Re: Chat Thread

[Rainjar]

So those of you that work in customer service I need some advice. How the fuck do you deal with this shit?

Seriously, my job role has changed to be more customer service focused and while I have made some improvements, like being able to hold some semblance of a conversation on the phone instead of having a panic attack, I still struggle with it when they start turning into massive dickheads. We sell fucking tabletop miniatures and boardgames for fuck sake yet some people act like we've burnt their house and slaughtered their family at times just because an item is slightly late which we have no control over. Today I finally stuttered and tripped up enough to the point somebody asked to just to speak to my supervisor.

I feel like shit. People are shit.

And rainy days/nights are best days/nights, runner up is foggy days/nights.

[Krubixcube]

Well, you have to realize that people feel entitled when they get service...not to say that's right, but that's their mindset. If you genuinely want advice, just don't take it personally, and sympathize. They might be being shitheads but if you just kind of head them off I found it calmed people down. "I understand your frustration, and I am trying my best to help you..."

Not to mention (and please, I am NOT saying this to have a go at you or make you feel stupid) you seem to have some anxiety issues around people as it is, so it's definitely tough to be thrown into the deep end like that. Dealing with people in that setting is a lot like writing a paper. It's not about what emotionally feels good, it's about saying what needs to be said for a specific point to get across. You're not there to make friends, just to calm them down and make them easier to work with.

And the shit part is...some people are just beyond help. You will encounter some customers that no matter what you do they will continue to be assholes. And even if it is something that was your fault it's still a shitty thing to do. There are people like that...but just don't let it get you down.

People who come into stores, they're not entitled to it, but part of being paid for customer service is for...service, so you have to at least, in part grin and bear it.

But in all seriousness, yeah, don't take it personally. It's a job, they will forget about you after they leave, and you should do the same for them. Just kind of zen your way through stuff, laugh it off later. It's a good life skill, and it's part of why I recommend taking a customer service job at some point in your life (but not for a LONG period of your life if you can't help it haha)

[Rainjar]

Yeah, you're right. It's just so difficult and so extremely draining. I'm very slowly getting the whole keeping calm aspect down instead of being all over the place. When I know for certain what I'm saying is 200% correct then apparently I come across as really confident but whenever I'm a little unsure or the person tries the whole guilt trip thing I stumble. I kept pushing to help out with the customer service side more to improve my people skills and it's definitely helping in a lot of ways. Just gotta keep at it, was just feeling really down yesterday /(Entire week I've been back from Germany) and the whole customer thing really didn't help on my first day back. Feeling all better now though, so it's good.

Another bonus is seeing how angry people can get over this kinda stuff. It's made me reflect much more on the sorta stupid shit I use to get stupidly angry about and realising it was pretty pathetic so in a lot of ways I'm feeling a lot calmer about things.

Thanks for advise dood. I'll keep it in mind for tomorrow when I'm doing most of it on my own.

[Krubixcube]

Yeah, I had that same realization myself working at a restaurant. The type of things you would get annoyed at all the sudden seemed extremely petty.

[volvocrusher]

Built a Lego Delorean today. Not the real thing but that hopefully will come in due time

[TripOpt55]

Awesome. Doors look super flimsy on that thing though (not in your picture, just in general when I looked at it online... not sure if that is the case).

[volvocrusher]

They are super flimsy

[pspiddy]

Don't fucking judge me, McDonald's lady. Just take my money and hand me my My Little Pony Happy Meal.

[Rainjar]

Found you, pspiddy.

[pspiddy]

I'm not as hot as that dude.

[volvocrusher]

Hey! I thought we established ponies were taboo here

[Krubixcube]

I judge you for being in a McDonald's on its own. @_@

[volvocrusher]

This coming from the guy who posted photographic evidence of drinking coffee in a McDonalds

[Krubixcube]

It was 2 AM in Japan >_> that makes it better somehow.

[volvocrusher]

Depends how drunk you were.

[pspiddy]

It was 2 AM in Japan >_> that makes it better somehow.

Nope. No, accept the burn and deal with it.

[BretBaber]

I'll gladly take a beating and say that I love McDonalds. My favorite meal is the two cheese burger meal, with a large Coca Cola classic to wash it down. Heaven for around $4.52.

[Miraculous Kaydybug]

It was 2 AM in Japan >_> that makes it better somehow.

Not if youre drinking their coffee holy shit that stuff is awful, i love coffee but i cant stand that stuff blech

[volvocrusher]

[Krubixcube]

If it makes it any better, I judge myself when I go into a McDonald's.

[volvocrusher]

[pspiddy]

McDonald's is nothing to be ashamed of. Shame should be in the form of smoking almost a pack of smokes a day. I'm gonna switch to a pipe soon so I can cut back my habit. If you don't understand how that is different, believe me, it is and I can explain.

Ugh, this forum probably knows me better than the NSA.

[Krubixcube]

Don't worry, they'll know soon enough.

Didn't know you were trying to cut back on smoking. That seems tough as hell =/

[pspiddy]

I figure a pipe will give me something to chew on. I got to the point where I had two lit smokes in an ashtray and decided that was enough. I don't even smoke most of the damn things; I have them fucking there.

@NSA: It puts the lotion in the basket or it gets the hose again. (Sucks to be the person who has to read all of the posts on this forum)

[SanAndreasX]

Yeah, you're right. It's just so difficult and so extremely draining. I'm very slowly getting the whole keeping calm aspect down instead of being all over the place. When I know for certain what I'm saying is 200% correct then apparently I come across as really confident but whenever I'm a little unsure or the person tries the whole guilt trip thing I stumble. I kept pushing to help out with the customer service side more to improve my people skills and it's definitely helping in a lot of ways.  Just gotta keep at it, was just feeling really down yesterday /(Entire week I've been back from Germany) and the whole customer thing really didn't help on my first day back. Feeling all better now though, so it's good.

Another bonus is seeing how angry people can get over this kinda stuff. It's made me reflect much more on the sorta stupid shit I use to get stupidly angry about and realising it was pretty pathetic so in a lot of ways I'm feeling a lot calmer about things.

Thanks for advise dood. I'll keep it in mind for tomorrow when I'm doing most of it on my own.

Everything is getting more "customer service" oriented. Hell, in hospitals these days, the administration puts as much weight on Press-Ganey customer service surveys as they do on Joint Commission audits on how the hospital actually provides treatment to its patients. When I started in health care as a CNA, we were doing good just to make sure patients were turned and cleaned up. Now I'm an RN and a weekend manager of a nursing facility, and I feel like a hotel manager more than a nurse sometimes.

[pspiddy]

Dear Diary,

Never, EVER, let your mother have a smart phone. It only reaffirms how much you both wish you were never born. (They sold her an otterbox thing that is camo; because camo is hip. Fuck life)

[SanAndreasX]

Dear Diary,

Never, EVER, let your mother have a smart phone. It only reaffirms how much you both wish you were never born. (They sold her an otterbox thing that is camo; because camo is hip. Fuck life)

This cartoon pretty much describes my mother's first experience with the smartphone my dad got for her.

[pspiddy]

The reason I stopped illustrating is shit like that. There's no point in having conversation anymore. Show a strip or a gif and done. This shit doesn't piss me off, it disheartens me.

*edit* I fucking dare a clever response to my dumbshit diatribe.

[volvocrusher]

Just have to say awesome avatar San.

[SanAndreasX]

Too tired to come up with anything clever, so I concede this round to you.

@volvocrusher: Somehow I knew you'd like this one.

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