Open Letter to the Members of Customers Suck

[Bandit]

Around here, we have a good mix of those who serve customers - both that walk off the street and those inside a company - like IT folks (like me).

No matter what, we know what the deal is as we have all dealt with the idiots, EWs, screamers, passive-aggressives, liars - ya know - the world in general.

This is a great place to vent as BeenThereDoneThat says - "we all GET IT".

Not to mention all the cookies that go around.

"Come to the Dark Side.
We have cookies."

B

[macphile]

I don't work in customer service, either, and I try to visit this board every day, too. It is full of win.

[BeenThereDoneThat]

I just like that there is a place we can go to vent about the SCs (as well as other aspects of work and life) and we all GET IT...we can relate to others' stories even if we haven't had the same issue pop up. I wish I had more time at work to document some of the crazies I get so I would post more stories here And yes, the mods do a great job of keeping the rest of this in line, or it could get really ugly...and don't we get enough ugly at work???

CSers are awesome!!

[Ironclad Alibi]

A story of Mr. Mullet.

[Jester]

I showed a friend of mine the Mr. Mullet saga. It's now bookmarked
And I can't read it anymore without collapsing into giggling fits.

Yes, what is this Mr. Mullet saga? I don't recall it.

[veniteangeli]

What's the Mr. Mullet saga? Dare I ask?

[Merriweather]

I second pretty much all of the above

This place is not your average group/forum. Either everyone on here is extremely well behaved, or the mods are extremely good at their jobs (or perhaps a bit of both).

I have seen conversations continue for pages on subjects that on any other forum, would long ago have turned into a virtual brawl. The levels of tolerence and respect on here are usually reserved for "closed" groups that carefully screen all new members, not open sites like this one.

I also think it's great that with a few (understandable) exceptions, posts are actually just stories of the customer's actions that drove the poster up the wall, not personal attacks on the customers. The stories are much more entertaining

In general, it's just a great place to hang out - like hanging out in real life with friends - you can be who you are, whoever that might be, you can voice an opinion even if it isn't the "norm", and it's even ok to drift off on a tangent rather than sticking to the exact subject at hand now and then.

And no matter how many SC you have of your own, with the wide variety of jobs held by people here, as well as the wide geographic area covered, it would be difficult to be around very long without learning something, some new point of view or fact about a job different to your own, that gives you further empahy, and will affect how you treat those who deal with the public in future.

[Seraph]

I was pimping the forum

I do this ALL THE TIME! LOL

[SongsOfDragons]

Seconded.

As I've said before -- this forum is, by far, the most civil I've ever seen. That's what keeps me coming back, even tho my direct-customer-facing time has been in short supply in the last year or so.

What really impresses me about that is the fact that, the very subject matter at hand (dealing with SC's and EW's) is one that could quite easily erupt into ragefests on short notice, and yet it seldom does. I think that's a positive comment on both the posters here and the mods who keep an eye on things.

So uhm, tl'dr version: to everyone here, member or mod...

THIIIIIS. This muchly. ^^

I was pimping the forum to a group of peeps at a depression workshop today (run by an employment consultant company who work alongside the JobCentre now that the New Deal has been deleted with extreme prejudice) and after a little after I told them the title of the forum they all seemed to like the idea of an actually nice and welcoming place on the interwebs. Don't know them too well at the moment, but I hope they come aboard

[EricKei]

I think a lot of that might because our mod team works hard for the site. I may not understand their jobs, but I've certainly seen the differences in results with other forums.

Seconded.

As I've said before -- this forum is, by far, the most civil I've ever seen. That's what keeps me coming back, even tho my direct-customer-facing time has been in short supply in the last year or so.

What really impresses me about that is the fact that, the very subject matter at hand (dealing with SC's and EW's) is one that could quite easily erupt into ragefests on short notice, and yet it seldom does. I think that's a positive comment on both the posters here and the mods who keep an eye on things.

So uhm, tl'dr version: to everyone here, member or mod...

[Nemesis44UK]

Thank you very much for your letter of support. I don't post here much, but it is one of my favourite places.

If you haven't already, check out the War Stories part of the site - epic suckitude.

[Mr Hero]

Can I add to the mushy? ^^ I try to wander to other forums in things I have interest in, but thus far I've always drifted away because the patrons can be really unbearably childish, ignorant or rude...here, everyone is just so lovely and nice and supportive. More than just restoring my faith in humanity, coming back here restores my faith that people can be friendly.

.......even if I was a bit of a stupid muppet myself when I first joined... >.< *hides in a paper bag*

I think a lot of that might because our mod team works hard for the site. I may not understand their jobs, but I've certainly seen the differences in results with other forums.

[Slave to the Phone]

Before I found this forum, I used to not look at the sign wavers. Now I always wave at them and if I can, I make eye contact and give them a thumbs up. I'm trainable

[XCashier]

I just wanted to say for the record I am consistently impressed with the quality of the people who post their stories here.

This board is one of the highlights of my regular surf routine. Every time I drop in my faith in humanity (aka you folks) is restored just a bit more. Even though the stories are about bad customers, the people here more than make up for it.

Thank you so much. That is such a sweet thing to say!

I think part of the good that comes from reading the stories is to become more empathetic.

I agree. You do learn from observing other people, or reading their stories. In your example, you realized the waitstaff were probably tired and waiting to go home, you knew you wouldn't want to be in that same situation due to someone else's thoughtlessness and you quickly solved the problem. Others realize that the nametag-wearing employee did not establish the store's policy, or that stores don't have Rooms Of Infinite Holding and that stock does indeed run out, and they act accordingly rather than taking it out on someone with no control over the situation.

Empathy for others leads to patience, adaptability, common sense and individual growth. Little by little, we become the positive change we want to see in the world.

[An Haddock]

Can I just say...

it's not that I WANT to have to post here... and I believe the sentiment is probably shared. Life would be a wonderful thing if we could get through our day without having to deal with a nasty/self-entitled/rude customer.

But being able to vent about those people is a great outlet for stress and bad feelings.

Yes... it would be a lovely thing if customers didn't haggle over price, lose their shit over a perceived slight from someone, or demand recompense for an honest mistake. But knowing there are other people out there who have to deal with the same issues and how they deal with using integrity, professionalism, and maturity makes me feel better and have hope for the future.

Time for lunch.