You're a rude bitch!

[fma_fanatic]

Well..it's been a while since I've posted since I don't have to deal with the sucky customers 8-5 anymore. I only get to deal with them 1 1/2 hours a day since I cover the receptionists' lunch and breaks. It's nice being an office slave...er...administrative assistant.

This happened today while I was covering R's lunch break. It goes a little something like this:

Sucky Caller: Hi, can I talk to J?
Me: Which J would you like, we have several.
SC: Can you name them, I can't remember which one.
*note* this is not at all unusual, we have this happen all the time. I name them off, and he hems and haws over every one. After I've named the five J's we have, he still hems and haws.
SC: I guess I'll have to check my voicemail and get back with you.
Me: Okay. Is there anything else I can help you with?
SC: Yeah, you're a rude bitch!

This actually makes me pause.

Me: I..I'm sorry?
SC: You heard me. You're a rude bitch! You should know who I want. Do you know who this is?
Me:...no...
SC: I'm [some jerk]. Now get me J!

Me:..ok..ay..

I put SC on hold and call all the J's that I know are in the office. None of them have ever heard of him. The last one I talk to suggests that it might be the only J who's not in the office client and to put him into his voicemail.

I don't want to go back to him, but I have no choice. I go back to SC.

Me: I'm sorry, but J isn't in. I can put you into his voicemail.
SC: Took you f'ing long enough! Nevermind, I'm meeting him for lunch! Damn bitch!*click*

Now it's one thing to be bitched out because a customer is pissed off that their machine isn't being fixed in less than 10 seconds, or that their supplies don't magically show up after their ordered.

But it's another thing when a customer bitches me out for not good reason. Once I was off covering the front desk, I went to J's manager and told him exactly what happened and that I didn't appreciate being bitched out, especially when he was supposed to meet with his account rep anyway.

J came in a few hours later, apologetic. It's not his fault, but I really would have liked an apology from the SC. Like that'll happen.

[LillFilly]

I think that 'customer' should be black listed!

[BowserKoopa1]

A lot of places allow their employees to refuse service if he is verbally abusing you. Could you have simply given him a warning to calm down and stop cussing at you and then hang up on him if he doesn't stop? I would've hung up on him in a hearbeat, because no employee should have to tolerate that, and you definitely were not doing anything wrong. This asshole I think is just someone who gets off on making others feel like shit, and he knows that employees can't retailate or they'll get into trouble, even though I'm pretty sure you wanted so badly to tell the guy to go fuck himself.

[XCashier]

SC: You heard me. You're a rude bitch! You should know who I want. Do you know who this is?

"Oh yeah! You're that rude, self-centered, head-up-his-ass prick who believes anyone who answers the phone has ESP! Of course, now I remember you!"

Seriously, the guy is a loser and knows it, and is taking his self-loathing out on you because you're a convenient target. Pay it no mind, and be glad you're not him. Or his spouse.

Now it's one thing to be bitched out because a customer is pissed off that their machine isn't being fixed in less than 10 seconds, or that their supplies don't magically show up after their ordered.

But it's another thing when a customer bitches me out for not good reason.

I wouldn't exactly call those first two good reasons, either. Human beings are not gods or superheroes; we don't have the ability to move at lightspeed or magic things out of thin air. Wish the SCs alien leaders would tell them this before dumping them on our planet.

[fma_fanatic]

A lot of places allow their employees to refuse service if he is verbally abusing you. Could you have simply given him a warning to calm down and stop cussing at you and then hang up on him if he doesn't stop? I would've hung up on him in a hearbeat, because no employee should have to tolerate that, and you definitely were not doing anything wrong. This asshole I think is just someone who gets off on making others feel lilke shit, and he knows that employees can't retailate or they'll get into trouble, even though I'm pretty sure you wanted so badly to tell the guy to go fuck himself.

When I was the receptionist and I had a different manager, I was allowed to do this and I did on many occasions. It wasn't long before I got the reputation of not taking shit from anyone.

We actually did cancel one company's contract because the manager was verbally abusive to me, to the techs, to the supply department (seriously? doesn't anyone know you don't screw with those who take your supply orders?) and finally to the VP (who's also the head honcho of the area). He flat out told him (and I heard it as I was waiting to talk to him about something wholly unrelated) that he was not a welcome customer at our company and he could get his equipment serviced elsewhere. This guy actually had me in tears. Bear in mind this was long before I got my rep, so I was something of a pushover.

I'm trying to teach the receptionist we have now to not be a pushover because customers can sense it and will walk all over you if they do. She's finally got the guts to hang up on the free web site listing people.

It's been a while since I've dealt with a jerk like this, so I have to admit I was taken aback by the whole thing. Shoot, even the sales reps are afraid of me because I don't take their crap.

I wouldn't exactly call those first two good reasons, either. Human beings are not gods or superheroes; we don't have the ability to move at lightspeed or magic things out of thin air. Wish the SCs alien leaders would tell them this before dumping them on our planet.

Yeah, you're right. We're human. We are. They're not. I'm sure they think they're gods or something. If only they'd bestow upon us their awesome powers of moving earth and creation to get exactly what they want when they want it. But they must think we might run amok with it.

[emax4]

I don't know, man. J came in, and you told him about it. I'd go off on J for not handling his friends/relatives/clients the right way, but also refuse to continue the call if you know that guy is on the other line. Customers like that jerk have to learn the hard way that they won't get anywhere if they abuse their help. If anyone at your office doesn't like it, have them give out their own personal cell or home numbers so that they can deal with their clients directly.

I agree on hanging up, but on the other hand, maybe this is a long overdue sign for your business to get caller ID if they don't have it already. With some calls you have to wait so many seconds before the caller ID shows up. With the call length in this case it should have shown up after a few seconds. When the caller ID does show up, you can put a note up for any receptionist advising them to hang up the phone when any of the numbers on the list show up. (mgmnt approved of course)

[spark]

I think what you have there is a classic case of projection

[Jay 2K Winger]

We're human. We are. They're not.

They're so far down the evolutionary latter that even the cockroaches have to bend down to spit on them.

[PepperElf]

I understand...

I have to call people daily to tell them "Pick up your shit". OK so I don't put it that way. I try to be nice, and mark down say if someone is on leave or out of town until date X, so I don't call them and annoy them when they can't do anything about it.

But one of the guys... I think he hung up on me one day. Yesterday I think he said, "Thanks. Piss off" ... although when I politely said, "Excuse me?" he changed his words. I was tempted to opt him back in for the system to call him - cos it will call him several times a day, but chose not to.

[tropicsgoddess]

I think that 'customer' should be black listed!

I agree. How he was towards you was completely uncalled for.

[MoonCat]

That guy was really an asshole. You're supposed to 'know' who he wants? That would have been the cue for me to tell the guy that I can't read his mind, I told him all of the possible candidates and he wasn't sure WHO he wanted. And I really hate people who start with the "do you know who I am?"

[mikoyan29]

Alot of receptionists wont list off names like that because the guy on the other end might be a salesman and is trying a cold call.

[depechemodefan]

oh, :hugs:

SC: I guess I'll have to check my voicemail and get back with you.
Me: Okay. Is there anything else I can help you with?
SC: Yeah, you're a rude bitch!

There were a few times when I ask an unsatisfied customer (ie, couldn't find the phone number or a book for them) if there was anything else. They would go off on me, like tell me to "go to hell!" or "you couldn't even help find this thing, you can't find shit, why should I think you would find something else?" So I learned not to offer more help. I couldn't find that Jane Austin book? I won't offer to find it at another library or offer it on audiobook or another book like it.

I figure if they want something else they will ask without me offering more assistance.

[Betweenshades]

Wait. They were meeting him for lunch and they don't know who they are?? Really??

What a bitch!

[fma_fanatic]

oh, :hugs:



There were a few times when I ask an unsatisfied customer (ie, couldn't find the phone number or a book for them) if there was anything else. They would go off on me, like tell me to "go to hell!" or "you couldn't even help find this thing, you can't find shit, why should I think you would find something else?" So I learned not to offer more help. I couldn't find that Jane Austin book? I won't offer to find it at another library or offer it on audiobook or another book like it.

I figure if they want something else they will ask without me offering more assistance.

Thanks. This was honestly a blip on my radar and far tamer than some of the calls I got.

The company that I cited in this post (in this thread, heh) was far far worse than this jerk. At least he didn't leave me in tears. I think it was more of a "du-wha?" type reaction for me.

I've probably also been spoiled since I'm not on the phones 8-5 anymore. Not that I miss them.

The sales rep did offer to bring me Starbucks or something of that nature. I got a nice breakfast sandwich and the largest frap equivalent from Panera today. He's also the type of sales rep that I could probably milk it for a few days before he caught on. His manager was pissed because they've been dealing with this customer for some time now and I think they're looking for fodder to basically tell him to shove off. From what I'm given to understand, he wants something for almost nothing.

Alot of receptionists wont list off names like that because the guy on the other end might be a salesman and is trying a cold call.

Yeah, sadly it's one of the things those who cover the phones have to do. It sucks and I've pointed out time and again it just leads to harassing cold calls. But we've been told that it's "bad customer service" to not be helpful to the callers. Erg...

That guy was really an asshole. You're supposed to 'know' who he wants? That would have been the cue for me to tell the guy that I can't read his mind, I told him all of the possible candidates and he wasn't sure WHO he wanted. And I really hate people who start with the "do you know who I am?"

Oh well, yeah, because after so many years of being here, we're supposed to develop our psychic ability, don'cha know?