The girl who says 'no'

[Bill Wright]

Me: Have you got any four by four posts, but long ones, maybe three and a half metres? Girl in timber yard office (who has been needlessly obstructive on several previous occasions): No. Me: What's the longest you've got? Girl: We might have some ten foot. Not sure. Might only have eight foot. Me: Well can you cut me some longer ones? Girl: How can we make long ones from short ones? Me: I thought you could maybe start with a tree. Girl: Oh funny guy eh? Me: Only when provoked. Girl: Could you get me some longer ones if I order them? Girl: Oh no we don't do that. Me: Oh well, OK then. Thanks for your help anyway. Girl: I'll go and have a look. [a few seconds later, sounding disappointed]: Oh, there's some three point six. Just come in. Excellent. I'll see you shortly.

Bill

[Bob Eager]

It's not that place in Strood, is it? If it's still there...

[spuorgelgoog]

Just finished reading a couple of books about Fred Dibnah. One of his frien ds made/restored something (might have been a windmill) and the main shaft started as an oak tree and was turned into a shaft with some assistance fro m a Land-Rover providing the motive power.

Owain

[Brian Gaff]

We used to call these sort of people doom brains in the 70s

Brian

[Martin]

[Brian Gaff]

Yes but the lack of initiative or as they call it now, thinking outside the box, is usually a symptom of University syndrome where common sense is replaced by useless knowledge. Brian

[Martin]

[Cursitor Doom]

Wimin take offence far more easily than men; it's impossible to avoid sometimes. I always despair when a woman answers the phone and I have a technical query because I know I'm going to have to explain the problem twice: once to her and once again to the man she then puts me through to.

[Woody]

Sadly it seems the knowledge of how to handle a customer politely and courteously just does not exist these days until the maturity sets in. In the recent past I have had to deal with an organisation where the first time I was answered by an early 20-something (I would guess) who clearly could not give a stuff. The second time I called I got a mature woman who could not have been more helpful or friendly.

My wife has had the very same in dealing with the Halifax - and that their breavement department - and on a couple of occasions with BG. Conversely she has also dealt with Severn Trent Water and (surprisingly) BT where whoever answered the call could not have been more helpful.

STW - and for those that use them, First Direct (bank) - clearly spend time and money training their staff in how to talk to customers on the telephone. From my experience scripts don't even come into it. BT - well I think that was just a fluke!

[Wolfgang Schwanke]

Cursitor Doom wrote in news:nof8ko$gi9$ [e-mail]:

Some women are technically very savvy, just proportionally fewer.

[Bill Wright]

You don't like me because I constantly demonstrate the superiority of my intelligence over yours. But the girl was a stranger.

Bill

[Capitol]

But it now starts in primary schools with photo copied sheets and tick boxes. The standard mantra was:-

1) I listen, I forget. 2) I see, I remember. 3 I do, I understand.

Doing has disappeared.

[Martin]

Women on Dutch help desks are competent even when speaking English.

[Capitol]

It took me days to report a fault to BT recently. The fault reporting system has replaced people with voice operated computers which do not understand English. The on line system is now a people data collecting system and doesn't work without javascript. I don't give out personal details on line, so couldn't use it. I was about to write to BT, my MP and OFCOM when somehow I managed to register a fault condition using the 151 system. My bank, Plusnet and Tesco are a joy to contact as they answer their phones with people.

[charles]

That's because they have been properly briefed.

[Indy Jess John]

There was a girl who answered the phone on the Service Reception Desk at a car Main Dealer back in the 1980s. She knew more about diagnosing faults and mending cars than half the mechanics she booked the work to.

I know, because she married a friend of mine.

Jim

[Martin]

I'd say well educated.

[spuorgelgoog]

I have found that saying "Complaint" at the first prompt puts one through to an English operator with above-average levels of clue.

Owain

[charles]

There's that, too. They might even be educated enough to know they need better briefing notes.

[Capitol]

I'll remember that.