Horror Stories from Beyond the Desk...

HiRo11er · #1 (**permalink**) 03-02-2005, 04:31 AM

So I'm halfway sick with allergies & a headache, but I'm still at work... And I'm getting fairly fed up with this BS.. (not short for Bloodstalker)
Anyway, I'm just curious if there are any others out there in my shoes. I desperately need to vent a bit about my job!

So I'm a temp (fat lotta good my conflict resolution/communication degrees are giving me) at a design company that sells kitchens. The problem is that they sell three times more kitchens than they have installers that can install them. Add to that the fact that the salespeople that work here never return customers' phone calls, and you've got me in the middle, answering phones from pissed off clients that have boxes where their kitchens should be.
Scenario:

ME: Welcome to Norema, how may I help you?"
CUSTOMER: "Yeah hi, we bought a kitchen from you three months ago, and we still haven't received it. We've left five messages and three emails with you guys, and still no-one has contacted us. I have to say this is LOUSY SERVICE, AND I DEMAND TO SPEAK WITH THE PERSON IN CHARGE RIGHT NOW!"
ME: "I'm sorry sir, they're in a meeting now. Can I take a message & have them call you back?"
CUSTOMER: "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS ****! ARE YOU GUYS IN A SERIOUS BUSINESS? YOU CAN'T TREAT YOUR CUSTOMERS LIKE THIS!!"
ME: "Once again sir, I can only apologize. i promise I will hunt down the individual you are looking for, and have them call you back ASAP."
CUSTOMER: "All right, you better..."

Then I'll go tell the person they wanted to speak to, and they invariably reply "sure, I'll get right on it!" And of course they do nothing about it. The end result being the customer calling back a few days later and tearing me a new one again!!

Also, I have to lie for them -all the time-. "Hey axl, I'm busy today. Can you tell customers that I'm at home sick?" -That's a typical one...

I'm just curious if other people have job-related frustrations. I can't be the only one escaping my pooey (can I say that?) job by posting here, can I?

PS: I really needed to get this stuff down on the proverbial paper. I'm speaking my **** mind!

PPS: Keeping this thread clean was pretty hard...

Brynn · #2 (**permalink**) 03-02-2005, 04:55 AM

I can understand why you are frustrated. The customers are shouting at you instead of the person who could do anything for them.

Well, if the co was correct, they wouldn't assume a deadline that they already know they won't be able to keep...

If you're really uncomfortable with it, look for another job... Or take a week off, that helps a lot!

Macleod1701 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-02-2005, 04:57 AM

Well my statement may not be as detailed but here it goes.

I'm at work

I don't want to be here

The end

HiRo11er · #4 (**permalink**) 03-02-2005, 05:09 AM

LOL @ McLeod! Less words, same meaning. I think a lot of people can identify with that comment...

Quote:

If you're really uncomfortable with it, look for another job... Or take a week off, that helps a lot!

Actually, that's the beauty of being a temp. I could, theoretically, leave right now and never come back. I wouldn't work again ever, but I wouldn't behere at least... Luckily, I don't have to go to those drastic measures. Friday is my last day!

Then it's onwards to a new sucky job...

And yes, Brynn, that's how it is. I'm the "buffer-zone", where customers can rid themselves of their anger by hurling abuse at me. I guess that's just the role some people have to play...

Macleod1701 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-02-2005, 05:13 AM

Well really my disatifaction with where i work is that I'm still stuck working in the NE of England despite having got a place with my GF down south so she's woring down there and i'm stuck here durring the week.
I'm currently looking for a job down there so wish me luck.

Brynn · #6 (**permalink**) 03-02-2005, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiRo11er

And yes, Brynn, that's how it is. I'm the "buffer-zone", where customers can rid themselves of their anger by hurling abuse at me. I guess that's just the role some people have to play...

You know, I can understand the customers, too, b/c I'm an angry customer right now. I still haven't got th eproduct I ordered at the end of Jan, what's more, the dealer doesn't even say a *!%+! word about it, I have to phone them every week to inquire about the progress, and they just keep saying the same "we still don't know when it is due to come, we'll call you back"

After a while you get enough of waiting and since you can do NOTHING at all you go and rip the dealer's assistant's head off...

Not that it helps...

(That's whsy I still haven't phoned them this week yet.. I feel sorry for the poor girl)

HiRo11er · #7 (**permalink**) 03-02-2005, 07:49 AM

@Brynn: I hear you. there are so many times during the day when people complain about lost deliveries or faulty installing, where I just want to say "You know what? I totally agree with you. These guys suck at doing their job, and I'm sick of covering for 'em. I quit!" That's actually a small-time fantasy that I have -every- time the phone rings. It would feel good, though...
Regarding your approach, it might help if you ask for whoever you need to talk to by their first name, just so it seems like it's the most natural thing in the world for you to talk to them. Then, when you're transferred, you can really unload the built-up frustrations at the right person!

And also, don't give up. I'm positive there are many companies out there whose unofficial policy is ignoring as many disgruntled customers as possible, in the hopes that they'll eventually "just go away"...

On the opposite note, I've realized that there are some customers that really could use a reality check. My boss told me of this one customer that called us jan. 3, complaining about some door knobs that hadn't been delivered. "It's a catastrophe!" she kept on exclaiming, until my boss pointed out that a week earlier 250,000 people had died in the greatest natural disaster of modern times. He hung up on her.
Once again, bad customer relations, but in this instance I tend to agree with him...

C Elegans · #8 (**permalink**) 03-02-2005, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HiRo11er

there are so many times during the day when people complain about lost deliveries or faulty installing, where I just want to say "You know what? I totally agree with you. These guys suck at doing their job, and I'm sick of covering for 'em. I quit!"

Many years ago, before I started uni, I had a similar job like yours. I sat in the phone reception desk at a big computer company, and many customers, both private and other companies called there and complained. And rightly so. After about 2 months I got fed up, and when a women who had called about 20 times again called and it turned out the person at my company who should have called her 3 weeks ago never did so, I actually said exactly that to her. I said to her I totally agreed with her, that the guy she was doing business with sucked and spent more time playing golf than doing his job, and that if I were in her shoes, I'd stop buying things from this company and choose a better one. Funny enough, it turned out that this woman was a very well known and influencial person in the business world, so it all ended with her offering me a new job because she liked my attitude

(Which I sadly had to decline, since I was just about to do a long journey. )

HiRo11er · #9 (**permalink**) 03-02-2005, 08:56 AM

...About time someone sticks it to the Man!

Don't tempt me like that, CE! The last thing I need is to consider -that- reply whenever someone's complaining! "Maybe this person can get me a better job..."
Luckily my last day is Friday, so it's all good... Then I'll be working in a warehouse, but at least I won't have to deal with customers...

*Imagining not having to put on a smiley-face 6 greet customers jovially*

jopperm2 · #10 (**permalink**) 03-03-2005, 10:45 AM

I work customer service for one of the largest lenders in the world.

We loan people money to buy cars..

Correction, we buy big weapons for idiots and babies.

I'll try to post some of the moronic calls I get today and you guys can see what I mean. I can't believe some of these people are driving, or have jobs. I've had 90+ year old ladies driving SUVs the size of tanks.

Georgi · #11 (**permalink**) 03-03-2005, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macleod1701

I'm at work

I don't want to be here

The end

I'm at work.

It's the middle of the night.

I really don't want to be here!

I worked in a call centre for a few weeks, before I got my current job. It was terrible. We were supposed to be the credit card hotline for subscribing to this kids' magazine, but "somehow" the number had been listed as the customer service helpline. Add to that the fact that the company seemed pretty incompetent at sending the stuff out on time, and there were gift sets that people were meant to get with their subscription but they got sent separately, and they were actually the reason why most people subscribed - and we had a load of annoyed customers who we couldn't deal with, since we were just there to take their credit card numbers. Oh yeah, and I forgot the fact that the actual customer service number that we were meant to give anyone who rang up to complain was constantly engaged, which meant they called us back and moaned to us about it, even though we couldn't do anything about it!

Yeah, that was fun.

My job now isn't all that bad, actually. The long shifts are tiring, and I don't like having to do nightshifts. The work itself is ok, although it can get dull, especially at weekends and during the night. What really annoys me is the incompetence of the management.

jopperm2 · #12 (**permalink**) 03-04-2005, 10:29 AM

What do you do now Georgi?

Here's a call I take probably five times a day.

Customer: I just got my bill today and it says I owe two payments.

Me: Sir, your bill was sent out on the first, but we didn't get your payment until the third.

Customer: So you didn't get my payment.

Me: No sir, we got it on the third.

Customer: Should I send a double payment this month.

Me: No, just send the regular amount.

Customer: Okay. Why does my bill say I owe two payments?

*bang*

Customer: What was that?

Customer: Hello?

Customer: Oh well. I guess I'll just send two payments.

oozae · #13 (**permalink**) 03-04-2005, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jopperm2

What do you do now Georgi?

Here's a call I take probably five times a day.

Customer: I just got my bill today and it says I owe two payments.

Me: Sir, your bill was sent out on the first, but we didn't get your payment until the third.

Customer: So you didn't get my payment.

Me: No sir, we got it on the third.

Customer: Should I send a double payment this month.

Me: No, just send the regular amount.

Customer: Okay. Why does my bill say I owe two payments?

*bang*

Customer: What was that?

Customer: Hello?

Customer: Oh well. I guess I'll just send two payments.

Are you saying your employers are crooks? Or you are?

jopperm2 · #14 (**permalink**) 03-04-2005, 05:46 PM

I'm saying my customers are dumb.

oozae · #15 (**permalink**) 03-04-2005, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jopperm2

I'm saying my customers are dumb.

I thought so, but I was wondering why you (or others) cancelled the call.