“I’m sorry, but you can’t *always* be experiencing a higher volume of calls than average…”

Some call centers always seem to state that they are experiencing a higher volume of calls than average, and they always place customers on hold.
 
“Why is it that all the places one calls are always experiencing a higher volume of calls than usual it’s never the opposite. #suckythings” was posted on X/Twitter by Josiane Ochman on June 28, 2013. “If every call service is always ‘experiencing a higher call volume than normal’, maybe it’s time to re-assess ‘normal’ and plan accordingly?” was posted on X/Twitter by Jamie Strachan on October 26, 2015. “Dear Call Centres, If you’re ALWAYS ‘experiencing a higher volume of calls than normal’ you need to update your definition of normal. Yours, On hold and frustrated, again” was posted on X/Twitter by saoili on January 4, 2019.
 
“I’m sorry, but you can’t *always* be experiencing a higher volume of calls than average. That’s not how averages work” was posted on X/Twitter by Kit Yates on January 21, 2023. The tweet received over 80,000 likes.
   
     
X/Twitter
chowdown
@chowdown
Hah. Always. RT: @Juicy_Nesta: Ever notice that every time you call Shaw they’re “experiencing a higher volume of calls than normal.”
6:37 PM · Jan 13, 2011
 
X/Twitter
Josiane Ochman
@PiloteXYZ
Why is it that all the places one calls are always experiencing a higher volume of calls than usual it’s never the opposite. #suckythings
4:24 PM · Jun 28, 2013
 
X/Twitter
Xazmin Garza 🏋🏽‍♀️
@StartsWithanX
If I always expect u to be “experiencing a higher volume of calls than expected,” why don’t u ever expect it?
4:18 PM · Jan 7, 2014
       
X/Twitter
Marco Suarez
@MarcoSuarez
You’re ALWAYS experiencing a higher call volume than usual. How about upping your expectations???
9:29 AM · Jan 15, 2014
 
X/Twitter 
Jamie Strachan
@jamiestrachan
If every call service is always “experiencing a higher call volume than normal”, maybe it’s time to re-assess “normal” and plan accordingly?
1:55 PM · Oct 26, 2015
 
X/Twitter
Air Canada
@AirCanada
@SAJStevenson We may be experiencing a higher volume of calls than usual. We appreciate your patience. /jl
12:10 PM · Apr 18, 2016
     
X/Twitter
saoili
@saoili
Dear Call Centres,
If you’re ALWAYS ‘experiencing a higher volume of calls than normal’ you need to update your definition of normal.
Yours,
On hold and frustrated, again
10:23 AM · Jan 4, 2019
 
X/Twitter
Patrick O’Flynn
@oflynnsocial
Is there ever a time when any call centre does not claim to be “experiencing a higher volume of calls than usual”?
7:51 AM · Jan 18, 2021
   
X/Twitter
Tim Gross
@ByTimGross
If you’re ALWAYS experiencing a higher call volume than normal, doesn’t that make it your normal call volume?
3:00 PM · Apr 5, 2021
 
X/Twitter
Heyday by Hootsuite
@heyday_ai
ok but how can you ALWAYS be experiencing a higher volume of calls than expected?
3:20 PM · Dec 28, 2022
 
X/Twitter
Kit Yates
@Kit_Yates_Maths
I’m sorry, but you can’t *always* be experiencing a higher volume of calls than average.
That’s not how averages work.
3:15 AM · Jan 21, 2023
       
X/Twitter
Bob Kostic
@causticbob
I’m sorry, but you can’t *always* be experiencing a higher volume of calls than average. That’s not how averages work.
7:32 PM · Aug 2, 2023
 
X/Twitter
Jim Corbridge
@MrBonMot
I’ve just been explaining to the man who finally answered my call, that you can’t *always* be experiencing a higher volume of calls than average.That’s not how averages work!
12:11 PM · Jan 26, 2024
 
Facebook
im not right in the head.com
January 29, 2024 at 6:05 PM ·
From https://twitter.com/kit_yates_maths
(The January 21, 2023 tweet by Kit Yates is shown.—ed.)