Bad customer service or just bad customers.

Littlestars_2

I read a lot about how there is so much bad customer service out there but does anyone who ever thinks the problem may be them. If you have ever worked in retail/call centres then you may understand the the amount of abuse, screams and personal insults that you need to put up with from customers because most of time they cant be bothered reading information or do the wrong thing themselves yet its all personally my fault they booked in the wrong delivery date. And not to forget the whole "I'm married to Mr Jones so why can i not discuss his order this is disgusting i will be writing a complaint as i placed the order he has nothing to do with this"...well maybe don't commit fraud and use someone else's card so we don't need to do down the why i cant speak to you regarding DPA.

Yes don't get me wrong some people should not work in customer service as they don't have the skills not want to really do the job so it does exist, but please remember when you next feel that the service you have received is appalling to treat us like humans too as you will get more than screaming and swearing down the phone demanding thats that cant possible be done.

daytona0

Depending on who you work 4 it is generally the customers being cranks, but some do deserve a reasonable resolution! Shouting and screaming is just part o the job. When I was training agents I always said that no matter how bad the call was, it would be over in 5 minutes so don't worry!

kwikbreaks

I love this site - http://notalwaysright.com/

Some years back I read through the entire archive (it took an age) and since then make reading the daily additions one of the things I do each day.

justjohn

i don't think good CS should reward bad customers.

daytona0

kwikbreaks wrote: »

I love this site - http://notalwaysright.com/

Some years back I read through the entire archive (it took an age) and since then make reading the daily additions one of the things I do each day.

Skeptical about that site only because the sort o things said as the "punchline" tend to be things which agents THINK rather than SAY.

Still good though

4743hudsonj

I know what you mean, im not going to go into personal stories (although there are a few) but one of my pet peeves are posts here on this forum with lines like "The manager/assistant was very rude and/or arrogant" etc etc etc blah blah blah.

I disagreement of opinion is not being rude. These people are not paid to say 'yes sir, right away sir, sorry sir'. The worst this is most of the time these posters are asking workers to do impossible/impractical things or things that they are not required to do and are therefore being arrogant themselves.

One of my favorite groups before it got removed was 'wanting to dropkick customers in the face'. I might give that notalwaysright a try.

[/Rant]

bluenoseam

I've worked in retail long enough to basically have an inbuilt ability to blank out people who are being idiots - it makes my day so much easier. If I had a pound for every time someone wanted to deal with a manager rather than me or told me I was wrong when I am right I could have retired 10 years ago.

Pet peeves are as follows

• People who insist on using their mobile phone during a transaction
• People who send up their kids with products they aren't of age to buy
• People who get nippy when you ID them (they're almost always underage - people over age are generally polite & show ID no questions)
• People who demand a refund when they're not entitled claiming its "their right!" - no it's not
• People who assume I have any control over prices, "what's my best price, the one that's on the sticker!"
• People who allow their kids to eat Greggs products & drop half of it over the floor (just WHY!)

I am guilty however of being a jerk to telesales people, my number is registered with TPS though, so far as I'm concerned unsolicited calls are fair game. I have a lot of fun with the "microsoft" ones and I'm close to the point where I'm going to start playing Gerry Bednob sound clips to the ones from abroad - check him out on YouTube!

My stories of the eejits I deal with could fill several books, coming soon in Christmas 2015 "tales from the retail frontline" - not for the faint hearted!

Chickabiddybex

It's horrible sometimes. There is no reason to swear at people. No reason to shout. I know it's frustrating when you don't get your way but it's not solved by being mean. What satisfaction do you get from trying to upset other people?

As bad as I have been treated by companies in the past myself, I never find pleasure from the misfortune of an innocent employee. It just doesn't help me. Hearing them be sad gives me nothing.

To anyone out there who has screamed down the phone at a customer service rep, or maybe even just got super arsey with them... You damn coward! They're not allowed to argue back! They can't call you a ***** or they get fired! You probably made them cry after you hung up. Made them embarrassed in front of their coworkers. Maybe even quit their job. Or just added to their stress and when they got home they thought about it for ages. "What's wrong honey? Why aren't you eating? You seem sad." "Oh, nothing. Just... tired"

DON'T DO IT

If you think I'm exaggerating: congratulations! You've never worked in customer service!

bluenoseam

Chickabiddybex wrote: »

It's horrible sometimes. There is no reason to swear at people. No reason to shout. I know it's frustrating when you don't get your way but it's not solved by being mean. What satisfaction do you get from trying to upset other people?

As bad as I have been treated by companies in the past myself, I never find pleasure from the misfortune of an innocent employee. It just doesn't help me. Hearing them be sad gives me nothing.

To anyone out there who has screamed down the phone at a customer service rep, or maybe even just got super arsey with them... You damn coward! They're not allowed to argue back! They can't call you a ***** or they get fired! You probably made them cry after you hung up. Made them embarrassed in front of their coworkers. Maybe even quit their job. Or just added to their stress and when they got home they thought about it for ages. "What's wrong honey? Why aren't you eating? You seem sad." "Oh, nothing. Just... tired"

DON'T DO IT

If you think I'm exaggerating: congratulations! You've never worked in customer service!

I have for many many years, but when someone cold calls a telephone number registered to avoid cold calls it's then considered malicious. When that person's also engaging in illegal activity designed to defraud & misappropriate my hard earned money (through customer service) it's then very much open season. While I know that person's just collecting a paycheque every bit as much as I am, I'm afraid I have zero sympathy for them as they're engaging in illegal activity and doing so knowingly. Only takes a few seconds to read the script to understand that.

marlot

The thing that really annoys me is CS staff who are more interested in speaking to each other than serving their customer.

I've no problem with someone just wrapping up what they're saying, but I regularly give up after waiting 15-30 seconds and not being acknowledged. I simply leave the items I was going to buy on the counter and walk out. Most CS staff don't blink an eye even then.

Money-Saving-King

bluenoseam wrote: »

People who send up their kids with products they aren't of age to buy

My main annoyance is when the kids go to a till with seemingly the parents approval, you scan something in, then it seems like the parents have just used the kids to get one item scanned whilst they go and shop to reserve a till so they can go straight to it once all their shopping is done.

I've got to admit now if kids go to the till I won't scan a single thing till I know the parents have got the cash out and are going to pay.