What EVER Happened to Good Customer Service?????????????????????????????????????
By bailey2009
@bailey2009 (174)
United States
May 24, 2009 4:47pm CST
I do not know if anyone feels the same way I do, but I actually DREAD calling customr service for ANY REASON. It amazes me that major corporations claim to have spent millions on sophistacted systems to track calls, to track the agents ability to handle the call and even to call the customer back shortly after the call to conduct an automated customer satisfaction survey.
Organizations need to spend their money training the representatives they hire to answer the phones. Time Warner Cable is notorious for having a representative answer the phone, who does not have a clue how to handle the simplist of transactions. When I pay my monthly bill, I expect good service, that is not too much to ask! Companies have to earn my business and earn the right to retain my business!
BUT their SALES deaprtment seems to know exactly what they are doing....and they are curtious about it as well. They want your business but then they do not know how to treat you as a customer. I have had similar experiences at the bank, grocery store, and almost any service provider I subscribe to with a 1-800 customer service hotline. What are some of your experiences? Does anyone else think customer service has gone into the toilet these days?
1 person likes this
7 responses
@lisan23 (442)
• United States
24 May 09
It depends on who I have to call. I refuse to get Time Warner Cable (their prices are ridiculously high and they want you to pay your first months bill upfront - no one else has asked that of me). I have Qwest for my DSL and home phone, the only irritating thing about them is if I call in whoever I speak to tries to sell me TV service or long distance (which are the only things I don't have). I have to tell the repeatedly that my brother works for them and if I buy anything, it will be through him.
I haven't had much trouble with Verizon, though, the 2 times I've had to call them. Sprint (when we had them) was HORRIBLE though.
I've always thought of writing a book on how to call customer service, though, because I worked in customer service for several companies and a lot of people make simple mistakes which make it difficult for your call to be processed correctly.
2 people like this
@katsalot1 (1618)
•
24 May 09
It is the same in the UK. The people in the sales departments are very capable and helpful, but customer services aren't so reliable. Quite often if you phone with a query about something you get different people telling you completely different things, or just saying they don't know! This is usually after hanging on the phone for ages before actually getting to talk to anyone. I really think that companies who made more effort with their existing customers would do a lot better, rather than relying on a fast turnover.
1 person likes this
@pitstryke (310)
• Philippines
25 May 09
i'm so sorry to hear that you are having a problem with the companies or with the representatives that you had talk to...i know exactly where you are coming from...not all representatives don't know what they're doing...sometimes we are just expecting too much that we did not realize how other want to help us or sometimes we don't even listen what they are talking...or we really don't care what the options given to us......but i do agree that some really don't know what they are doing or what to do to the situation....
@rymebristol (1808)
• Philippines
25 May 09
customer service is the back line of companies therefore good customer service should always taken into great consideration especially the CS department.
there are still some companies who have great customer service, while some are not, probably the one that handled your call that day was just new about the nature of the work, might be his first time to handle a call. it happens most of the time, training for the call simulation is different from the real thing.
@Amythyst (59)
• United States
25 May 09
It depends on what you want for customer service. At a large store, I never ask for customer service unless I really cannot find anything because its actually faster for me to find it myself. I think that customers that expect you to hold them by the hand and lead them around the store are a bit overdemanding on customer service--because the employees have other things to take care of such as helping other customers, trying to get products out before a customer is upset about there being none left, cleaning up the store so people can shop--there is more to customer service than just helping one person.
However, there are times when rude behavior happens--at fast food restaurants in particular--Burger King refused to add on an item at the window once which is ridiculous as you are supposed to have it your way. I went to a Little Chute McDonald's and didn't find the Drive-Though speaker because it was in a really weird place and they actually expected me to get back to the end of the line and order instead of just giving me what I wanted.
I went to a cash register in the electronics department at a Wal-Mart once and the cashier simply walked away. I had already put my items up on the counter, so I just left them there after a few minutes of waiting and didn't buy anything.
I guess my advice is to be realistic when approaching customer service ideas and recognize real rudeness for what it is.
@bailey2009 (174)
• United States
25 May 09
I am not talking about customer service inside the store. I am talking about calling a 1-800# to talk to a customer service representative about your cable service or internet service, your bill, etc...It is these people who act like they do not have a clue. I spent 37 min. on the line with Time Warner Cable and they were still unable to answer my initial question. Its ridiculous how these big companies expect you to remain a loyal customer when they hire idiots to serve your needs after the sale is made!
@Amythyst (59)
• United States
25 May 09
I was just posting my comment as a reference for anyone to think thorugh their particular situation. It is true--they do not always hire the most competent people to answer questions--sometimes it is to save money and other times they don't know how to properly train them. Non-Technical Support, non-customer service, is the label I have for some of these numbers. However, I suggest contacting their website--maybe there is better information on there.
@thrillezynite (44)
• United States
25 May 09
Really, I have been having the same problem, they give you attitude when you cant hear them, only bbecause they have that stupid accent
@bailey2009 (174)
• United States
25 May 09
Yes, that irritates me to no end. When you are transferred to a call center overseas and you can not understand the representative. I have found that if that company offers 24/7/365 customer support. In the off hours, (usually after 6pm) the overseas call center begins answering the calls. Try calling during normal business hours to increase you chances of getting a representative here in the US.
@happy6162 (3001)
• United States
25 May 09
I agree most customer service person can not answer simple questions. Some are very rude and act like you are wasting their time. In a store when I tried to get an employee to help me they would not look at me and walk away. There are a just few that you can get help from and will even take you to a different department to help you out. I do not think the rude ones know what customer service means.
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