...proof of the theory that people that watch oprah are stupid?
 |
"Theory"????? |
Posted on 02/20/2004 5:11:52 PM PST by SwinneySwitch
Dialers thought they were voting in her show's 'Pop Star Challenge.'
Oprah Winfrey's "Pop Star Challenge" flooded a Corpus Christi business that sells valves and controls with toll-free voter calls that forced the business to shut off its own phone line.
On Monday the "Oprah Winfrey Show," taped in Chicago, posted a toll-free number for viewers to vote on one of three vocalist finalists in the program's "Pop Star Challenge." Instead of casting their vote, thousands of callers reached the toll-free line for South Texas Valve & Controls.
The owner was forced to call AT&T to disconnect the line.
"The constant ringing was driving our folks nuts," said Eric Burnett, president of South Texas Valve & Controls. "A small business like us can't stand an unlimited onslaught like this."
Winfrey officials and Burnett are stumped about what happened. Both numbers, to vote for a vocalist or to reach the South Texas business, are identical, except for the toll-free prefix.
The correct number to call to vote for the pop star contest finalist LaShell Griffin is (866) 677-2403, or (866) OPRAH-03. Callers apparently mistakenly dialed the 877 prefix of Burnett's number instead of the proper prefix of 866.
Harpo Production officials said that voting results will be calculated based on the number of calls received at the proper toll-free number or online.
"We are receiving continual voter calls," said Carly Ubersox, spokeswoman for Harpo Productions, producer of Oprah's show. "That leads us to believe that it's viewer confusion about the toll-free prefix."
Producers viewed the video from Monday's program and acertained that the correct number was aired, Ubersox said. Harpo officials also contacted their communication's server, MCI, to ensure that the calls were routed correctly.
MCI says there's no glitch in their system, that this happens frequently and is usually caused by callers misdialing, Ubersox said.
"People often just remember it's an 800 number, and they dial 800," she said.
Oprah Winfrey was not available for comment.
Burnett's toll free lines are used to receive orders from industry for specialty valves and controls used by refineries, power plants and the shipping industry throughout Central and South Texas. The company recently opened a valve repair service center in the Port Lavaca area.
"It's a terrible time for this," Burnett said. "With our new sales outlet referring orders to our toll free line, we're still assessing the loss."
Toll free calls for orders at the South Texas business were routed into six other customer service lines.
"It caused a total meltdown," Burnett said. "It really went crazy when the program aired on the East Coast. We've spent two full days basically out of business."
Burnett contacted Harpo Productions Thursday afternoon and said he was told by Ubersox that Harpo officials hadn't had similar problems from other toll-free line holders with numbers matching the two other finalist's last two digits.
"I find it hard to believe that all the people supposedly misdialing were calling to vote for the same finalist," Burnett said.
Disconnecting the line stopped most of the calls, but the company is still getting Oprah's voter calls on its other toll-free line, (800) 677-2403.
"That has to be people just not paying attention," Burnett said. "But we're considering all legal options. I'm not the kind that likes to sue people. And my daughters are saying, 'Dad you're not going to take action against Oprah.' "
Contact Mike Baird at 886-3774 or bairdm@caller.com
Me too, Eric.
Me too, Eric.
Except that we're talking about Oprah viewers who have room temperature IQs.
...proof of the theory that people that watch oprah are stupid?
|
"Theory"????? |
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.