Cutting off your nose to spite yourself

[PepperElf]

Cutting off your nose to spite yourself ... or at least throwing a free computer away.


Although I didn't see this one myself exactly, I had to laugh and roll my eyes.


I had the job of calling people to tell them to "come pick up yo shit" today (well I phrase it more politely than that but same thing really) when I came upon this gem in the notes. (I always check notes before I call in case they're on vacation or something)

Note: Do not call customer. Process as abandoned.


I had to ask... this just sounded interesting.


Apparently the customer came in with an issue with his computer and found out it would take about 4 days for them to run a diagnosis on it. He threw a fit and stormed out leaving the computer behind...


The "spite your face" part?... if he had waited those 4 days he would have walked away with a brand new computer as per the warranty.



but he chose to cut his nose off and leave with nothing.

[Sapphire Silk]

Apparently the customer came in with an issue with his computer and found out it would take about 4 days for them to run a diagnosis on it. He threw a fit and stormed out leaving the computer behind...


The "spite your face" part?... if he had waited those 4 days he would have walked away with a brand new computer as per the warranty.



but he chose to cut his nose off and leave with nothing.

That's very surprising. You'd think that in the name of good customer service, the management would want to at least try to contact the customer.

Guess they didn't want to be out on a warranty replacement.

[Android Kaeli]

4 days for getting the computer back, new or not, is nothing. Then again, if he really didn't want to wait that long then he really isn't out of anything.

[GiggityGiggityGoo]

Hmmmm you should process the replacement and keep it for yourself :evil:

[XCashier]

That's very surprising. You'd think that in the name of good customer service, the management would want to at least try to contact the customer.

If the guy stomped out before filling out the paperwork, they might not know how to contact him.

[LillFilly]

What will you bet he comes back for the thing in about 6 months or so?

[PepperElf]

That's very surprising. You'd think that in the name of good customer service, the management would want to at least try to contact the customer.

Guess they didn't want to be out on a warranty replacement.

To be honest that's not an issue. We aren't pricks when people are qualified to get free replacements. Just a few minutes of paperwork and voila! they have new shit.

However ... leaving the computer behind in a fit of *rage* after yelling at the managers .... That's something different.


And... i don't remember the exact wording but ... I think the customer himself requested the "no contact". In which case... contacting him would be just inviting trouble.

[emax4]

How are you guys prepared to handle this when he comes in? Now's the time to try to defuse the SC before it happens, if such a thing can happen.

[Caractacus_Potts]

What will you bet he comes back for the thing in about 6 months or so?

I was actually wondering if it was a relatively new purchase made on a credit card and the guy decided he would try to do a charge back. It's the only reason I could imagine why the guy would just walk out without the computer and without demanding a refund.

[emax4]

Something else I thought of. Ok, the guy threw a fit and walked out. But is there another reason why it says, "do not call back?" Maybe enough time has passed for the guy to have calmed down, so if things are in order and everything works out for the business and the customer, wouldn't it be best to call him back anyway?

For one, if you call the customer back and tell him the good news, you shouldn't have to deal with his attitude from before since now he has better news about receiving a new computer. That would cheer ME up. Secondly, despite his attitude, you might win the customer over by going against the notes to make the guy happy. This doesn't sound like one of those situations where it happens all the time by the same customer or other customers, where they come in, get upset about the turnaround time, and stomp out sans equipment (or am I wrong here?).

If he does come in to retrieve his stuff and still has an attitude, you can tell him, "we had instructions not to call you based on you walking out, and us having to wash our hands of the situation BECAUSE you walked out, but I was trying to be empathetic/helpful and put it through anyways figuring it would benefit you.." Kinda lays on the guilt a little bit, but I would think the guy's mood would be better after stating that.

[PepperElf]

Checked: customer said do not call.
so yes he's abandoning his computer out of ragey whatever.

[KabeRinnaul]

Something else I thought of. Ok, the guy threw a fit and walked out. But is there another reason why it says, "do not call back?" Maybe enough time has passed for the guy to have calmed down, so if things are in order and everything works out for the business and the customer, wouldn't it be best to call him back anyway?

Not if it falls under the US "Do Not Call" legislation.

After a customer tells a business to break off contact, they're forbidden from making any further business-related contact for a set period of time (1 year I believe), and the penalty is somewhere in the realm of $10k-15k.

[emax4]

10-15k? WOW! Totally not worth the call then. Heh, I imagine how much more frustrated he'd be if he knew how much he was throwing away.

[HermitIX]

The phrase is "cut off your nose to spite your face." Sorry that just bugged me. Carry on.

[PepperElf]

Not if it falls under the US "Do Not Call" legislation.

After a customer tells a business to break off contact, they're forbidden from making any further business-related contact for a set period of time (1 year I believe), and the penalty is somewhere in the realm of $10k-15k.

hmmm that could be nice for "survey companies" that call me back after i tell them "no thank you"


maybe next time they call i'll stay on the line long enough to get contact information (if i can) and then report them to the FTC



and yeah woops on the "face" vs "yourself" although in this case it's really "cutting off your computer to spite your... face?" lol