Callers who claim to also be CSRs?

[Angry_Hippie]

Why is it that almost every time I have a caller who does the annoying little things, such as reading numbers in 10's and saying "oh" instead of zero, not spelling hard words, but spelling easy ones, eating while talking, and going at an insanely fast pace...

...almost without fail these customers will say coyly at some point during the call "I know what its like to do your job I do the same thing". WTF I hardly ever believe these people, if you talk on the phone for hours a day and type much of what is spoken most people learn habits that encourage accuracy and speed. Are these people sucky CSR's at work?

I do act a little out of the normal when I'm the customer on the phone. When the rep gives me info I tend to read it back (fairly rare for most customer). I also have the bad habit of punctuating any silence with a quick "thank you" and there was that one time where I just HAD to say my closing script to end a call when I was talking to the security team at my credit card company (I was frazzled and on the phone so it was just natural lol). That CSR's believed me when I said I am one too.

[PapaAustin]

If they feel the need to verbally tell you that they do a similar job, then they prolly don't. Instead of trying to console you with words of how they sympathize, they should do everything within their power to make things go smoothly for you. Actions speak louder than words.

[blas]

They ought to know better, but don't always.

There were lots of Kwik Trip (or other gas station employees still in their uniform) who came in and threw huge piss fits over being carded, even though they probably spend every day being screamed at themselves for carding people.

[LifeCarnie]

You're forgetting one thing, some customer service reps just suck. So this person could be in the same line of work.

I talk to other CSR's, who work for our distributors, and some of them eat; chew gum; talk to other people off the phone; talk on speaker phones because they think it makes them cool (Grrrr....speaker phones); and my all time favorite - the rep who put me on hold, with no warning, when I was mid-response to a really technical question.

And than there is my other personal pet peeve, people who are supposed to be some degree of business professionals, but they speak in street slang.

The word....is A-S-K, not A-X-E. If you attempt to axe someone something, I believe that would be considered attempted murder. Or just bad grammar, since a noun is being used as a verb.

And for the love of god. Never say A-X-E-S.

[Kogo Shuko]

Being a CSR has taught me to be a better customer.

How can it not? You just don't do all those rude things. >_< Erg!

My problem is though that when some says Thanks, have a nice day, I always say "You as well." and I've been caught saying that in the wrong case, like "Thank you for shopping here" "You as well." Wait what? lol

[Sparky]

My problem is though that when some says Thanks, have a nice day, I always say "You as well." and I've been caught saying that in the wrong case, like "Thank you for shopping here" "You as well." Wait what? lol

Clerk: "Have a nice day!"
Me: "You're welcome." (wait... whu..)

Angry Hippie, is it really so annoying when a customer says "oh" instead of "zero"? I always prefer to say "oh" because, believe it or not, "zero" seems to take up too much time . Of course if the number's something like MKJ4308TO45, well then it could certainly be confusing, but credit card numbers and such don't have letters in them.

But I understand how little things can grate. I'll always try to say "zero" if it makes CSRs happier.

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

The first sucky customer I EVER got at my call center job claimed to be a former call center rep. If that's true I feel sorry for those who got service from her.

She wanted access to a man's account, but this account had a note on it clearly stating "NO FEMALE CALLERS" so I told her I could not allow her access. She said that's not true and she can have access as long as she has his SSN. I tell her no, he's the only one who can access it, regardless of what info she provides. She then demands I initiate a three way call and get the guy on the line so she can access the account. I told her sorry, my system can't do that (true).

She goes BALLISTIC:

"Oh yes it CAN! I used to work at a a call center I know how your systems run!"

"Ma'am, things don't work the same at every call center."

"I know what I'm talking about it, I used do your job, set up a three way call and GIVE ME ACCESS TO THAT DAMNED ACCOUNT!"

And on and on it went until she finally hung up.

What a bitch.

[XCashier]

My problem is though that when some says Thanks, have a nice day, I always say "You as well." and I've been caught saying that in the wrong case, like "Thank you for shopping here" "You as well." Wait what? lol

I always find that rather amusing. And even if it is an auto-pilot answer, at least the customer is being polite!

[Apathy]

I had a lady come into the store, see something that was priced incorrectly (old sign left up after a product change), and she demanded that she get this $50 item for the three dollars the sign said.
The whole time she was going on about how she'd worked in retail for 20 years, so she knew that we had to give her this item.
I really wanted to say, "Well, if you've been in retail that long, you should know that you're being an annoying bitch and that we want to kick the crap out of you right now."

[depechemodefan]

To be honest, there were times I was taking a swallow of water while answering the phone. But once I answer the phone, I don't touch my water anymore.

I remember one time, when I hear this older woman eating, I asked her "are you eating" and she shouted "NO!" So either she was eating and was being a b**** or else her dentures just move by theirselves.

[AnqeiicDemise]

Then they're probably not real CSRs.

I pronounce the zero as a number and I repeat things back for verification... hell, I even wish the CSR a great day and thank them for their time before they do the same.

I do all the things I want an actual caller to do because I.. HATE the way they treat me.

-sigh-

[rerant]

The "oh" vs "zero thing reminds me of something I once saw on the news. They were playing a hilarious call from a viewer who was complaining about this very thing, stating that using "oh" instead of "zero" is confusing, especially in the case of phone numbers. His argument was that, if taken literally, the "oh" would actually be the number 6.
He closed his call by giving his phone number, starting with the area code.
"Nine "OH" five... oh crap even I do it." *click*

[PapaAustin]

I love when I'm home and I pick up the phone and instead of saying "hello?" the first words out of my mouth are "Thank you for calling papa gino's, can I have your telephone number and name for pick up please?"

I can usually catch myself before I say the whole thing, but if I'm zoning out they get my whole spiel before I blush and just say "I mean... hello?"

[Evil Queen]

uh... I usually pronounce the 0 like an ought. Like two-double-ought-four for 2004.

I also still tell most poeple over the phone for a single 0 that it's an "oh" because that's what they tell me.

"And the experation date?"
"uh.. oh-one of eleven."

[DesignFox]

I prefer when people use "zero" instead of "oh" for zeros...but it's not really a big deal.

I do dislike when people do the "double oh" or say something like "seventy seven" for 7-7. Or when they break their phone number into something other than 123-123-1234.

It's really annoying when people give me their phone number...but not the area code.
I love when people get mad because I make them repeat it... Um...well if you gave me all 10 digits (and in order) we wouldn't have to go through this, eh?

it's been rough lately.

I like that most of my customers who say they work retail or sales...really probably do. They are considerate and do things purposely to make my life easier.

I only had one woman who didn't...and she was a cashier of all things... she was a bit Sucky.