What do you think of company representation on here, and was JohnR justified throwing his toys?

Forums › Off topic › What do you think of company representation on here, and was JohnR justified throwing his toys?

Balchy

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#67380 31-Aug-2010 15:44

Since the other topic was locked for being off topic thought I would post it here.

Basically someone called JohnR out on his manner when dealing with VF issues on these forums, so he threw his toys out and "retired"

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=40&topicid=67316&page_no=2#374947

Personally I thought john always did a good job and helped a lot of people out, but could be a bit condescending at times.

What is your opinion on having a company represetative / CSR helping out on forums like these?

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#374954 31-Aug-2010 15:52

Some people just don't know how lucky they are to have staff from various companies actively helping out here.

Get help here or hold on the phone for 20mins+ at a time.... know what my choice would be.

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NonprayingMantis

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#374955 31-Aug-2010 15:53

I thought JohnR did a great job. He even helped out on non-Vodafone threads.

Anyone complaining about him is being a whiny douche.

Balchy

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#374957 31-Aug-2010 15:54

xpd: Some people just don't know how lucky they are to have staff from various companies actively helping out here.

Agreed, but they are still representatives of the company and need to act like it too.

The post that got John all snooty, wasnt even that inflammatory, just feedback about how he carries himself, and letting him know that not everyone knows who is is, or who he represents.

rscole86

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#374959 31-Aug-2010 15:55

xpd: Some people just don't know how lucky they are to have staff from various companies actively helping out here.

Agreed.

And personally, I do not think its right for people to discuss the actions of another user here on the forums. Sure, discuss the way companies interact with people on the internet via forums, social media etc. But be very careful, companies do not like coming onto forums and helping people. As all it takes is one person to say something they should think twice about, and the company will never come back.

Balchy

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#374960 31-Aug-2010 15:56

NonprayingMantis: I thought JohnR did a great job. He even helped out on non-Vodafone threads.

Anyone complaining about him is being a whiny douche.

Again, I agree he did good. But if a CSR on the phone talked to you the way JohnR does sometimes, Im sure you wouldnt be happy.

That being said the way he handled the constructive feedback was more of a whiny douche move

Balchy

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#374961 31-Aug-2010 15:57

rscole86:
xpd: Some people just don't know how lucky they are to have staff from various companies actively helping out here.

Agreed.

And personally, I do not think its right for people to discuss the actions of another user here on the forums. Sure, discuss the way companies interact with people on the internet via forums, social media etc. But be very careful, companies do not like coming onto forums and helping people. As all it takes is one person to say something they should think twice about, and the company will never come back.

We are dicussing the way comapanies interact. It just happens that JohnR is the said representative of that company.

vinnieg

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#374962 31-Aug-2010 15:57

People have bad days, sometimes those days lead to them retiring from Geekzone, seems to happen quite a bit.

Guess he just felt that he's been helping a lot all the time with not much return and decided to leave. That's totally fine I reckon. Sometimes you realise you aren't getting many answers in return for the help you've given and it feels like another job. If that was the case with John, then you've done well man and you've helped a lot of people, best of luck in the future!

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rossmnz

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#374967 31-Aug-2010 15:58

look John is the fricken man for providing the service he does on here at his own free will.

Ditto for Salty and the 2Degrees gang!

Geeks as a whole can be somewhat superior and snooty, but I have found john great with any probs i may have had!

Give the guy a break!

The force is strong with this one!

graemeh

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#374968 31-Aug-2010 15:59

I never thought of JohnR as a company representative/CSR helping out on the forum. My view of him was as someone who worked for Vodafone that offered to help in an unofficial capacity.

Quite different from say Paul Brislen who is here as a spokesman or the "company" users like Telstra Clear where it is an "official" presence.

As he was here unofficially I thought that people should be happy with any help or support he provided and if they were that worried about being handled with kid gloves they should use the official support channels as he was basically doing them a favour and was under no obligation to help at all.

xpd

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#374969 31-Aug-2010 15:59

Balchy:
xpd: Some people just don't know how lucky they are to have staff from various companies actively helping out here.

Agreed, but they are still representatives of the company and need to act like it too.

True, but he was never aggro towards people or bagging people, hes just blunt and to the point - to be honest, I personally prefer that to a point over sugar coating everything to make everyone feel like they're getting/giving "warm fuzzies".

But thats me.... :)

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rscole86

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#374970 31-Aug-2010 16:01

Balchy:We are dicussing the way comapanies interact. It just happens that JohnR is the said representative of that company.

Quite right, but you have now made things personal.

I do not beleive ANYONE on geekzone should have to stand to the scrutiny of the masses. Except the BDFL

Seriously though, how would you feel if someone decided to start a discussion about yourself and something you may post on geekzone. Everyone jumping in and ripping you apart, or praising you ofcourse. This then gets indexed by google, so now the world gets to see it.
Sorry, but it is not a good look.

Linuxluver

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#374974 31-Aug-2010 16:02

Balchy: Since the other topic was locked for being off topic thought I would post it here.

Basically someone called JohnR out on his manner when dealing with VF issues on these forums, so he threw his toys out and "retired"

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=40&topicid=67316&page_no=2#374947

Personally I thought john always did a good job and helped a lot of people out, but could be a bit condescending at times.

What is your opinion on having a company represetative / CSR helping out on forums like these?

Many people seem to assume company employees in the forums will be obsequious Yes-men to the almighty customer.

I'd prefer a staffer who called a spade a spade.

JohnR has a very dry sense of humour. Some people just don't get it....

I love the guy. I think he's awesome. He knows how to say "No" when some F-wit tries it on. That has real value. He's here voluntarily. If people fail to appreciate his efforts then he has every right to call "Time" and use his experience, energy and talents where they are better appreciated.

Why would any sane person waste their time on people who don't appreciate it? I wouldn't.

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Geese

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#374976 31-Aug-2010 16:02

Balchy: and letting him know that not everyone knows who is is, or who he represents.

Thats not hard to work out... It says "Vodafone NZ" as the company name on the left, below his username, on every post he makes.

Balchy

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#374977 31-Aug-2010 16:03

rscole86:
Balchy:We are dicussing the way comapanies interact. It just happens that JohnR is the said representative of that company.

Quite right, but you have now made things personal.

I do not beleive ANYONE on geekzone should have to stand to the scrutiny of the masses. Except the BDFL
Seriously though, how would you feel if someone decided to start a discussion about yourself and something you may post on geekzone. Everyone jumping in and ripping you apart, or praising you ofcourse. This then gets indexed by google, so now the world gets to see it.
Sorry, but it is not a good look.

I havent made things personal at all. Honestly I couldnt care less about the issue, but thoguht it would be a good discussion point. The only reason this thread started was because the original thread was locked, incredibly quickly, and after maybe two off topic post, almost like you were rushing to the rescue.

Balchy

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#374978 31-Aug-2010 16:04

IlDuce:
Balchy: and letting him know that not everyone knows who is is, or who he represents.

Thats not hard to work out... It says "Vodafone NZ" as the company name on the left, below his username, on every post he makes.

And as such, is representing his company and should be a bit more respectful. As I said, how would you react to some of his comments should you be on the receiving end on the phone?

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