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die Warteschleife (-n)
   holding pattern (aviat.); hold (on tel., Telefonwarteschleife); hold music; queue, loop (comp.)

Service-Alptraum Deutschland: Mein Leben in der Warteschleife
Service nightmare Germany: My life on hold
"Wir verbinden Sie sofort mit einem Kundenberater." = Wir verbinden dich sofort mit unserer Warteschleife. Und jetzt: Musik!
"We'll connect you right away with one of our agents." = We'll put you on hold right away. And now some music!
Schlechter Service kann ein prima Geschäftsmodell sein: Kostenpflichtige Warteschleifen nerven die Kunden, sind aber für Telefonanbieter und Callcenter äußerst lukrativ.
Bad service can be a great business model: Charging customers to be on hold* aggravates them, but is extremely lucrative for telephone companies and call centers.

*The typical charge to call a business in Germany is 14 euro cents per minute, which is split between the telco and the business.

Related:
die Schleife (-n) loop, bend; bow, ribbon; horseshoe bend; bow tie
Warteschleifen ziehen to circle (in a holding pattern)
die Telefonwarteschleife hold (on phone)
in der Warteschleife sein to be on hold; be in a holding pattern

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