I’m not happy with my Internet Service, Earthlink. I’m not happy with my banks, US Bank and Wells Fargo. I’m not happy with the services (and fraudulent billing) I received from my former phone company,Verizon, or with Comcast, my former cable company. I’m not happy with the management (HSC) of my apartment complex. I’m not happy with government workers in many of the government departments I have to deal with.
I am not alone. Many many many customers are frustrated, not just with the service, but with the communication with the companies we have to do business with. Why?
They don’t care. They don’t care because they believe that if they lose my business, or your business, they will get millions of other customers, or tenants, or whomever, and you and I will just have to suffer. We will be considered “whiners” or “anti-american anarchists”. Or worse, “whistleblowers”. We will be labeled “disgruntled”, “irate”, “unstable” and become “outcasts”, and “homeless!” Simply because we expected to get what we paid for.
And then boys and girls, the CEO’s will move their companies to third world countries and pay their new employees far far less than they paid their U.S. employees; OR, rob the pension plans and retire to Costa Rica, leaving those poor pompous U.S. employees, who believed they were “just doing their jobs”, unemployed. The consequences of their once smug little dismissal of their former customer’s needs and concerns, that we were paying for, that paid their salaries will start to haunt them.
They will remember how they cheated us, lied to us, lied about us, caused us such grief and unneccesary hardship, and…they will be frustrated when those new third world employees, who replaced them, dismiss their concerns and them! Turnabout is fair play, I say.
The next time, if they are lucky to get back on their feet again, they will think twice about hurting other human beings, just because they can. They will choose to do the right thing by people, their customers, who pay their salaries, even for a brief time. Because any customer, even the ones who are paying for the smallest and most affordable services, are contributing to their salaries. Allowing them the comforts of their way of life.
Cheat me, steal from me, lie to me, lie about me, if you will. As for me and my company, the customer will always be right. It’s how I make my living. They deserve to get what they are paying for and they deserve for me to treat them with respect, kindness, professionalism, and never, never, never, a thousand times never, force them to go somewhere else.
Because you know what? Nothing is guaranteed. And the person you are abusing today, could be your boss tomorrow. We think we have control today, but we have no control over what happens tomorrow.
And a warning to all the clueless, third world workers: As quick as your new found “work” arrived to your country, please be aware that you’re dealing with people who do not care about you, either. There is always a less fortunate country somewhere willing to work for even less than you are. So, my advice, take the time to learn your craft, be kind, do the right thing by your customers to the best of your ability, and expect the unexpected.
And finally, this is simple advice to everyone: Treat others as YOU wish to be treated. Unless you are a masochist.
July 14th, 2008 at 3:16 am
Hi,
I’m just getting started with my new blog. Would you want to exchange links on our blog-rolls?
BTW – I’m up to about 100 visitors per day.
July 14th, 2008 at 3:38 am
Let’s try it.
August 15th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Oh, Thanks! Really amazing. Big ups!
August 17th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Oh, Thanks! Really funny. keep working!
September 27th, 2008 at 3:33 am
nice work, brother
September 28th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
thanks much, bro
October 7th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
omg.. good work, man