We have all experienced the rude customer service rep. The one who seems bored by your call and unsympathetic is an understatement. I’ve been hung up on, yelled at, and even had one flatly refuse to transfer me to a supervisor. I’ve always been baffled by the sort of person who would take these jobs when they obviously hate dealing with people.
Some of the worst rated customer service industries are cable/cell phone providers (AT&T) and airlines (all of them). But I think we tend to overlook the obvious, government offices.
These people are never cheerful and while I really can’t blame them…couldn’t they at least fake it? I’m sorry if I am the hundredth person to call with a complaint but couldn’t you try to resolve my issue instead of telling me too bad, that’s the way it is regardless of whether I agree or not?
Maybe then I wouldn’t have to scream at you to assist me and hang up when you start to cry.
(I’m totally kidding…really…)
Actually AT&T hasn't been much of a problem for me. And Contiential Airlines has always been very nice over the phone. But I know what you mean. There are sometimes people you come across that you wonder if maybe they need some sugar to sweeten their mood.
ReplyDeleteI had a computer IT person tell me I must've shut my computer down wrong when I was trying to get assistance. That was fun.
Oh, customer service. I used to be a customer service rep and it was quite a hilarious job. TONS of writing material. And I like to think I was nice to the mean people and tried to help them. I have incredible patience. I am writer! I have to!
ReplyDeleteI've heard bad things about AT&T...but don't let it ruin your day. Some people just suck :)
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I used to work in Financial Aid at a large university in Canada. My customers were crying, panicking, angry students who needed money. It was a crappy, stressful job, but you know what? I FAKED IT. I smiled and I listened and I was sympathetic and I was polite. A little empathy goes a long way. Besides, these crying students were why I had a job in the first place.
ReplyDeleteSo I have no patience for rude people who answer phones. Because the people who call you are the reason you get paid.
I work for the area that licenses all the medical personnel and facilities in Tennessee. I just fix their computers but I overhear a lot of those phone calls going on in the course of my work. I don't know if I could deal with it all day. They'll be on one line and have four other lines ringing. People apparently send off their application for a license, then stalk our offices by phone every day until it goes through. (My logic is, if the people had to spend less time on the phone answering questions, they might have time to process more applications and you might get your license faster!)
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I were in Home Depot today and had the rudest cashier. I thought my husband was going to rip her a new one. he's not one to stand and take someones attitude. I hate when people get that way. Those people over seas on tech support are never like that. Our companies have trained them well. Now if only we can train our own people. *oh sorry, I left reality for a moment there. ;)
ReplyDeleteMost of my working life has been in tourism, retail and call centres. I think it's all about the attitude. 9 days out of 10, I love the idiots. The give me great stories to tell.
ReplyDeleteExample:
Me: On the left, you'll see the Orange Encrusted Sponge.
Tourist: Is that the green thing over there?
Me: No, Ma'am it's the Orange Encrusted Sponge.
Tourist: Ooooooh! It's that white thing.
If you let them get to you, you'd go crazy.
I think lots of CS reps start out okay, but they have a low Idiot Tolerance. And once that's broken they become the demons you're talkin about.