“I apologize. I’m sorry…” – is the new National Pastime.
Of course you are experiencing “higher than normal call volume”. This is because you (company that outsourced their customer service) has no staff and do a pathetic job at what it is you do.
Please. No really. Please, STOP apologizing. You are not sorry. You’re reading a script. You are in a call center. Most likely in The Philippines, Hong Kong or India. I can tell because you call me Mr. “first name” and your name is George or Mary. (I once spoke to a guy named Prince and a girl named Star, now that was fun!) You don’t know me and really don’t care. You’re trying to get me off the phone or live chat so you can move to the next angry caller.
This is so predictable. It’s not new. It really has been making me sick for a long time. Saying your sorry or apologizing does not make me feel better. It does not let the company, institution or store you work for off the hook. Most importantly it does not “fix” the problem. You are stalling. The script says to “apologize” – all will be fine. It’s not fine. I’m sick of it. Stop apologizing. Fix the problem.
Here’s a free suggestion: Prevent the problem. Do a better job for me as a client, potential client or a paying customer. This reduces your cost and ultimately mine. You get good feedback, word of mouth and keep customers! You’re happy! I’m happy. What a breakthrough!
Probably not gonna happen anytime soon. But here’s what YOU and I can do about it. I have been taking the following action for the last number of years, everyday. I – vote – with – my – money. Today, in 2014 soon to be 2015, it’s the only vote that matters.
The government and our brilliant politicians have been wildly successful in crushing the value and spending power of our currency. Our money has so little value anymore. Why do you think its so hard to make it financially? To pay bills. Make enough to live from month to month? Why many people have given up? It’s because the value of our dollar has been sliced in half 4 or 5 different times in the last few decades. Keep cutting something in half, pretty soon you don’t have much.
With this in mind, everyone should stop voting for politicians and vote with your money.
If you spend your money somewhere and it’s not treated well. MOVE IT. Take it elsewhere. Treated with casual deference again. MOVE IT AGAIN. You will find no shortage of people, companies or institutions who will gladly welcome you and your cash – on the front end. In fact, if you’ll notice, once someone or a company gets their hand in your pocket, you will find it very difficult to extricate their claw from your pants. Whoa!! I don’t know you that well!
You only have one vote that matters today: your money. Vote with it. Guard it. Make sure it’s treated with respect. Heartfelt apologies from friends, family, people you know are fine. You can tell if they’re sincere. But I give an entity where I’m a paying customer one chance. ONE. You and I can find whatever they sell or do in a dozen or even a hundred other places. The Internet leveled the playing field. This is your trump card. Your ace in the hole. Use it. Protect your dough. It’s hard to make.
The global economy charade artificially raised the value of all our assets leading to the 2008 bubble. That same global game of musical chairs played by politicians and Governments around the world abruptly cut off the music. Lots of people had no place to sit. It’s been 5 or 6 years since this happened. Everyone is complacent again. The next big asset value hair-cut is looming because the continued mounting government debt is unsustainable. The solution is always to print more money, reducing the value of your dollars again. This is what politicians do. They create the problem – then beg us to let them fix it. They fix it alright, for themselves.
Vote with your money. Not for politicians. Move it, shake it. Better yet, try not to spend it. But what ever you do, make sure it’s treated with respect, not indignant arrogance. Think about it. Do you really have to spend money everyday. Try not to spend ANY money today.
Paying necessary bills is one thing. Frivolous spending on mindless trinkets and crap is another. The way to combat the devaluation and disregard for your money is to do the same thing that’s been done to us. Cut your spending in half, then cut it in half again. Then try to cut it in half once again. Try it. It works.