Stupid Customers?

I come across alot of extremely clever individuals everyday, but I never seem to have a complete day without an email from a really 'dumb' customer. Customer service has never been a strong point of mine, but I cope.

I always get emails from people asking me stuff like:

• Information on competitors services - as if I'm their customer service aswell
• Questions about their Paypal account - how the hell do I know what to do when they've been limited?
• Account problems, but no account information - I get loads of these, people email me without any information on what their account details are so how can I help?
• Computer support - people ask me how to run Word and stuff, my site is nothing to do with computer services
• Extremely vague messages - 'cant login' 'why cant i see site' are some classics

When I think about it, I've had people email me from eBay, asking me to list less auctions because my auctions make their searches take longer.

I don't want to put requirements for my support services because as I said the good proportion of the messages are valid, and I don't think these kind of people would notice requirements. This has certainly taught me to email as much information as possible and be polite when dealing with customer services.

So, am I moaning here? Does anyone else have similar experiences with certain customers?

 

Don't get me started. I can write a 15 series book on those.

One of the top ones: People thinking we manufacture everything we sell.

But the yanks are the worst by far, not understanding why we don't have prices in dollars or not understanding they can find a currency converter themselves.

Also (now you have me started) people don't read. They see an image and think up the context themselves and buy what they think they are buying whilst it clearly says in red and bold it isn't what they think they are buying.

And loads more...

 

I get about 5 people a day ask me what the longest pe*is is.

 

I get about 5 people a day offering me that title if I buy their drugs.

 

i work at an IT helpdesk. The best from my own personal calls:

Me: Right click on "My Computer"
Caller: I dont see your computer!

i sat and argued with this lady for 5 minutes before she found the icon on her desktop. Horrible...

 

So you're trying to tell me that the whole world doesn't use US dollars.

Wow, I guess you do learn something new every day......

 

I guess you also think you can't buy every day products like blue widgets in the US but you really have to import them from overseas because of customs and excise fun, cool postage charges and all that The Internet is global after all. If you can access the website they must sell to you, no matter what their FAQ and Terms say. And the fact it is .co.uk doesn't tell you why it's in Pound Sterling either...

 

I love the last minute orders during Christmas that come in after 5 pm and ask for 2 day service - they call the next morning to see if it shipped yet and will it arrive tomorrow??

 

I did seo for a company that sold "legal bud" and alcohol online...some of the fondest memories of working there revolved around stupid customers lol. Half the customers would call to place orders stoned or drunk or both.


A site I'm working on right now I had a customer ask if the pieces are edible (the site sells champaign glasses).

Yesterday I have a client ask me what seo was (this came after he signed a 12 month contract for seo services...).

 

welcome to the club...

 

I hate people who don't read instructions...

as in "Click here if you have forgotten your password to receive a new one"

"How do I get a new password?"

ARGGHGHHHh!!!

 

Hey, if you don't like customer service, then you certainly should never get that live help software for your site. I sell clothing and get people asking me how to install their DVD players. Well to start with.. it's not that hard!!. and then the obvious.. how the hell did they find me and my online chat.. and what has clothing got to do with DVD installation??? I with I knew how to find these poeple so I could get back at them!

 

I agree that some customers are just out there, but often I learn stuff from them because I thought the process was obvious, but they didn't. Their input helps me to refine my site.

 

That is very true, When I get really strange questions or I had in the past had orders for something that I didn't even sell It just let me know that I needed to refine my site and how things were said.

 

Well coming from a non-website related aspect I really hate it when people come into the shop I own and ask "Do you make all the products yourself". They can clearly see that all the products are not hand made... and when should I get the time if I'm running the shop?

Arghhh...

 

I have to admit I have done this one before...

This is a great point and you beat me to making it.

Just very recently I put up a site for my family. Its purpose was for us to share info. Anyway, right on the front page I gave instructions on how to use the few features that the site had. Last night I was talking to my father who was confused about how to use it. He decided to start clicking before reading my instructions.

Really it is my fault for giving him the option of getting lost. I should have embedded the links in the instructions or something like that.

 

Please send me your catalog....

Well I don't have your address and it states in big bold letters we do not give out catalogues

The catalogue brigade are wasters anyway.

Don't tell me mates I joined in a yids thread

 

I guess that's fair to say it's really the site owners fault for not making it easier but on the same note, how easy can you make it. When you are on the live chat for example, I thought most people would realise the site it's self where they found the chat is all about software, so why would you come on the chat and ask for a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge, there is only so much you can do for someone when they can't get it to that degree.. right?
Honestly, We try to make things simple as possible as that's our game, we take notice of every single coment on anything which is hard but there are somethings you just can't make any easier.. and that's my Gripe Thank you.

 

lol,

YIDS YIDS YIDS!

I went to see the irons actually a few weeks ago with some mates. But lately I haven't been watching those mid-table battles.

It makes me think though, my site is relatively small time (1000+ unique on a good day), imagine what Amazon must have to put up with. It's no wonder whenever you say you didn't get something from Amazon, they resend it no questions asked (at least in my experience).

 

It is true that there are some people out there who really just don't get it - but they are the minority.

On the other hand, the confused people help me refine my site and service (as I said above), but another thing worth noting is that helping people overcome a simple problem seems to make them more predisposed to doing me a favor in return - i.e. buying my product. AND - these customers also often end up sending really nice testimonials that then entice more people to buy....

So yes, a very small percentage are annoying, but perhaps 80 or 90% of customers needing help are a potential goldmine of information and sales. A positive attitude to them can really pay off.