Why are you telling me thus?

[AquaGirl]

I hate incongruous statements. I am referring to when customers just say things that can't possibly mean anything to me since they're discussing their unique situation and expect me to go ought I get it.

For instance:

"We have 4 bottles of water and 2 people!" (usually accompanied by laughter)
And? That means nothing. It all depends on how much you drink because I also get:
"We only have 4 bottles of water! There are 2 people in this house!"

Or

"Of course we're not open at *any conceivable hour of the day*, we're a business!" Hate to break it to you bit we serve many businesses and they have different hours so "we're a business" means nothing. Just like "we're a Salon!" Is just not going to mean that your driver automatically knows that you are closed on Monday.

[BeenThereDoneThat]

Along those same lines, why do people constantly feel the need to say things like, "I've run a business for 150 years and I know how it ought to work, why can't you do it the same way?" Ummm...maybe because we're a high end home and garden store and you are a CPA? Totally different businesses...just sayin'.

[AquaGirl]

Along those same lines, why do people constantly feel the need to say things like, "I've run a business for 150 years and I know how it ought to work, why can't you do it the same way?" Ummm...maybe because we're a high end home and garden store and you are a CPA? Totally different businesses...just sayin'.

Exactly. Ugh. I always get "I work in customer service..." if you're talking about the way you speak to a customer I can agree that that should be universal as far as tone bit other than that you do not work here. I don't care if you work at another water company. I don't care if you you worked here 10 years ago. You know nothing.

[MoonCat]

Exactly. Ugh. I always get "I work in customer service..." if you're talking about the way you speak to a customer I can agree that that should be universal as far as tone bit other than that you do not work here. I don't care if you work at another water company. I don't care if you you worked here 10 years ago. You know nothing.

I'll admit I've used a similar line a few times when I've been given really lousy attitude from someone I was trying to do business with on the phone. I'll ask to speak to a manager and tell them that if I spoke to customers at my job the way their rep just spoke to me, I'd be hearing about it from MY manager, or HR, etc. But I only do that when someone has been really horrible...swearing, hanging up on me, getting snarky from the word "hello"...etc.

[AquaGirl]

I'll admit I've used a similar line a few times when I've been given really lousy attitude from someone I was trying to do business with on the phone. I'll ask to speak to a manager and tell them that if I spoke to customers at my job the way their rep just spoke to me, I'd be hearing about it from MY manager, or HR, etc. But I only do that when someone has been really horrible...swearing, hanging up on me, getting snarky from the word "hello"...etc.

And there I agree. We should be respectful and non confrontational and polite. Im really just referring to when they start trotting out their knowledge of our policies/computer systems when they have no clue.

[BeenThereDoneThat]

Yes, absolutely, the tone and willingness to help should be universal. Also, I do have to admit that even though I've never told a doctor's office staff this, I have worked in a doctor's office with a phenomenal staff and it wasn't that hard to do...when I go to a doctor with rude, impatient, and totally disinterested front office staff, I really want to walk back there and show them how it's done.

[AccountingDrone]

And there I agree. We should be respectful and non confrontational and polite. Im really just referring to when they start trotting out their knowledge of our policies/computer systems when they have no clue.

LOL my insurance agent is one I used to work for. I have been known to sit in the office chatting with a friend who still works there, and have the agent hand me the phone to answer ... and I can still coach someone on working in the programs.

*I have nothing against working in insurance, but I did not want to continue because I dislike cold calling or calling to prescreen. I much preferred working in a call center that handled incoming calls.