Why does everything have to be a challenge?

AUFred

AUFred

WAR EAGLE!!!
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In May I decided to move my office home. I had a lot of stuff stored in my office so I needed to rent a storage unit. I had a hard time finding one but finally found a unit for rent. I had to pay for the last few days of May and an administrative fee to set up the rental unit and by the way if you rent for 6 months the 7th month is free. So I paid for 6 months. This should have handled June, July, August, September, October, November & December(FREE). The woman was not very quick and I had serious doubts about this arrangement. Last Thursday I paid for 6 more months. The young man with his flat billed cap with the stickers still on it and his bling was even unable to print me a receipt. The woman from 6 months ago is looking like a rocket scientist. The day before Christmas I get a bill for December, January, 2 late fees and an additional administrative fee. Today I went back over totally prepared for a war. Today I found someone capable of handling things and printing a receipt. I believe it is a Christmas Miracle.
 
AUFred said:
In May I decided to move my office home. I had a lot of stuff stored in my office so I needed to rent a storage unit. I had a hard time finding one but finally found a unit for rent. I had to pay for the last few days of May and an administrative fee to set up the rental unit and by the way if you rent for 6 months the 7th month is free. So I paid for 6 months. This should have handled June, July, August, September, October, November & December(FREE). The woman was not very quick and I had serious doubts about this arrangement. Last Thursday I paid for 6 more months. The young man with his flat billed cap with the stickers still on it and his bling was even unable to print me a receipt. The woman from 6 months ago is looking like a rocket scientist. The day before Christmas I get a bill for December, January, 2 late fees and an additional administrative fee. Today I went back over totally prepared for a war. Today I found someone capable of handling things and printing a receipt. I believe it is a Christmas Miracle.
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Fred I used to be like you, but have since decided that I refuse to work with people who have no idea how to give customer service.. For this reason if I run into an incompetent person I usually leave, hang up or ask for someone else. I rather not rag on these people that have no idea how to assist us in simple tasks..

Basically I rather lower my stress level and make life easier for everyone.. ;)
 
Francis said:
Fred I used to be like you, but have since decided that I refuse to work with people who have no idea how to give customer service.. For this reason if I run into an incompetent person I usually leave, hang up or ask for someone else. I rather not rag on these people that have no idea how to assist us in simple tasks..

Basically I rather lower my stress level and make life easier for everyone.. ;)
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To be fair, people in customer service don't always think fondly of customers either.

After a few years in customer service, I was so fed up with people that I just stopped caring.
 
Kyle B said:
To be fair, people in customer service don't always think fondly of customers either.

After a few years in customer service, I was so fed up with people that I just stopped caring.
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Well Kyle, I have been in the service industry in some form shape or manner for 20 some years.. In all those years I have always treated people with respect and gotten the respect back. If I had no idea what I was doing, I asked people and didn't just try to "wing it" so I could look good for others. The customer should always expect the best of service, just as you, me and anyone else always does..

If you get lousy customer service people, think about how you stopped caring and think about yourself :mad and when you get someone who really goes out of their way, think about me.. :D
 
Francis said:
Fred I used to be like you, but have since decided that I refuse to work with people who have no idea how to give customer service.. For this reason if I run into an incompetent person I usually leave, hang up or ask for someone else. I rather not rag on these people that have no idea how to assist us in simple tasks..

Basically I rather lower my stress level and make life easier for everyone.. ;)
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I usually succeed in not venting on the incompetent. I just need a release somewhere.
 
darkangel said:
Kyle does Fred actually seem to be the type of person that would get anyone fed up? That's the problem right there is that "some" people in customer service just don't care.
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Nope, Fred seems to me like a friendly person. But, just as there are some people in customer service who get customers fed up, there are also plenty of customers that get people in customer service fed up.

Francis said:
Well Kyle, I have been in the service industry in some form shape or manner for 20 some years.. In all those years I have always treated people with respect and gotten the respect back. If I had no idea what I was doing, I asked people and didn't just try to "wing it" so I could look good for others. The customer should always expect the best of service, just as you, me and anyone else always does..

If you get lousy customer service people, think about how you stopped caring and think about yourself :mad and when you get someone who really goes out of their way, think about me.. :D
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The reason why I responded to your comment the way I did was because you stated "Fred I used to be like you, but have since decided that I refuse to work with people who have no idea how to give customer service." When I worked in customer service, I would have loved to ignore people who weren't the nicest customers either. Obviously, you can't though.

I didn't mean in any way to suggest that Fred or customers in general were horrible rude people! Of course not.:D

I just wanted to play devil's advocate and remind everyone that there is a flip side to the coin.

Also, when I said I stopped caring, I don't mean that I just shut down and treated customers like garbage. I still did my job in a friendly and efficient way, it's just that I no longer had the aspiration to go above and beyond.
 
Kyle B said:
To be fair, people in customer service don't always think fondly of customers either.

After a few years in customer service, I was so fed up with people that I just stopped caring.
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I don't believe either the woman 6 months ago or the young man last week were properly trained or may be neither could successfully operate a pencil sharpener.
 
AUFred said:
I could not be in a customer service position. I know I am incapable of dealing with people who treat me like dirt. I really have a problem with condescending attitudes.
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I was in customer service for a few years and it's all a matter of self control and actually listening to the people. Sure people can be real asses but service with a smile is the best way to handle them while sorting out the issues that they are having.
 
Kyle B said:
I didn't mean in any way to suggest that Fred or customers in general were horrible rude people! Of course not.:D

I just wanted to play devil's advocate and remind everyone that there is a flip side to the coin.

Also, when I said I stopped caring, I don't mean that I just shut down and treated customers like garbage. I still did my job in a friendly and efficient way, it's just that I no longer had the aspiration to go above and beyond.
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Kyle, customer service as you describe it certainly can have it challenges but have you ever sat in front of a customer twice your size slamming his fists down because he was upset and it's no ones fault ?

I have and managed to make the customer happy by doing the right things.. Many times and now this customer believes I am a valued asset to his company..

When I call Customer Service, of any company, I don't raise my voice, swear or even threaten for the simple reason that I know it will not get me anywhere..

If more people understood that logic, Customer Service would be much quicker..

Of course if Customer Service sucks and I cannot get resolution to my problem quickly, I find a new company to support me.. Which means if they do not do their jobs right, that company will do layoffs..
 
darkangel said:
Kyle if they can't handle a customer service job then they shouldn't be in that line of work.
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I'm sure lots of people would avoid customer service jobs if they could such as retail etc. given that the pay is rather low for an entry position and you have to put up with a lot of BS from customers. But, for many people that's all they can find, have the skills for, etc. When I had a chance to get out of customer service for another job I did, but who knows, I may be forced to take a position in the field again in the near future. I'm definitely not ruling out.

Your statement is true, if you can't handle customer service, you shouldn't be in it. But the situation isn't always ideal and people are forced to take customer service jobs even if they don't like it.

I wish your statement applied to certain customers too, but it doesn't. :(
 
Francis said:
Kyle, customer service as you describe it certainly can have it challenges but have you ever sat in front of a customer twice your size slamming his fists down because he was upset and it's no ones fault ?

I have and managed to make the customer happy by doing the right things.. Many times and now this customer believes I am a valued asset to his company..

When I call Customer Service, of any company, I don't raise my voice, swear or even threaten for the simple reason that I know it will not get me anywhere..

If more people understood that logic, Customer Service would be much quicker..

Of course if Customer Service sucks and I cannot get resolution to my problem quickly, I find a new company to support me.. Which means if they do not do their jobs right, that company will do layoffs..
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Yea, I had a few customers who yelled and pounded their fists at me because they were pissed at something out of my control. I was able to handle the situations, but they were still unpleasant for me as an employee.

I think as a person in customer service, you learn to be a better customer as well. You know what annoys you as a customer service worker and avoid doing that same thing to someone in the field.

I hope that you guys didn't interpret my original statement as condescending towards Fred. I just wanted to remind everyone, before the people in Fred's story were ripped apart (once again, not defending their poor service), that there are annoying customers just as there are annoying customer service workers.
 
I work in customer service and have for 13 years now. It's a wonder I'm not in jail for murder. :D

Seriously though - I do tend to have higher expectations of service because I know how I treat my customers and I expect the same level of service. So when I get morons like you did Fred... I really struggle with my temper. Good for you for keeping it under control. :thumbup
 
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