Blogging While at Work Is Bad for Your Health

Tone

I rarely get mad while talking on the phone.

I guess its due to the fact that this mode of communication would not ensure you a complete victory if ever you wish to confront a particular issue, due to the constraints in conversation. Nothing beats one on one confrontation and arguments.

I recently subscribed to a publication that sells those small newstand books, due in part to the freebies and gimmicks they send you (I am a sucker for freebies and small reading materials and literature). The problem started when two months have already passed by and I have yet to receive my issues. The credit card company has already reflected my bill for that subscription, so there would be no cause to assume that my mail order did not reach them.

So I called up the publication's office here in the Philippines. The customer service lady got my details, my request (or complaint), and promised "...to put up a replacement order...". So I said thank you and said goodbye.

But as another week went by, I have still not yet received my subscription and my freebies! So again I called up the company, this time asking for the name of the customer service lady and took note of the date that I called up again. Again the reply was "...to put up a replacement order...", to which I again agreed to.

Another week. Again no mail, package or call. This time around I was being a little sarcastic while talking on the phone, saying that I have yet to receive my package, that this was my third call, and again, yes, the reply was "...to put up a replacement order...". Dumbfounded, I answered back, "What if I go there now?", to which she replied, "No sir, that wont be necessary." So I again conceded.

But by my fourth call, I have already practiced my speil, and now told the friggin lady that I have already called and talked to this and that lady on this and that dates, and it turns out that the lady I am now speaking to has already answered my call before. The lady gave me the number of their delivery department so that I can follow it up from there. Now at this point I asked for the name of their general manager, and asked them how many employees they have there. She told me that there are four customer service ladies answering calls, so I replied "So I guess I have already talked to all of you, and would be getting to know you some more later on." I was ready to go to their office to see their faces in person. Getting the signal that I was threatening to write to their manager regarding this failure in giving me two months worth of subscriptions, she promised to call back and work on the problem. I waited for the call the whole afternoon. None came.

By the fourth (or was it fifth) week of my endeavor, I passed out on the opportunity to call in the morning. Upon arriving back to the office after a site inspection, I was surprised to find on my chair my package, my beloved package and subscription. Sayang! I was getting ready with my sarcastic charm and wit over the phone, but the package already arrived. Yet it was missing one issue, so I guess I would still be talking to the four customer service ladies.

After that, I gamely DIGESTED my new reading materials.

I guess I did not come to them as being really angry, for me it was more sarcastic and straight to the point. But upon reading the delivery slip, there it was, written in blue ink, a small word that gave me an idea as towhat I must sound like on the other end of the line. The word was "galit" (angry). Well if that was angry, I don't know what I would sound like when I am furious over the phone. Now if only that missing issue would not arrive...

posted by nap @ 12:47 PM