, we are not State Rail. We are a web development company."
Man: "A what????"
Me: "Web development company."
Man: "Huh? Can you help me with a freight question?"
Me: "No sir, we are a web development company, sir."
Man: "Huh?"
Me: "Web development, sir?"
Man: "A what development?"
Me: "Web. We build websites. For the internet."
Man: "Ah, web development! Say, do you know this web developer from L.A.? I can't remember his name. But he is a web developer from L.A."
Me: (thinking: oh, that guy! hahaha) "I'm sorry, sir, but I'm not from L.A."
Man: "Aren't you?"
Me: "No."
Man: "Where are you from??"
Me: "I'm an east coast girl, sir. Masssachusetts."
Man: "Ahhhh! Kennedy Country!"
Me: "Yes, sir, indeed!"
Man: "So I have this niece who needs help with her website. It's just one page, but she wants to put music on it and make it really innovative."
Me: (lying in order to get off the phone) "Oh, I'm sorry sir, but we mostly do government websites."
Man: "Ah, only boring and dry sites, eh?"
Me: (still lying) "Yup!"

And then he wished me a lovely day and told me it was nice talking to me. Too funny!

I find it hysterical when so many people just keep asking, "So this isn't the State Rail?" I say no. "So, what you're saying is, this is not the State Rail office." Ummmm, no, it is not. "Is this Central Station?" No. "So you're saying this is not Central Station?"

I so wanna say, "Okay, you asked three times, so now I can tell you that this is State Rail! I just wanted to be sure you were really serious!" ;-)