The call-centre menu is supposed to guide customers through a range of services, but more often than not it leads to frustration and confusion. Nigel Clarke has cracked it, however, with his website Please Press 1 which lists shortcuts for more than 250 organisations' call centres. "I'm not against phone menus, they have a practical need," says Clarke. "But I am against bad design where they don't think about the customers." Clarke says that in the UK about one billion calls are made each year to call centres, and shaving a minute off each call could save £100 million and nearly 8,000 working years. He's given us some cheats for four of the UK's worst offenders to save you a little time and money.
IKEA 08453 583 363Shop online queries
This number has 24 options and four menu levels.
Save up to one minute 36 seconds.
Introductory message wait time: seven seconds.
Information on delivery including prices, questions and issues: 1
- Check whether they deliver to your postcode
- Ask a question about your delivery
- Question after your delivery has taken place
Queries about IKEA kitchens or bathrooms: 2
- Kitchen installation
- Need assistance with your kitchen or bathroom
- [NOT USED]
- Not yet purchased your kitchen or bathroom and need advice
After-sales advice: 3
- If you have a case-reference number
- If you do not have a case-reference number
If you need help with the website or placing an order online: 4
- Help with the website
- Problems accessing your account
- Assemble-service enquiry
- Family-card query
CURRYS/PC WORLD 0844 561 1234
Technical team, customer service
This number has 197 options over nine menu levels. Save up to three minutes.
Buy or book a Knowhow service: 1
- Buy Knowhow service
- Book an in-store service
- Book an in-home service
- Over-the-phone service or make a remote Show How booking
Help using a product if it is not working or damaged: 2
- Home appliances, such as washing machines and dishwashers
- Computers or something you plug into a computer (Apple product: 1; computer software, router or network: 2)
- Flatscreen television
- Anything else (CRT and rear-projection TV: 1; DVDs, video and audio: 2; cameras, camcorders and satnavs: 3; games consoles:
4; e-readers or tablets: 5; Sky: 6)
**Update on a repair, delivery or anything else:
3**
- Address and opening hours / Search for a Currys store
- Search for a PC World store / Delivery
- Update on repair
Codes for two other, more efficient organisations:
JOHN LEWIS 08456 049 049
Customer services
This has ten options over three menu levels. You can save up to 46 seconds.
Place an order:<span class="s1">1
Other enquiries:<span class="s3">2
- Product availability
- Delivery enquiries
- Faulty electrical products
TESCO 0800 505 555
Customer services
This menu has seven options over two menu levels. You can save up to ten seconds.
Nearest store: 1
Clubcard information: 2
Grocery home shopping: 3
Tesco Direct: 4
- Place a new order
- Existing orders
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
