Post: #51

(01-12-2017 07:58 PM)scorpion Wrote:  To be honest I can't relate to this at all. I tend to have better experiences with female customer service reps than males. I find them more eager to please. The exception is obviously for technical issues. But for simple administrative sort of issues, I'd rather deal with a woman.

There is a very simple "hack" I've found that improves the experience in dealing with customer service people (male or female). What is the hack? It literally could not be more simple: you greet the representative by name, introduce yourself, and you ask them to help you. Why does this work? It makes the interaction more personal. It adds a human element to what is normally a very impersonal experience. And by directly asking them for help you make them invested in providing you that help.

It's a little thing that makes a big difference. Also, speak slower in general. I think a lot of guys have lost (or never developed) phone game due to the heavy prevalence of texting these days. It's a worthwhile skill to develop. People are always much more accommodating when they like you, and coming across as likable/charismatic over the phone is an aspect of game that can be learned like any other.

I do a similar thing whereby if I don't encounter a robot person with no sense of humor, I try to make jokes and ask them about themselves or overexaggerate how much they're saving my life whenever they do well.

Speaking of call centers, I've never had a bad experience with calls with USAA.

Anybody else notice this? Or other companies that have good customer service on the phone?

G

Post: #52

Actually if you know how to charm them on the phone..

Post: #53

I think in my young life I've only had one bad customer service experience (with Bell, I imagine the other Canadians on the forum can sympathize) and it was because I kept getting transferred, ended up getting 5 foreign workers in a row. You'd think speaking fluent English would be a requirement to be a call center worker but thinking that is xenophobic...anyhow I lost my cool on the last guy so he finally caved and sent someone in person who solved the problem in about 2 minutes.

Other than that, just lay the charm on and call center workers can be a huge help. I'd definitely rather that than the automated systems. I find it's actually good practice in negotiating, as most of the workers are subjected to so much verbal abuse that they care more about the customer's approval than the company.

Post: #54

I honestly think a lot of this depends on how attractive your voice is.

It's something you can work on, and worth looking at. If you have an unattractive voice, then fix it.

Post: #55

(06-23-2017 05:43 AM)younggun Wrote:  I think in my young life I've only had one bad customer service experience (with Bell, I imagine the other Canadians on the forum can sympathize) and it was because I kept getting transferred, ended up getting 5 foreign workers in a row. You'd think speaking fluent English would be a requirement to be a call center worker but thinking that is xenophobic...anyhow I lost my cool on the last guy so he finally caved and sent someone in person who solved the problem in about 2 minutes.

I notice a lot of Canadians are really not that good at understanding accents.

I work construction here, and I'm English. We have a few Jamaicans on our crew, mostly tapers, also some painters. I can understand them perfectly, and they can understand me. When I talk to Canadians I have to speak the 'Queens English' for them or they get confused, and they're totally lost at anything Jamaicans say, don't even try them on Indians.

Post: #56

Quote:Having said that, I'm going to continue this practice because I just can't deal with the anxiety and stress that comes with solving 21st century problems with what are, functionally, overgrown children not fit for it.

Am I the only one that does this?

I've had similar experiences. I manage the corporate internet, and had to change ISPs because i could never get any traction when we had internet problems. The ISP we migrated from shifted to a female centric call center, with women that could almost never help solve problems. And they do get all emotional when challenged. The female account manager was even worse.

Shifting gears to my workplace. We have a department that writes code. I've had numerous senior male colleagues mention just how the female coders can't handle shit. Some have resigned when faced with pressure to complete projects on time.

While not an indictment to all women, most of them just don't do well in tech.