Is anyone else having to spend large chunks of their life studying the unreadable owners' manuals, trying to figure out some Windows detail, or software that does not work; or new hardware/gadgets that won't work? How about holding on the phone to get Customer Service (more than one corporation each day, usually for me), when no option for a call back, and no indicator of how many minutes to hold? How about calling Amtrak for schedules, and having "thirty nine people ahead of you.” Is anyone else having to spend large chunks of their life studying the unreadable owners' manuals, trying to figure out some Windows detail, or software that does not work; or new hardware/gadgets that won't work? How about holding on the phone to get Customer Service (more than one corporation each day, usually for me), when no option for a call back, and no indicator of how many minutes to hold? How about calling Amtrak for schedules, and having "thirty nine people ahead of you" on the phone? But let me say also that some companies – Amazon and Netflix are shining examples – that have beautifully competent and free customer service. Some companies even have 24/7 customer service. So my question to the universe is, "Is this just 'something I have to live with', that about 20% of my life is going to spent on figuring out, talking on the phone, etc for the incompetent policies of these corporations - such as not hiring enough
people to field calls in a timely manner? Or maybe saving money by hiring less-competent programmers? And we all know by now, that companies and inventors do "beta testing," I think it's called, where they sell -- YES, SELL -- brand new inventions to unsuspecting customers -- when the company is USING the customers as their testing process. And how about some – not all! – of the customer service people who know nothing about the situation you are calling about, hold you on the line for an hour talking about things and repeating processes and getting nowhere?e phone? So my question to the universe is, "Is this just 'something I have to live with', that about 20% of my life is going to spent on figuring out, talking on the phone, etc for the incompetent policies of these corporations - such as not hiring enough
people to field calls in a timely manner? Or maybe saving money by hiring less-competent programmers? And we all know by now, that companies and inventors do "beta testing," I think it's called, where they sell -- YES, SELL -- brand new inventions to unsuspecting customers -- when the company is USING the customers as their testing process. And how about those responsible for denying training to some – not all! – of the customer service people and then putting them on the phones when they know little or nothing about the situation you are calling about, hold you on the line for an hour talking about things and repeating processes and getting nowhere?
So what are my options? To lay down and be a doormat for these companies? Do I simply "accept" that "this is part of life in the 21st century -- that large chunks of my time will be taken up by fooling around with fools and incompetence?
I'm not a vengeful person in ordinary life. I'm being deceived, and am angry and frustrated almost daily by these commercial entities' rude electronic impositions. My revenge is simply this. One, I only trade at companies who have people that treat
me respectfully, and have solid, honest business practices. Two, I compliment companies that do well; and ask to give a compliment to the supervisor of a customer service person who is exceptionally competent. I tell them to give him/her a raise!
I know this is unlikely to happen. So I say, "Give them a pin, badge or certificate if you don't give them a raise." Three: I have made a pledge to myself, that I will never buy another Sony product, because of their de facto, non-existent
customer service. Yeah, yeah, yeah, the promise great customer service, have a phone number and all that stuff. Ha ha. No way does any of the work. Ditto, I will never again buy from BestBuy. Ditto, I will never again use blogger (by
google) for a website. I have switched banks, to one that actually has a real person answer the phone the first time it rings. Fourth: I will return or recycle any electronic item that I do not truly need, the very next time something breaks
down. I have already sent back three gadgets, and hoping for promised refunds. I bought one item for $49, and it cost $7.50 shipping-back expenses. One company did give me a postpaid shipping label for a return. I'm keeping my computer,
printers, Kindle Fire, and telephone. I do not like the audio on either my cell phone or land line, but have not found a replacement. The two phones I bought were duds. One I've returned and hope for a refund. The other one I'm negotiating
with. If the answer my email about their crumby product.