Who does this? Really?

[MoonChild2007]

I don't believe in going above and beyond for any customer cause frankly, they always pull the whole "they did it for me before" shiite even if it is against company policy. If its a harmless thing that won't get you fired, that's fine but if its against company policy, i believe in NO the first time. I got so much crap for cashing people's checks (whose name is not on the check) and they always come back to another rep stating, "oh but she cashed my check before" and I get in trouble. So frankly, customers do not give a crap about WOW experiences with a rep, all they care about is getting what they want not caring about the reprecussions that the rep will face later on.

Not to mention, customers are not grateful for anything we do for them.

[Bank Lady]

I'd say probably at least half the time I've made an exception for a customer and said something to that effect, they tried it again anyway. Depending on how spineless one's particular management is, it can be a precarious line to walk. If you make an exception and have strong management to back you up and say 'hey, you were told yesterday not to try it again', then I think it's great to try to make an exceptions.

Unfortunately in this case, the SC was already displaying some SC tendencies before she did him the favor. I've learned to read those signs and react accordingly. LOL

Nowadays, the only time I even *consider* making an exception is when a customer is being kind, apologetic and asking nicely. Sometimes I regret it, sometimes not.

I agree. Strong management is definitely a must for stuff like this to work.

[Peppergirl]

I think it's admirable to go above and beyond. You have to protect yourself though. The way I've found to deal with stuff like this is to inform my coworkers about individuals that may try to take advantage again. Then everyone is prepared and when he comes in late the next night your coworker can say, "you were clearly told that we close at 6 and we won't make any additional exceptions. Please come back during working hours."

I know it sounds a little harsh, but it's the only way I've found to successfully deal with situations like this. It still allows you to do favors and prevents being taken advantage of repeatedly (most of the time).

I'd say probably at least half the time I've made an exception for a customer and said something to that effect, they tried it again anyway. Depending on how spineless one's particular management is, it can be a precarious line to walk. If you make an exception and have strong management to back you up and say 'hey, you were told yesterday not to try it again', then I think it's great to try to make an exceptions.

Unfortunately in this case, the SC was already displaying some SC tendencies before she did him the favor. I've learned to read those signs and react accordingly. LOL

Nowadays, the only time I even *consider* making an exception is when a customer is being kind, apologetic and asking nicely. Sometimes I regret it, sometimes not.

[edible_hat]

Give a man a fish and he will not be hungry for a day
Teach a man to fish and he will not go hungry for the rest of his life
light a man a fire and he will be warm for a day....

On another forum, someone's sig is a version with the third line "Teach a man to learn and he won't always eat fish."

[Bank Lady]

There's a reason that old saying 'No good deed goes unpunished' is a considered a cliche'. It's because it's TRUE.

Sorry that happened to you.

I think it's admirable to go above and beyond. You have to protect yourself though. The way I've found to deal with stuff like this is to inform my coworkers about individuals that may try to take advantage again. Then everyone is prepared and when he comes in late the next night your coworker can say, "you were clearly told that we close at 6 and we won't make any additional exceptions. Please come back during working hours."

I know it sounds a little harsh, but it's the only way I've found to successfully deal with situations like this. It still allows you to do favors and prevents being taken advantage of repeatedly (most of the time).

[Sorianna]

It WASN'T your fault, despite what some people are saying here.

You tried to do a nice thing and it came back and bit you on the ass, as attempting to do nice things for SC's will always do.

Not YOUR fault, HIS.

Now you'll know next time that you can't cut someone a break in a situation like this because 90 percent of the time, you'll live to regret it. It's unfortunate, but it's true.

There's a reason that old saying 'No good deed goes unpunished' is a considered a cliche'. It's because it's TRUE.

Sorry that happened to you.

It's nice to see that someone agrees with me. Elysia, you did nothing wrong, he was just a jerk. Please, keep being nice, it makes life much more pleasant for the rest of us. NOTE: Being nice does not necessarily mean taking people's shit. Stand up for yourself, but don't stop being generous.

[Peppergirl]

It WASN'T your fault, despite what some people are saying here.

You tried to do a nice thing and it came back and bit you on the ass, as attempting to do nice things for SC's will always do.

Not YOUR fault, HIS.

Now you'll know next time that you can't cut someone a break in a situation like this because 90 percent of the time, you'll live to regret it. It's unfortunate, but it's true.

There's a reason that old saying 'No good deed goes unpunished' is a considered a cliche'. It's because it's TRUE.

Sorry that happened to you.

[Sorianna]

I'm sorry to say, but... They do it because you let them do it. By saying "yes" the first time, you've said "yes" for all the next times, too.

That's how SCs work.

Sure, SCs breed by instances like these, and this guy certainly was an SC, but that hardly means the OP did anything wrong by doing this jerk a favor. Elysia hardly knew this jerk was jerk when she (he?) started, and was doing him a kindness. It's hardly what's expected of an employee, it's above and beyond, which makes one both a valuable employee and an admirable person. The fact that the SC was just that was simply an unfortunate (and common) coincidence. Elysia did nothing wrong by saying "yes" once, the SC did something wrong by not listening.

[elysia]

My mistake was I began to feel bad, regardless of the fact his shit is his own responsibility to deal with... i.e. mailing it on time. He seemed nice enough AT FIRST despite the fact he didn't seem to notice we were closed, and I was guilted into helping him. In essence, I mistook what was in fact an SCMajor for an SCMinor and consequently paid for it.

[tropicsgoddess]

Saying yes to an SC's demands is like opening a can of Pringles, once you pop they won't stop.

[Brightglaive]

Hawaii? That's what fax machines and scanners are for.

Darn!! you said it before I did.

No this just brings the old hilarious adage to mind:

Give a man a fish and he will not be hungry for a day
Teach a man to fish and he will not go hungry for the rest of his life
light a man a fire and he will be warm for a day....





(p.s. there is one more line but I won't finish the final line. Someone might find it offensive. )

[wagegoth]

Hawaii? That's what fax machines and scanners are for.

[protege]

I'm sorry to say, but... They do it because you let them do it. By saying "yes" the first time, you've said "yes" for all the next times, too.

Sorry, but I have to agree there. You opened the door to it.

Reminds me of what my ex-coworker did once. He insisted I drop what I was doing to ship some "important" papers for him. As I was more concerned about what my *boss* was working on, his shipment was of lowest priority. I sent it when I got my work done. Coworker started busting my balls about how I didn't send it "quickly enough" and how he'd "get into trouble" if it didn't arrive promptly." Not just once, but multiple times. I don't take kindly to that, and got even. Imagine his surprise when it showed up second day, and at the *end* of the day. Yep, I'd sent it 3rd class, just to be a bastard

[depechemodefan]

Yeah, I feel for you. And he brings his girlfriend in to glare. What a retard. Let us know what happens tomorrow, because we know he will come back tonight. At maybe 6pm, because he's considerate like that.

To use the computers you have to fill out a form for either a library card or a computer use card. We are not suppose to just log you on with our personal cards or a card someone left behind or make up one "just in case" like when a person begs that we log them in, it will be quick, they just need a computer for 1 min. and they just can't spend the time to fill out the form. Note, a card is good for 2 hours a day.

Anyway, guess what happens. A co-worker, who rather not put up with a whiny customer just logs her in with his card or some other card. So her times runs out, he left and she wants me to log her in again. I tell her she has to log in with her library card or computer use card. Of course, the other guy just logged her in without her getting a card and "can't you just log me in? Is the other guy gone? Is he really gone?" Of course, she doesn't want to fill out a form, she just goes walking around looking at books. I think she was looking at a site about criminals, or survalince(sp) cameras.

Oh, one day I had to work by myself (well, there were Circ. staff) at a branch. We close at 6pm. Around 5:30 the Circ person tells me a certain patron will take her time to leave. Around 5:55 I see the patron get up, and get her stuff. At 6pm, of course there was another patron who just got there and just wanted to get her book on hold. Miss never leaves goes to the front desk and I ask her if I can help her. She said she is situating. And she is still situating 3 min. latter when I tell her we are closed (She was putting on her shades, wrapping a scraf around her neck when it's 90 degress outside) and of course she lets me have it, about how rude I was, how the other people are nice to her. Yeah, obviously they are so nice that they let her take her time to leave, and complain behind her back. I'm still telling her we have to leave, and she goes on about the people she knows, like city councilmembers. Ugh. Yeah, she was nasty.

[elysia]

Lesson learned, I suppose. This is the reason why people don't go out of their way for each other any more.