Have you had a bad customer

[GEGeek_ツ]

How many of your customers have suffered from the ID ten T error?

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

Enough, but I have the same error from time to time.

 

[GTP]

Probably not as many times as me, lol
But, yes there are times when you question their sanity.

 

[Sky-Knight]

We all have off days, I constantly have to remind myself that people aren't IT people. After all, that's why they pay us!

They do different things all day, so I don't expect them to be techs. But there are some days when you've got someone on the phone that you can just tell is a few IQ points short of not breathing and you're wondering just how they survived to adulthood.

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

But there are some days when you've got someone on the phone that you can just tell is a few IQ points short of not breathing and you're wondering just how they survived to adulthood.

LMAO.

 

[River Valley Computer]

We all have off days, I constantly have to remind myself that people aren't IT people. After all, that's why they pay us!

They do different things all day, so I don't expect them to be techs. But there are some days when you've got someone on the phone that you can just tell is a few IQ points short of not breathing and you're wondering just how they survived to adulthood.

Well - only took me about 15 minutes to get up off the floor after laughing over this.

 

[fencepost]

But there are some days when you've got someone on the phone that you can just tell is a few IQ points short of not breathing and you're wondering just how they survived to adulthood.

The challenge there is to try to not let that show in your tone. Even better, if you can explain things to them and not make them feel stupid (or actively make them feel not stupid) they may be loyal for life.

"No, that's perfectly understandable. Let me fill you in on what's actually happening so you'll know why that didn't work [and won't try things like it again in the future]."

Particularly for malware, scams, etc. it's helpful to point out that while there are lots of very good people on the Internet just like in real life, there are also the scammy used car dealers, etc. out to rip you off and it's harder to identify them online, so don't give your credit card information to anyone you didn't contact, and be careful how you look for people. Also, point out to them that there are people online who scam you for a living, so they spend a lot more time getting really good at it than the rest of us spend learning to spot them.

 

[Markverhyden]

Stopped keeping count a long time ago.

 

[Sky-Knight]

Yep, I'm a stone on the phone. I actually broke a toe once getting to the phone and the client didn't know. But in the back of my head... there's that little voice with all that snark. I'd like to think I've gotten better at not letting it out of my mouth.

 

[finests6]

Don't remember a bad customer as such, but definitely, ones who were not appreciative of the effort I went to sometimes. I went through hell for some customers, and they're just like... 'yeah cool, ta.'

 

[LivHolmes]

Yes, I 've encountered some difficult customers. It's quite tough to handle the situation especially if they still remain to feel dissatisfied after you have met their demands. Perhaps, people have different attitudes and thinking. You just have to be patient.

 

[alluseridsrejected]

The vast majority of my customers are great, even the ones suffering from ID10T errors. I don't hold that against them at all (I suffer this same error frequently). In fact I prefer the ID10T customers. Their issues are normally simple and quick and easy to fix. Just be patient, friendly and helpful and they are generally very appreciative, but I have fired a couple. One thought the used computer I sold her should come with lifetime remote tech support, helping her log into email and and how to fix her print issues and whatever because "bestbuy does it". I told her I do too as long as you pay my no obligation MSP subscription of $15 month that I told her about when she bought the computer. She insisted she couldn't afford that, so I insisted she cease calling me.

And as a final note, one thing that really ticks me off is arrogant tech support people that talk down to non-technical people and have no patience for those that don't know what they consider are things they think everyone should know. There are a lot of them in this business for some reason. So many that it has given our industry a bad rep. If other industries acted like computer techs often do, people would call for a plumber or electrician and get talked down to because they don't already know all the ins & outs of electrical code or plumbing code. Not saying this applies to you as I can't tell that from a one line question.