Dish Network called me this morning just as I was getting off the highway on my way to work. For nine minutes and thirty-seven seconds, the plodding customer service representative on the other end of the phone ran through a tiring list of things I may not have realized or considered about my new Dish service.

I was offended by this futile attempt to upsell me and win my loyalty. They had the audacity to call me before 9am and consume my daytime minutes, as well! Of course, it was my fault that I gave them a cell phone for a home number, but to even feel entitled to nearly 10 minutes of my time, during my transition-to-work period!? Astonsihing! The list of inane considerations they dragged me through made me wonder whether the service I had selected is normally consumed by people with no prior knowledge of the internet, television, billing, installation or customer service, at all.

When I actually decided to engage with the representative and comment on how long it took to get the Dish installed -- how unreliable certain Dish installation personnel have been, arriving a full 55 minutes after his scheduled 5-hour window -- I was dragooned into more explanations and excuses. What's done is done, Dish!