Griselda

I really like my job. I knew nothing about QuicKutz before I started working there. But let me tell you, there are some crazy obsessed women who "...have purchased thousands of dollars of QuicKutz products over the years." I hear that all the time if you couldn't tell. And when I started, those women knew way, way more than I did about QK. Not so much anymore.

So, my job is customer service. Low end of the totem pole, yes. But I sort of don't feel that low. I know more about the products now than I ever really wanted to know. And, because of that, all the high people on the totem pole come to ME with questions. They want to know what I know. It's pretty cool actually.

There are some downfalls, however. The customers all want to know what I know, too. But, sometimes, they are already angry that they don't know what I know before they call, so the conversations just starts out on the wrong side of the bed.

Take Griselda, for example. I am naming names. Simply because if I were to choose a made-up name for this unhappy customer, I think I would chose Griselda. Anyhow, poor Griselda's car has been broken into. And her die cut has been stolen! (Wo is me! I'm sure an angry robber would steal a die cut...but the customer is always right, right?) Here is what her die looks like:



From this lovely poinsettia die, the basket part was stolen out of dear Griselda's car. And Griselda wants a replacement. (Side note: Griselda had called in a month or so earlier - before I had even started working there - inquiring about the same issue and whomever spoke with her told her we would replace her stolen poinsettia basket with a free one. No biggie, I would have done the same thing.) So the order was in for her poinsettia basket die, and she still hadn't received it, simply because we had run out of this die and were waiting to receive more.

When I told her this, all hell broke lose. She accused me of lying, she said that I was the one she spoke with months ago and that I was rude on the phone, she said I didn't care about her [precious] poinsettia die. Guess what, Griselda? I didn't lie and it wasn't me you talked to before. (And, you're right, I don't care THAT much about your stolen die that we were replacing for FREE.) She went on to tell me I was horrible, that my customer service skills suck, and then...

...she began to cry. She had gotten so worked up calling me a liar and a horrible person, while I sat there and patiently waited for her to finish, that she began to cry. Griselda had feelings. Then she just said, "I am done." and hung up the phone.

Griselda was having a bad day. Even though she took it out on me personally, I didn't take it personal, because she obviously didn't know she was speaking with The HBC.

So for those of us who run into Griselda's out there, just smile. Feel for them. Tell them you are sorry they are having a bad day and that Jesus loves them (in case no one else does.)

And for those of us who are Griselda's out there... be nicer to customer service people on the phone.