I Love Men
I love men. They're so much easier to deal with than women in most situations. (Translate this as "I love men - they let me have my way far more often than women do".)
As much as I hate to admit it, I'm a terror with electronic things - especially phones and computers. Over the years I've dropped and destroyed three notebook computers and three cell phones. The most recent article sacrificed to my clumsiness is my cell phone. (Heads up to those who have my number - I can't answer just now ;)
Earlier today I called my cell phone carrier and asked the customer service rep (female) what options I had for replacing my phone. To say she was snippy would be accurate, but I admit that I was less tolerant that usual to snippiness because she informed me that my only option was going to a local cell phone store and spending an exorbitant amount of money to purchase a new phone. When I (ok not as tactfully as I might have but certainly not obnoxiously) expressed my dismay at the situation she raised her voice and began to tell me off.
As you may imagine, I was not impressed.
As soon as her tirade ended I quietly requested to speak to her supervisor. A very pleasant voiced gentleman came on the line about ten minutes later and sat patiently while I explained my situation. This wasn't about the cell phone any more and he knew that. He very nicely agreed to address the problem with the employee, assuring me that yes indeed there was a recording of the conversation (hmm, come to think of it, can they record me without informing me?) and that after listening he would know exactly how to deal with the situation. By the end of my call he'd agreed to send a new phone for half the price it would have cost in the store, and waived the activation and shipping fees.
I was much happier. Any time I save $115 I am happy. More than that, I actually felt by everything he said that he would really address the issue with the rude employee.
Perhaps the situation would have been resolved in the same manner had the supervisor been a woman, but I thought to myself - take no more chances. From now on when I need customer service or tech support from a company, I'll just hang up and call back til a man answers the phone ;)
posted by Lady Julia @ 8:24 PM
13 Comments
Links to this post
13 Comments:
It is funny how these things happen. It seems that the phone, and the chance to be part of another organization affords them "the upper hand" and so they seemingly offer assistance, but in truth, it is simply a matter wanting to move into their next break, or expedite the customer, rather than be of service. Needless to say, it strikes a nerve with me as well.
As to your solution o_0 i can envision you doing that for a few moments, and then addressing your need with whomever were to answer.
Smiles - in all seriousness, while I do just deal with whomever answers, it is a lot more fun dealing with men. I like seeing if I can make men stumble over words simply from my vocal inflections and tone.
I didn't get the feeling that this guy was pushing me aside or trying to get to a break. He spent 20 minutes or so listening to me and working to resolve my problem.
Point gotten Ma'am,
My comment is more a reflection of the initial customer service reps. Once the supervisory level is reached, they tend to actually listen, and work a bit harder to resolve the issue at hand.
As to the verbal game, ...well we can be train wreaks waiting to happen, given the right incentive.
Perhaps this is a good example of how BDSM awareness plays into every day life, but perhaps not.
AFAIK, most companies prefer to hire female customer service reps because the sound of a female voice is said to be more calming to humans of all sexes. I don't know how true that is but it's an interesting thing to note.
I'm glad you got a break on the cost of your phone, though. I had to spend upwards of $250 on a new one when I lost mine. Grr.
Dear Lady Julia,
Most humbly, bowed on one knee, please may I suggest, that women make the most difficult customers?
As a sales assitant in a garden nursery I get questions like this:
How much does the big, green, plant cost?
What is the "thingy" that goes down in the soil?
Do you know what my plant is called? Its got long leaves, a bushy bit and a do-da on the end!
Hhmmm. Female superiority?
I believe!
I worked for cell phone companies for quite a while. Oftentimes I had to transfer a customer to another department and explain the situation. When the wait wasn't long, I *always* hung up if I got a woman. I'd like to think that I did a good job, but I definitely prefer men as well.
As far as recording your conversation, most call centers will randomly monitor calls (sometimes certain calls were monitored on purpose). There should be a disclaimer while waiting on hold..
Dearest Lady Julia,
as You said, You love men, and we men love Women like You Lady Julia.
with love
servant john
Just a few words:
Call centers tend to hire women because for most of them, it's a part time or secondary income, so the pay tends to be lower. They do not make money answering phone calls, so they put fewer resources there.
Most call center employees have several weeks of training in how to resolve problems, deal with difficult callers, etc. Employees are rated on how quickly they can "resolve" a call, which generally means "get rid of a caller." It's nothing personal.
Call center employees tend to deal with people who are pissy because the product isn't working. This is not an excuse for them to be rude, but it puts them in the same class as, say, traffic police who pretty much expect everyone they meet to be in less than a pleasant mood. So, on one side they've got an irate customer, and on the other a supervisor with a stopwatch.
Lady J, allow me to suggest that you buy a leather or neoprene case for your phone. I drop mine often, and have found that the cases absorb the shock to the sensitive bits. The case that encapsulates the entire phone is best; don't bother with the ones that are just holsters. Voice of experience, here.
Maymay, by the time I paid shipping and activation fees, that's about what mine would have cost. It appears now that I see the bill that I saved $135 by pressing to speak with someone who would actually help me.
Nigel honey are you saying that I am difficult and not at all technologically minded? ;) (There's some truth to that.)
Tom, perhaps this lady didn't mean it to be anything personal, but raising her voice to me and telling me off surely felt personal :) I won't take anything like that from someone in person so I'm certainly not taking it from someone who represents a company that I've dealt with for more years than I want to admit.
The case is an excellent idea! Thank you.
Lady Julia, while my job has for many years never really dealt with the public, now i find myself doing that daily. And i have learned that it takes a special knack to do that, unfortunatly as You say, it means going to the upper people that actually care. How do we get the ones that start the job to learn this trait? I do not know, i just lead and hope my empoyees follow my example.
art
ha ha ha,
there is a point to it, women can be extraordinarily snappy! And they piss other women no less off than they do men! We had an experience with a female customs officer(Swiss/Germany)Even twice! Never with men although the women there are clearly a minority. FemDoms? Maybe sort of. Pit Bulls would also come to the mind.
In Your case it could be similar. Could also be that companies calculate with them, 'cause she'd earned the company more money than the friendly supervisor...
A good cop bad cop game?
Art, I think you're right about it taking a special knack for dealing with the public.
Juergen, you could be right that the company keeps people like her because she brings in revenue, but I can't imagine how. I don't know very many people who would put up with a sales person raising their voice to them. Still, by the time I got to the supervisor person, he did look very good... Yes, you could have a point.
Lady Julia, The companies are certainly shrewed 'customers', who know all the tricks...
In theory there is competition and an attitude to satisfy the customers, but reality shows another picture.
I have come to realize that it's the male side in women which renders them friendly, while the female side is the aggressive one which is also creative; Great thing if both sides merge well...
May i suggest, this is the case with You...?
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home