Follow up to my previous post a while back, are there any things that I can do to make your job easier?
For example, I work at a library and it helps me when patrons have their library cards ready when they come up to the circulation desk, especially if they have a large stack of books.
If you get called by telemarketers, political people, charities, etc. just hang up on them. Almost all of them require a minimum of 3 “nos” before they can end the call and some of the shittier ones aren’t even allowed to end the call. Being polite and listening to them wastes both your time and ruins their metrics
Good to know. Think I will just say “Sorry, no” and immediately hang up. Most are computers now anyway so they just get a hangup.
Only time I didn’t do this was when I got tried of them constantpy calling and tried to prank them over text. It actually went really well.
Being prepared like your library card is one, definitely. Always be polite. Always. If they’re grumpy, it’s something that happened in their life. Could be their boss is crappy, someone flipped them off, etc. It’s not about you, so injecting kindness would really help make their day better.
Be prepared and kind. Again. It really is the best way to make things go smoothly.
Those two, prepared and kindness/politeness, are really it if you think about it.
Just don’t make the cringy “if it’s not scanning, it must be free” joke that they’ve all heard a million times.
We leave snack foods out in a bin on the front porch for delivery people. They all seem to love it and it’s an easy thing to do for people bringing things to your house.
When trying clothes on in clothing stores, it’s so nice when people don’t leave the stuff they tried on an inside out ball on the floor. Please hang the stuff that was hanging and since no one knows how to fold just side fold things that don’t have a hanger. It’s not difficult, but apparently for some it is akin to rocket fucking science
If you’re mad and trying to get a refund, please give me a reason that I can use to justify it to my boss.
I don’t care about the money (it’s not mine anyway) but I can only give away a limited amount for “customer courtesy” before my manager will call me into a meeting.
Give me a good reason and don’t reuse the same excuse. I have to read the notes from the last time you asked for a refund.
Good reasons:
-I need it to buy gas to make it to work (to make more money to put in my account) (“extenuating circumstances”)
-My payment was late because of someone else’s mistake, such as a clerical error in your payroll (especially if it was our mistake!) (“error”)
-I may have been set up with the wrong product. Perhaps I can upgrade to a higher tier (“sales opportunity”)
-I haven’t been myself lately because I was taking care of a loved one before they passed away (“bereavement”)
In a large company we have metrics and policies. “C’mon, bro, be chill and help me out” is not a checkbox on my computer program