Friday, August 26, 2005

Don't ask me, I just work here

Lord knows I've used that line about a million times in every job I have had in my life.

And it's true. I'm not the CEO nor am I the Grand Poobah! I don't write the rules or set the prices. If you wish to yell at anyone, it's the one who drives around in the Jaguar or Mercedes or limo and is the majority shareholder. That's the person who needs to get a good swift kick in the backside each time we realize the cost of "getting by" has become ridiculous. It's not the poor clerk who has to work two or three minimum wage crap jobs just to afford the little things in life like food, a roof over their head, and with whatever is left, clothes. And it's not the person who answers the phone who needs to be reminded of how evil the company they represent truly is. It's not their fault.

So I ask you to remember this the next time you go to the gas station or shop the food store or call the bank etc. and you want to voice how sick you are of paying ludicrous prices or fees. Don't berate the innocent victim behind the counter. They're just as ticked as you.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm a nice wee Piggy.

Every time I call the phone company or any other utility, or anywhere else for that matter, I always (and I really do mean always) try to be polite.

Sometimes, when I'm mad with the service I receive (or not, as the case may be), I always start off by saying 'please forgive me if I sound really ratty. I know this isn't your fault, but...' then continue with my complaint. And I make a point of re-emphasising that I'd hate to be in their position, just so they KNOW I'm not meaning to shout at the person I'm talking to, but the company.

It usually works. There's usually a 'thank you for recognising I'm only answering the phone' type response and sometimes, just sometimes, we end up having a really nice chat about how shit the company is to work for etc (with the added bonus that they'll usually try to help a little bit extra).

None of this applies to dealings with ANYONE one the other end of the phone at AOL (our old provider), where shouting, screaming and swearing is the ONLY way to get things done.

Oh. And hope you have a great weekend! Go out, get pissed. Stay in, get pissed.

Then make mad passionate love to Geo in a way that he never expected. That way, you'll both have a great weekend. And you can share the experience with us all on monday.

Maidy said...

I had one rather frustrating phone call and I overheard someone lambaste some poor kid at the BP. Oh yeah, like Junior has any control over the prices.

As for the Geo thing, hmmmm, that could be an interesting Monday post (she says with wicked smile).

Virginia Gal said...

concur on this post, I feel bad when people yell at me - hey I don't make the rules or the big bucks, get mad at that person who is screwing with your retirement.
I think this post should also apply to those poor telemarketing kids, they are just doing their job.