Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
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Tele-Menu-Maze

“Press 1 for new idea, press 2 for search, press 3 for overview, press 4 for …”
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When calling businesses or authorities nowadays, one seldom speaks directly with a live voice, but must first navigate a labyrinth of choices on several stages before finally often arriving at a dead end. This exercise could be developed into a tele-menu-maze challenge charging callers to try to get to the goal of a non-visible maze by choosing directions via the number buttons.

For example, “Press 1 to turn left, press 2 to go straight ahead, press 3 to turn right or press 4 to turn around.”
“3”
“Press 1 to turn left, press 3 to turn right or press 4 to turn around.”
”2”
”Press 4 to turn around”

Solving the maze might mean winning a small prize or no charge for the call or to allow only tenacious or intelligent callers to ring you.

FarmerJohn, Apr 28 2004

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       Nice - only the truly worthy complete the quest and get to talk to a customer services rep.

Also, of course, "You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike"
hippo, Apr 28 2024
  

       Farmer John! Welcome back!   

       This might make dealing with automated systems more entertaining certainly. [+]   

       Adding a graphic to this might be cool. Hmm.
doctorremulac3, Apr 28 2024
  

       A nice whirly, bleepy, goggly jackpot sound effect that goes on for a full three minutes when you finally reach a rep, like when a one-armed bandit is about to spill
Edie, Apr 28 2024
  

       The loops where you get back to the beginning are cool but the best one is where pressing 0 repeatedly gets you disconnected.
Voice, Apr 29 2024
  

       *Beep* "You have been eaten by a grue."
JakePatterson, Apr 29 2024
  

       You emerge from the maze to find that 20 years have passed in the world ouside [+]
pocmloc, Apr 30 2024
  
      
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