Talking to customer service is a life skill!
@Rohvannyn (3098)
United States
July 23, 2016 12:36pm CST
I was thinking about this yesterday. Along with all the other life skills, like managing money, taking care of your car, cooking, keeping a home clean, raising kids, or growing food, talking to customer service and getting what you want is essential.
Considering that not all customer service reps are thoughtful enough to give you what you need on their own, you often have to use good communication skills to accomplish what you want. Many's the time I've established rapport, made a human connection, and gotten more than I expected.
Just as being a good CSR is a life skill, so, I think, is being a good customer. Keeping your cool and explaining things clearly is essential. And it can really make everyone's life easier. It took me a while to learn that and I'm really glad I did!
5 people like this
5 responses
@sherryericha (1806)
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
23 Jul 16
I can only promise to try harder next time.
My cousin and I disagree about what constitutes good telephone service.
I want someone who gets right to work, taking my info and completing the order.
My cuz wants the whole "and how are you today?" spiel, which drives me crazy. I must be good if I'm on the phone ordering?? And that "how's the weather there?" makes me cringe.
2 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8540)
• United Kingdom
16 Jan 17
It can be a very tricky thing to deal with customer service. Even with the nicest of customer service providers, you can get stuck for how to explain yourself in such a way that they'll give you the answers you actually want. A lot of them just use a script and, if your call isn't part of what's on their script, they have no idea how to help. Of course, other customer service people are just fine.
You get some people who work in customer services who complain about some of their customers, and you get customers who complain about the customer service people. The thing is, I find a lot of people who give bad service are the ones who complain about their customers and there are times when a rude or impatient customer has complained about customer service. There are some, on both sides, who will be miserable and unhelpful anyway. Perhaps because they've dealt with too many awful people or just because they're naturally grumpy!
I find that, with some exceptions, if I'm nice to people on either side (as a service user or a service provider) then they'll be nice to me.
1 person likes this
@Rohvannyn (3098)
• United States
16 Jan 17
You are right in so many ways here! I totally agree with what you say, especially in the last sentence. As someone who actually has to show people how to do their jobs and answer questions in customer service, I do notice that you're absolutely right about some agents - the agents who do the worst job, often complain the most. I generally like my customers because I know how to meet their needs with the information they want, but I still get some really hilarious questions at times!
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Jul 16
since I have been a CSR (am field support now, which I prefer), I am MUCH more patient when I call in to places.
1 person likes this
@Rohvannyn (3098)
• United States
24 Jul 16
True... it does apply in many ways. This time I'm talking about the skill of being a good customer.
1 person likes this
@crystalvisions (440)
• United Kingdom
23 Jul 16
Getting what you want is essential. Sadly if CSRs don't listen to me, I just drop the call and try again. Since I pay for premium numbers to call up customer service in the first place I dont see why I have to go through the rigmarole of trying to be understood. Not all CSR's are the same though, which is why they have to go through constant call monitoring and re-training when necessary. I have been there before, myself!
1 person likes this
