The Art of the Complaint Letter
I don’t like bad customer service. That’s not so unusual. A lot of people, especially nowadays, can spend at least two to three minutes a day complaining about a negative experience they’ve had with a Customer Service Operator; be it at their local supermarket, on the phone or at a restaurant.
But I really don’t like bad customer service. I could spend all day and all night talking about the various people that wrong me throughout the day when they’re representing the companies they work for.
“And he didn’t even smile at me or say hello while he was serving me…” is a personal favourite.
I’m not someone who just complains to friends but never does anything about it either. I’ll often find myself walking away from people in supermarkets after they’ve ignored me; loudly saying to strangers as I pass, “don’t you just love it when you support a business who don’t even train their staff to use basic civilities and who, instead, just stand there looking like they’ve recently had a lobotomy instead?”
Often strangers ignore me, understandably not wanting to engage the loud crazy woman walking past them smiling maniacally and ranting about simple conversation starters.
But I don’t just leave it there, I write letters. I write long, ranty, formally structured pieces using words like, ‘unacceptable’, ‘poor quality’ and ‘word of mouth’. I post them to the companies, I send them to my friends, and I share them on Facebook. At least twice a week there is something that really gets my goat and sends me straight to my envelope and stamp set.
You might think I have nothing better to do. You might think I spend all day waiting for something negative to happen so I can complain about it. You might be right. But if someone provides good customer service I do the same thing. I write letters. I write long, ranty, formally structured pieces using words like, ‘fantastic’, ‘polite and courteous’ and ‘tell all my friends’.
Oh, and I’m not one of those elderly woman who likes to spend her afternoons hand writing letters to post to channel 9. I’m a 26 year old woman who likes to spend her afternoons’ hand writing letters to post to channel 9. If I had a catch cry, it would definitely be, “That’s it. I’m writing a letter.”
If you think I’m all dramatics and no follow through, you haven’t read ‘Dear Actor’ (posted on this site about three weeks ago). That was sent straight to the Melbourne Theatre Company. I am still awaiting a response. Any day now…
This week my letter writing skills are directed at the clothes store who refused to refund a dress I’d bought that fell apart (literally) upon wearing it out for the first time.
“NO REFUNDS”, I was bluntly told. Upon explaining to the delightfully straight-faced, dead-eyed girl behind the counter what the actual issue with the dress was; and why they were obligated to return my money; I was told again in three syllables with absolutely no hint of understanding or apology, “no refunds”. That was it, I was off.
Letters were written, contact with Consumer Affairs Victoria was made, and this morning, a politely written, but firm email was sent to the business demanding my money back. And now we wait.
Oh, did I mention I’m also incredibly impatient?
What’s that? You haven’t commented on this post before I’ve even put it online?
That’s it! I’m writing a letter.
Reader Comments