Customer Service

JoeCool10

JoeCool10

Active Member
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Somewhat Known 10 Year Club
Why don't people understand that if you're rude you aren't going to get business? I just called Office Depot to see if there was an email address I could send a document to for them to print, and the lady on the phone sounded like the last thing she wanted to do was to answer my EXTREMELY simple question. In the words of Stephanie Tanner, HOW RUDE!
 
I've been on both sides of it. Let's face it, the people on the ground level providing customer service are just there because they need a job and a paycheck, not because they passionately believe in the merits of the company they're working for. And trust me, for every decent person like yourself who just wants answers to simple questions, there are several people who don't really view customer service providers as people and will happily ring up and start ranting right off the bat.

Sometimes you have a good day and it's easy to be nice to people, but when you get some nasty piece of work ring you up and start having a go, it kind of ruins you for the rest of the day.
 
I would agree with the ground staff just being there to get paid and not having any affinity towards the company. Most of them anyway. That's why it's attractive to students trying to get money on the side, it's easy work. Now as for call centres I don't really like them because either they don't always deal with your problem straight away or just waste time trying to sell you things. I know it's their job but it's annoying.
 
HK said:
I've been on both sides of it. Let's face it, the people on the ground level providing customer service are just there because they need a job and a paycheck, not because they passionately believe in the merits of the company they're working for. And trust me, for every decent person like yourself who just wants answers to simple questions, there are several people who don't really view customer service providers as people and will happily ring up and start ranting right off the bat.

Sometimes you have a good day and it's easy to be nice to people, but when you get some nasty piece of work ring you up and start having a go, it kind of ruins you for the rest of the day.
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I do agree with you in every sense of your words :nod: and i do understand too how hard it is when from their end- they receive ridiculous complaints etc. BUT i don't think it's proper or even professional being in what we call customer service representative that they're expected to uphold the company's missions/ goals and when they're having a bad day---take it out on OTHER customers who are NOT rude ? I don't think that's fair at all :ninja
 
Gosh I'm just glad to get someone who speaks good enuf English to understand me and be understood now a days! You ask a question outside someone's rigid playbook and you might as well ask the meaning of life!
 
hart said:
Gosh I'm just glad to get someone who speaks good enuf English to understand me and be understood now a days! You ask a question outside someone's rigid playbook and you might as well ask the meaning of life!
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Yeah I agree with you :thumbup. When such is the case- and I don't seem to get anywhere with that representative, i dont waste time. I ask to be transferred to a supervisor right away. It's just tough though during the weekends to even get a good enough supervisor too who can help :(
 
PurpleDove said:
I do agree with you in every sense of your words :nod: and i do understand too how hard it is when from their end- they receive ridiculous complaints etc. BUT i don't think it's proper or even professional being in what we call customer service representative that they're expected to uphold the company's missions/ goals and when they're having a bad day---take it out on OTHER customers who are NOT rude ? I don't think that's fair at all :ninja
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I agree that it's absolutely not what you're hired for, but I don't blame people for having a bad attitude about it. It's the kind of job you do because you can't get anything better right then. It's circular - people are shitty to them, so they're shitty to people, who get a bad impression so are shitty to the next one they talk to, and so on...

I think the majority do try to not let one bad customer affect their whole interaction with everyone else, but I know some customers can be incredibly rude and nasty, and then seem surprised and offended when you aren't all smiles and nice back to them. And then they complain, as if they weren't the ones who started it!

My worst nightmare is never being able to get out of customer service :) I'd quite like to do an accounting course, you know, something quiet where you rarely have to deal with people.
 
Good responses everyone, and I agree to what everyone says. There is a side to every story and you have to see that when dealing with people. But I've even been on the end where someone called into the workplace trying to sell their product, but when I politely declined, they had a fucking shit fit. I mean, yes, it sucks that you couldn't sell your product. After all, it's your job. But when you're told NO, it means no and that answer is to be respected. Meh, people in general just usually suck lol. Oh, I have to point out what hart said too. She made a very good point about the people who come to this country and don't speak English. I STRONGLY agree that learning English should be a requirement to get your legal documentation to live in this country. It's like, I'm not gonna decide to move to France, not knowing French, expect everyone there to know what I'm saying when I get there and then get pissed when people don't understand me. It's not right.
 
Press 1 for english..Press 2 to get the fuck out of the country till you learn to speak the damn language


Its a shame that I live in America and have to press 1. I shouldnt have to Press 1 haha


Its sad that people take their bad days out on other people. If it happens to me I tell them im sorry for making them have a bad day, then when they say No its not your fault. Then I just say, well dont take it out on me then.
 
Haus said:
Press 1 for english..Press 2 to get the fuck out of the country till you learn to speak the damn language


Its a shame that I live in America and have to press 1. I shouldnt have to Press 1 haha


Its sad that people take their bad days out on other people. If it happens to me I tell them im sorry for making them have a bad day, then when they say No its not your fault. Then I just say, well dont take it out on me then.
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Those are another thing I can't stand, waiting on those answering systems. Makes me want to put my head through a fucking brick wall.
 
I loved working in customer service :) call center wasn't bad either, mindless/tedious work.

Always happy to help the clients, didn't give them shit unless they dished it first... and never got in trouble for it. I always stayed professional and made them feel stupid for acting like a toddler until they appologized.

Disappointing though being the customer to places that fill their areas with untrained delinquents who don’t give a shit. I see happier workers in McDonalds!
 
Haus said:
Its sad that people take their bad days out on other people. If it happens to me I tell them im sorry for making them have a bad day, then when they say No its not your fault. Then I just say, well dont take it out on me then.
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Hey, an excellent reverse Psychology technique :clap :clap


Thornless said:
I always stayed professional and made them feel stupid for acting like a toddler until they apologized.
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By maintaining your composure, you're heaping burning coals of shame on their heads without them noticing it hence you get an apology. Good one :thumbup :clap
 
As a checkout chick, I have trouble understanding why some customers still make the same mistakes every time they come through. Like geez, is it so bad to just wait that extra second so EFTPOS will be ready instead of swiping too soon and getting all flustered and impatient? But since being a checkout chick, I find it weird being a customer. Cause then I can empathise with all their troubles too so I be on my best behaviour :D
 
KimmyCharmeleon said:
As a checkout chick, I have trouble understanding why some customers still make the same mistakes every time they come through. Like geez, is it so bad to just wait that extra second so EFTPOS will be ready instead of swiping too soon and getting all flustered and impatient? But since being a checkout chick, I find it weird being a customer. Cause then I can empathise with all their troubles too so I be on my best behaviour :D
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:nod: I've been a waitress so I know what kind of crap they have to put up with. I always tip generously and I tend to be understanding about mistakes. I know I made enough of them so I really have no right to complain. :ninja
 
KimmyCharmeleon said:
But since being a checkout chick, I find it weird being a customer. Cause then I can empathise with all their troubles too so I be on my best behaviour :D
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Maybe all teenagers should have to take part-time jobs doing customer service or waitressing and so on, so everyone can understand what it's like!

Like national service for the service industry :p
 
I always try my best to explain to customers why we make mistakes. I once made a list of every thing I hate about my checkout chick job, it was up to 60 last time I checked. No idea where it is now. I hate it when I ask for the TYPE of apple they buy, and they go "They were a dollar ninety something I think". Wow that helps. I can't price check on my friggen register.
 
KimmyCharmeleon said:
I always try my best to explain to customers why we make mistakes. I once made a list of every thing I hate about my checkout chick job, it was up to 60 last time I checked. No idea where it is now. I hate it when I ask for the TYPE of apple they buy, and they go "They were a dollar ninety something I think". Wow that helps. I can't price check on my friggen register.
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They put sticker barcodes on them here do the line jobs are easier. :)

I will say this about the baggers these days, they aren't trained and have no common sense how to bag. I make a point to put the items on the belt so they are grouped how they should be bagged.. and the kids always wait until there is a bunch and start putting the bread in with canned food. Of the meat in with veg, the cleaner in with food etc... I tend to stop them however, and politely ask them to stop and let me take over though.

Most times I will use self check out to avoid problems if there are no decent baggers aside from my three year old. She rocks at it!
 
Ahh yeah, they have the stickers here too, they have a 4 digit number on it which we put in instead of the price, that's true :)

I always ask customers before I go packing dodgy stuff together. Some of them don't mind say bottles of detergent with cans or something. But one customer told me to put this laundry detergent with her milk (liquid form in this zip lock plastic package) I was like "Are you sure?!" :eek and they're like "Yeeaaaah I'm only going home". Sheesh lol.
 
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