Customer service stories

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SteveON

1916 posts

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#60675 30-Apr-2010 08:45

Some of you may have noticed in my signature that I am a fan of Not Always Right... I just read one story and it got me thinking; how many of you guys have had weird or just plane silly customers...

Ill never forget the time I worked at DSE and spent 30 minutes explaining the difference between Digital and Analogue. The customer still didn't get it.

Baby Store | Vernon Hills, IL, USA
Me: “Thank you for calling [store], how may I help you?”
Customer: “I can’t find the product I want online, but I can find it in the UK section. Can you get it here for me?”
Me: “Ma’am, we cannot do anything at the store level. You could try to order it online or try calling the UK directly.”
Customer: “But, do they speak English over there?”

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#325152 30-Apr-2010 10:26

Lack of initiative and willingness to help is standard customer service these days - not for all but for the majority.

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nate

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#325169 30-Apr-2010 10:53

My favourite that's happen to me, was a client who emailed us saying all email in their company was down... turns out a mis-spelt recipient was at fault.

heavenlywild

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#325187 30-Apr-2010 11:16

Haha, good one!

Technology is supposed to make our lives easier but it seems like people are using it as an excuse not to do something.

For example, I once went into a store asking if they had stock of an item. Yes, they did, but not in their branch. I asked if I could get it transferred. No, was the answer, because we cannot access their database. Right...

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xpd

Geek @ Coastguard NZ
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#325188 30-Apr-2010 11:19

Irate customer calls IHUG with on going connection issues.... I answer... check history etc.... I know its his line causing the problem - long story short, he ends up screaming down the line at me.

Customer (yelling at me) : What qualifications do you have for this job, becuase youre just repeating whats already been told to me
(Thats because its the truth you womble)
Me : Absolutely none sir.

Customer (yelling) : Just because I say Im an engineer dosent mean I can build a bridge does it!! Put me onto your supervisor!
(Wish he'd get over that bridge when he makes it.)

Transfer him to the next level tech (who happens to be a regular on this site...wonder if he remembers the call ;) ) who tells the customer exactly the same thing.

Customer called back the next day to apologise as it turns out we were right and Telecom had been giving him the run around...

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

LinkTree - kiwiblast.co.nz - Lego and more

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heavenlywild

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#325193 30-Apr-2010 11:26

Good on the customer to call back and eat humble pie though:)

if he is an engineer and can't build bridges, you gotta wonder what he actually studied:p

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SteveON

1916 posts

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#325196 30-Apr-2010 11:30

heavenly_wild: Good on the customer to call back and eat humble pie though:)

if he is an engineer and can't build bridges, you gotta wonder what he actually studied:p

I have one.. What is Bargain Lover? and why is your URL broken?

Behodar

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#325210 30-Apr-2010 11:56

nate: My favourite that's happen to me, was a client who emailed us saying all email in their company was down... turns out a mis-spelt recipient was at fault.

Our network went down for a couple of hours once, and when it came back up we all received an email stating that the network is down. Apparently the helpdesk never considered that a broken network would hold up the email :P

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vexxxboy

4239 posts

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#325252 30-Apr-2010 13:43

any company where Bureaucracy trumps common sense and logic, case in point . I worked in a company where you had to show ID to get a replacement card, the sister of my colleague came in and asked her for a card and was refused because she didnt have ID

Common sense is not as common as you think.

cgrew

860 posts

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#325253 30-Apr-2010 13:44

I had an elderly lady come into our store with a Uniden cordless phone once.. the only thing she brought in was one of the handsets and with a very worried look on her face she said to me "It's saying it's out of range??"

Trying very hard not to laugh or smile I said Ma'am that's because your miles away from the base unit, she then replied.. "Don't these things run off satellites??"

Oh dear... :D

bazzer

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#325263 30-Apr-2010 13:57

heavenly_wild: Good on the customer to call back and eat humble pie though:)

if he is an engineer and can't build bridges, you gotta wonder what he actually studied:p

I'm a degree qualified engineer and I can't build a bridge. I even missed the 1st year assignment building an iceblock stick bridge, so what are you saying?

Actually, I take that back. I could build a bridge rectifier!

heavenlywild

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#325371 30-Apr-2010 17:07

bazzer:
heavenly_wild: Good on the customer to call back and eat humble pie though:)

if he is an engineer and can't build bridges, you gotta wonder what he actually studied:p

I'm a degree qualified engineer and I can't build a bridge. I even missed the 1st year assignment building an iceblock stick bridge, so what are you saying?

Actually, I take that back. I could build a bridge rectifier!

Hehehe you would at least know some fundamentals of bridge building :)

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heavenlywild

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#325372 30-Apr-2010 17:10

SteveON:
heavenly_wild: Good on the customer to call back and eat humble pie though:)

if he is an engineer and can't build bridges, you gotta wonder what he actually studied:p

I have one.. What is Bargain Lover? and why is your URL broken?

Mid-June launch, I shouldn't have made it a hyper link. In the meantime, the Facebook page will have all the info for you :)

The idea for the website has to do with customer service really - hub of finding the best bargains / deals / freebies etc.

Anyway, back on topic!

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SepticSceptic

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#325547 1-May-2010 12:12

heavenly_wild:
bazzer:
heavenly_wild: Good on the customer to call back and eat humble pie though:)

I'm a degree qualified engineer and I can't build a bridge. I even missed the 1st year assignment building an iceblock stick bridge, so what are you saying?

Actually, I take that back. I could build a bridge rectifier!

Hehehe you would at least know some fundamentals of bridge building :)

H-Bridge anyone ?

eXDee

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#325548 1-May-2010 12:24

cgrew: I had an elderly lady come into our store with a Uniden cordless phone once.. the only thing she brought in was one of the handsets and with a very worried look on her face she said to me "It's saying it's out of range??"

Trying very hard not to laugh or smile I said Ma'am that's because your miles away from the base unit, she then replied.. "Don't these things run off satellites??"

Oh dear... :D

Theres just something about elderly ladies and cordless phones which just seem to not mix.

cgrew

860 posts

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#325556 1-May-2010 12:59

eXDee:
cgrew: I had an elderly lady come into our store with a Uniden cordless phone once.. the only thing she brought in was one of the handsets and with a very worried look on her face she said to me "It's saying it's out of range??"

Trying very hard not to laugh or smile I said Ma'am that's because your miles away from the base unit, she then replied.. "Don't these things run off satellites??"

Oh dear... :D

Theres just something about elderly ladies and cordless phones which just seem to not mix.

I totally agree.

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