I'm sick of automated phone systems. Does anyone follow them? I just press 0, 0, 0 until I get a person.

Me too, Teeps.

I have the same issue as fbk with salad kits. The companies clearly think that consumers are focused on the idea of a salad kit, but too stupid to understand that it actually makes a difference what you get in the kit. Iceberg lettuce is mostly water and practically free anyway, so it's the equivalent of the guy in an ancient marketplace holding his thumb on the scale. And it's just like those burrito places that list rice as one of many ingredients, and then start you off by filling the burrito 85% full with rice. That's when you realize how they're making their money. It's depressing, and not very good PR.

I've been buying those kits for the last couple days, and haven't run across any iceberg lettuce at all. In fact, one of the salads was spinach. I can't remember what kind of green was in the other one I bought, but it was dark and leafy. I bought them at Stop & Shop (supermarket), and at Wawa (regional convenience store chain). If you're near either of those places, check them out.

I do not like automated phone systems either. In fact, those things usually result in me having to do MORE work because my Dad hates them and he immediately hangs up on them and then calls me and asks me to make the necessary phone calls. My dad does not have the type of patience to deal with it. It just frustrates him. And it seems like all of his various doctors have those systems. It particularly pisses me off when they have called because they have test results and left him a message and ask him to call back one of the automated numbers. SCREW YOU HEALTH PROVIDERS YOU ARE NOT HELPING THE GUY by making him jump hoops to get test results.

I'm sick of automated phone systems.

The worst ones are those that require you to answer verbally, as opposed to digitally. They never understand me.

Machine: How can I help you? Please say "Technical Support," "Billing," or "Other Services."

Me: Technical Support.

Machine: Did you say "Billing"?

Me: No.

Machine: Okay, please try again. Please say "Technical Support," "Billing," or "Other Services."

Me: Technical Support.

Machine: Did you say "Billing?"

Me: NO! TECHNICAL SUPPORT!

Machine: I'm sorry, I didn't catch that. Please try again.

Me: [Throws phone across room.]

I follow automated phone systems, and what annoys me is when what I want to do is not an option (which usually just works, I type in a couple PINs and it's done), and I need to talk to someone. Because EVERY TIME that happens, I take some half hour of reciting the maiden name of the last 15 generations of my family, confirming all numbers that were somehow assigned to me during my last 3 incarnations, plus some more time trying all combinations of concatenation/spacing/hyphenation/random bastardization of my last name to find how the hell they filed it, then they forget what I was asking for and I have to explain again, then they understand it wrong and do something completely unrelated to what I need, then I explain again, then they think they did it, and when I log on the website two days later I find out they didn't really do it and I'll have to call again. Rinse. Repeat.

And MP, one of these days you'll talk to some of these voice recognition stuff, and it'll go like this:

Machine: How can I help you? Please say "Technical Support," "Billing," or "Other Services."

Me: Technical Support.

Machine: It appears you are writing a letter...