The Reality of Customer Service

For anyone who has ever worked in customer service, most will agree that your initial perception of people will change and it will change fast. You can easily go from being an outgoing people person to wishing you lived alone in the hills of Yemen

 I have worked in customer service for over six years and while I've enjoyed a lot about the jobs I've had, it has really tested my patience when it came to servicing different types of people.

Types of customer service workers 

-Retail
-Front Desk Associate
-Cashier
-Maid
-Waitress
-Call Representative

Whether your trying to explain that the back room is not the size of the staples center, or getting yelled at because a 35 year old man didn't read a contract he signed two years ago. The stress can make one wonder if it's even worth making below the poverty line to deal with all of this. 

Not only are their different types of workers in customer service, there are different types of customers.

Through the years, I've narrowed them down to 5 types: 

1. Friendly and considerate: This is the type we all wish were the only type we had to deal with. These people on a good chance have worked in customer service before and understand what it's like to be on the other side. They tend to never assume and are always gracious to the staff. 

2. Moody: For this type, you usually have to work in a position that you see the same people more than once. Normally they arrive with an invisible stamp on their forehead that says "F@#$ Off !!". It's like pulling teeth to get them to even say hello. You eventually make a mental note to leave them be until that one day he or she gets upset that you never stop to chat with them or ask if they saw last week's episode of Grey's Anatomy .

3. Demanding: This type of person from the time they walk in, to the time they leave will tell you how things are going to go, what they want, and how you should handle it. Part of the job does require dealing with cranky people, but if you find yourself dodging things being thrown at you because you no longer serve breakfast then it's obvious you're not the one with the problem. It's clear they've had one or two bad experiences with customer service to which their favorite line is usually: "I want to speak to the manager". 

4. Hecklers: This person is clearly in need of a doctor since it's obvious their foot is shoved so far into their mouth nothing that comes out of it makes any sense. They are the type that does not think before they speak. They are either overly sarcastic or informing you how tired and sick you look this morning.  

5. Needy: The whole point of working in customer service is to help those in need. However, one draws the line when having to service people that assume all employees strive to kiss the feet of people who want them to practically wait on them hand and foot. They are usually control freaks who have to have things a certain way. To the guy who thinks he's Gordon Ramsay, to the lady who want's a discount on everything.  

What a lot of people don't understand, is that when you walk in, or contact an establishment the people that are working to help you are just like you. Meaning they have a life outside of their job. The last thing on their mind is how they can make your life a living hell. Not only do they have to appear warm and inviting they have to pretend whatever stress they are dealing with does not exist while playing therapist to yours. 

One of the most annoying things about working in customer service is the false impression people obtain about an employee. One situation can brand you as "biggest bitch" for the rest of your career all because you forgot to throw in bread sticks. 

When it's face to face we are taking a lot into consideration before we talk to you. And the the first thing is your body language. If you're already walking in moody, (whether you realize it or not) that employee is immediately building a wall up against you. We see people way better then one see's themselves because that's what we do all day long. We watch and we mirror your actions toward us.

Don't get me wrong, there are employees that give you good reason to hate us, but there are also a lot of us who are expected to clean up your messes, deal with your attitude and do it all with a smile because at the end of the day: 
                       
                                              The customer is always right.