I HATE ELECTRONICS!!!

[Raphael]

I am so annoyed right now. Turned on my tv earlier tonight and it wouldn't work. All that it showed was a "Select download method" screen.

WTF??

Chatted with someone from the LG help desk, which got me nowhere, but did provide me with this stellar line to make me really happy:

"Hello Guest. Welcome to LG Electronics U.S.A.! How may I provide you with excellent service today?"

Seriously, that's how the online chat started out.  Felt like ending the chat with "To answer your first question, I don't know...because you did NOT provide me with excellent service today!".

This is so irritating...

[TurtleNinja]

Sounds like my usual response to ANY customer service that I've encountered.

"Customer service? Isn't that an oxymoron?"...seeing as how they're neither customers, nor terribly interested in or in any hurry to help said customers.

And I agree, Raph...I haaaaate the damn mechanical answers you get nowadays. You press fifty buttons to get to a person, and then that person can't or won't help you...or juggles you over to someone ELSE that supposedly can help.

I rarely have problems to where I need customer service, but when I do, I agree, it's frustrating to try and get someone who can or will help.

[BubblyShell22]

Yeah, that sucks. I know my dad hates it when he wants someone to help him and it's a recording saying, "To access this, press one." Ugh. You can't even talk to a real person anymore.

[Raphael]

Customer service is, sadly, really becoming one of those oxymoron expressions, you're right, TN.

And your dad isn't the only one who hates getting stuck in a cycle of "press 1 for this, press 2 for that, press 339820894892884 if you want any chance of getting out of this phone system", BubblyShell.

[BubblyShell22]

Yeah, I know. It's so annoying.

[Raphael]

And just to show how wonderful Sears' customer service has become...

They said they'd have someone call within two business days. Not surprisingly, despite the call being made to them early on Friday, nothing was heard on Friday. The repair company called this morning, slightly annoyed. Not with us...but with Sears...who didn't notify them of what was going on until Saturday afternoon. The guy was miffed that he could have picked up the TV on Friday, had he known.

Thx, Sears...

[TurtleNinja]

Wow, you know your customer service is bad when not only the customer is ticked at you, but so are your workers.

At least you heard back in two days, though. I can quickly judge a company by how fast they get back to you. Learned that the hard way at my last apartment where it would take MONTHS to hear back from the dang maintenance guy unless it was an emergency(like my door's lock breaking(scary!) and the kitchen sink leaking). Any small thing that needed looked at or fixed would take forever to hear from.

Granted, he'd get it fixed when he got there, but it wasn't even remotely close to the day I called about it.

To me, if a company doesn't get back to you when they say they will, they're not worth the business. I can begrudgingly deal with the electronic press-a-number b.s. to reach a person, but if they give me attitude(being bored, snippy, or downright incompetent), let alone if I have to call repeatedly to get my answer or something taken care of, I tend not to repeat my business with them.

And don't get me started on cashiers in stores, either.

I've been on both sides of the register, so I know what cashiers can go through and won't get bent out of shape if, say, they don't smile, say "thank you", or address me by my given name. Knowing how much they probably have to remember just to do their job, how long the hours are and tired they must be from being on their feet all day, that they maybe just dealt with a nasty customer a short while before me, or are just having a bad day, I tend to ignore those miniscule details. I've had bad days, dealt with rude customers(who were rude for no reason), and had a ton of things crammed into my head about how I was supposed to operate the registers and price things that I was expected to remember IMMEDIATELY after being told them.

So if a cashier doesn't give me one of those "little things", it doesn't bother me. They're only human and for all I know, they're having a crappy day.

I'm even VERY patient with new folks, remembering exactly how I was treated at virtually every job I was behind the register for when I was learning. If they don't understand something or make a mixup or have to ask a boss about how to do something, I don't freak out. I just assure them that I'm patient and understand how it is to be new and that they don't have to worry about upsetting me, that they can take the time to simply calm down and figure out what the snafu is.

I also don't expect to be given any sort of special treatment, regardless of how much of a regular I am, then bite the cashier's head off or go to the manager because the poor new kid didn't know "who I am". *really hated that b.s. at past jobs as well*

It's the folks that are snippy or short with me no matter when I pass through their register, like they can't wait to get me the heck out of their line. Me and every other customer, really. Just whip your items through the scanner, into a bag, always looking like they swallowed a bug, not saying a word, and biting out the required "Thank you for shopping..." as if it poisons them to say it. That sort of attitude.

Even if I don't care whether I get a "thank you" or not, hearing someone force the line out through clenched teeth in an abrupt manner tells me that they really hate their job and probably their customers. Good day or bad day, I'd rather not deal with someone like that, y'know?

[BubblyShell22]

Yeah, I hear you there, TN. I hate that, too, when people are just downright rude to you. It happens more and more these days, which is why I really don't want to work in a public setting. I'd rather work at home.

[Raphael]

Two weeks and I'm still on a borrowed TV.  Spoke to the repair guy last week, the problem was in the power supply and he was waiting on the part.

Spoke to him again yesterday and he was still pricing the part. Wanted to get the cheapest part because it was going to cost at least $200.  Um...what does it matter, it's under warranty.  "Is it?" he says. When reminded of the fact that Sears called him, not us, he got quiet..like he hadn't thought of that. He was going to call Sears yesterday to find out what's what. "I'll call you back".

No word today.

I might as well just go and buy myself another TV...

[BubblyShell22]

Wow. That sucks, Raph. Just hang in there. I know it can be tough, but maybe something good will happen. Just keep your fingers crossed.

[ResidentEvil7]

I personally love electronics, and it explains why Best Buy has gotten more applications than any other business but what ever.  As much as I love electronics I have to say my computer is something else.  I mouse click it and the computer acts like it doesn't have a clue, and it keeps giving me that [Not Responding] status on about everything I do.  Sometimes I restart my computer just to get it to function better again, and all the clicks I make to get the computer to do what I wanted it to do come through, but that's AFTER I click restart.  I used to love computers and what I can do on them, but lately I can't stand them.

My PlayStation 3 is another problem.  Last year my PS3 died from the Yellow Light of Death (caused by overheating) with my Resident Evil 5 game still stuck inside.  I took it in to get it fixed, I get it back which was a major pain, I get it back and 30 minutes later YLOD again.  I gave up on it even when I researched on how I am going to fix it.  So I get another PS3 and when I get it going, 5 minutes later it gets hot and noisy.  I'm thinking YLOD is coming again.  I get an intercooling attatchment, put a fan on one side and my window AC below and behind it just to keep it from getting hot enough to cause YLOD again.  Although I vacuumed out the dust out of it and it seems to be better but still I don't trust PS3s when it seems they're getting warm or hot, and noisy.  These PS3s are NOT cheap only to have them break down.

[Raphael]

When they're behaving, I love electronics too...well, I don't hate 'em as much. 

But when they're misbehaving, I could throw 'em out a window.

And I commend you for your support for Best Buy, sadly, not everyone is able to share that opinion.   

[ResidentEvil7]

It's more than that it's more like commitment and loyalty.

[Raphael]

Just out of curiousity...what have they done to get such a high level of commitment & loyalty from you?


Not being a smart alec, just curious... in this day and age, where customer service and such seem to be a thing of the past, it is odd for a business to manage to have customer loyalty.

[BubblyShell22]

It's funny you say that about Best Buy, Raph. We've had no problems from them whatsoever. In fact, I credit the Geek Squad for fixing my computer twice. Once when the hard drive went out and then when my Internet wasn't working. Then again, it depends on the people too. If people are rude to you, then you'll have a bad time of it. If people are nice and helpful, it'll alll work out.