06-11-2026, 03:15 PM
I process returns for a wholesale company. We ordered a part in error, and needed to return it. The vendor has one standard warranty form for parts returns regardless if it is for a genuine warranty claim or if it is the return of a new and unused part. Even so, the form required I put the model and serial number of the piece of equipment on which the part was to be installed.
I filled out the form, and I thought I made it clear we were returning a new and unused part.
So a few minutes ago I got an email. It was apparently from a human, first and last name given, and it said, "This piece of equipment was installed on [DATE]. The unit is out of warranty."
Obviously, the person did not read my email or the original return request form--or she would have known I was trying to return a new and unused part.
I emailed back, clarifying this, and emphasizing that we know the unit is out of warranty and we are trying to return a part ordered in error.
I got back a similar reply, "This unit is out of warranty,"...etc....
I decided to call the person. Obviously, this is the dumbest return goods representative in history, or she simply isn't actually reading the emails I'm sending and she didn't read the return form either.
When I asked for her, the person answering the phone said, "She's not here today."
WHAT?
"So I've been getting canned responses from an AI email generator?"
"Yes, sir."
Long story short, the person on the phone was helpful and we can return the part, but I wanted to post this as the latest example of how companies are using AI, and in this case, it was utterly useless and did nothing to help their customer service.
Do you have an AI story where the AI was worse than useless?
I filled out the form, and I thought I made it clear we were returning a new and unused part.
So a few minutes ago I got an email. It was apparently from a human, first and last name given, and it said, "This piece of equipment was installed on [DATE]. The unit is out of warranty."
Obviously, the person did not read my email or the original return request form--or she would have known I was trying to return a new and unused part.
I emailed back, clarifying this, and emphasizing that we know the unit is out of warranty and we are trying to return a part ordered in error.
I got back a similar reply, "This unit is out of warranty,"...etc....
I decided to call the person. Obviously, this is the dumbest return goods representative in history, or she simply isn't actually reading the emails I'm sending and she didn't read the return form either.
When I asked for her, the person answering the phone said, "She's not here today."
WHAT?
"So I've been getting canned responses from an AI email generator?"
"Yes, sir."
Long story short, the person on the phone was helpful and we can return the part, but I wanted to post this as the latest example of how companies are using AI, and in this case, it was utterly useless and did nothing to help their customer service.
Do you have an AI story where the AI was worse than useless?
"If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences." -W.I. Thomas
