Its not always the customer though...
A while back, I was looking to purchase a laptop. A fairly simple purchase I thought. Wanting to avoid the acne riddled fucktards in PC World, I thought I'd try Dell. So, I called them up. What happened totally amazed me...

Me (after navigating the usual throw a 6 to start phone system): Hello, I'd like to buy a laptop please.
Dell: A what sir?
Me: A laptop PC.
Dell: A PC sir? Certainly sir. What kind of PC would you like?
M: A laptop.
D: ?
M: (confused now) Laptop. You know, not a big table top PC, a smaller one that you can have on your lap.
D: Like a notebook sir?

*At this point I twig that Dell don't sell laptops, they sell notebooks*

M: Yes, a notebook.
D: What will you be using the notebook for sir?
M: The usual - internet, itunes. Not gaming though, I have an xbox.
D: What is an xbox sir?
M: WTF? Doesn't matter, I just want to use the internet and itunes.
D: Ok sir. Will you be playing good games on your notebook?
M: No. Just the internet and itunes. Maybe MS Office.
D: Ok sir. What is itunes?
M: *click*

Ended up in PC World anyway. Who were to be fair, very helpful. And had heard of itunes.
(animal252 last activated his kitten hammer on, Sun 7 Sep 2008, 15:12, 5 replies)

you were not talking to a person
it was a computerised telephone ordering system

they use them on 118118 too, usually an oriental sounding voice

*looks around furtively*

*strightens tin foils hat*
( spimf ™ is whoever you want him to be, Sun 7 Sep 2008, 15:26, closed)

spimfy
You say that, but I actually asked whether they were a real person and they got quite upset with me on 118118. I think they just train them to sound like robots.
( Madam Marlboro wonders if you've found her yet, Sun 7 Sep 2008, 16:48, closed)

Well,
I am the voice of the talking clock.

No, really.
(Stu Moo winner of five nobble piece prizes, Sun 7 Sep 2008, 21:05, closed)

well
i am the voice of the mysterons
( Smash Monkey lowering the tone of the whole internet, Sun 7 Sep 2008, 21:24, closed)

I just bought a laptop/notebook from Dell
I called customer support and got this lovely lady in India who couldn't speak ANY English. I didn't learn anything, but she was nice. At least...I think she was. I couldn't exactly understand her.
(TheWonderfulWombat It came to me in a dream., Mon 8 Sep 2008, 2:37, closed)