Tim Wescott wrote:

But, in such a situation having someone willing and able to properly
fondle the keyboard, then cheerfully tell you what you need to know, is
still better than a snide gum-chewing receptionist!

I try not to undervalue order-takers and such. Given how much value they
can add when they're on the ball (and how much they can screw up when
they're not), one cannot dismiss them as "just" anything.

Well, we 'hams' often are not the easiest customers to deal with because
we 'know' more than the gal on the other end of the phone That said,
I not so long ago ordered some xtals from JAN and mentioned my old
Harvey-Wells TBS-50 and the gal lit up like she knew what I was talking
about.

JAN has my business ever since.

-Bill