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Customer service is a vital part of any business. Keeping customers satisfied ensures that they keep coming back for more. Happy customers = more customers = more money. You get the picture. However, it’s impossible to please everyone.
If you’ve ever worked in customer services, you’ll know it’s harder than people think it is and some customers can be a real pain in the neck. So, to lift the mood and get through difficult times, it’s good to have a laugh about it instead.
Bored Panda has collected the best memes about working in customer service. Whether it’s the ridiculous requests of customers or their complete lack of common sense, there’s something relatable here for everyone. Vote for your favorites and then check out our previous post on it here too!
This post may include affiliate links.
Working in customer services seems to be a job that everyone has listed on their resumé at one point. Whether it’s your first job, a way to earn money whilst studying, or even your career path, you’ve either done it or you know someone that has.
Maybe it’s the accessibility of the work that brings people in. With the general requirements of being able to smile and talk to people, many companies consider it to be an entry-level position. However, this doesn’t make it any less important.
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Customer satisfaction is at the heart of any business offering a service, and this is achieved through their workers.
In fact, research completed by Hubspot (the marketing platform provider) shows that 90% of customers are likely to spend more with a company that provides excellent service. Their results also show that 93% of people are more likely to come back because of the service provided, helping to feed the cycle of business.
Owners of businesses truly do rely on the positivity of their team members to build their business. They’re the vital human connection in the link between a brand and the consumer.
Customer service is arguably one of the most important parts of the business. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted this especially.
Whilst trying to adapt to a difficult, new normal of lockdowns and restrictions, people relied on essential workers to provide their services just like before. And those working in the industry are some of the heroes that shone through most in these tough times.
From the chaos of the first lockdowns, retail workers, in particular, were expected to keep a level head despite the pressure. Whether it was battling anti-maskers or facing selfish hoarders, it was business as usual for them.
#7
Poonam Chetry 4 years ago
this is my mom.. she actually tells the backstory of the backstory of the backstory of the actual story
Nikki Sevven 4 years ago
My cousin does this too, and I experience secondhand cringe from it.
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Emerald Joanna 4 years ago
I get this working in the medical field..."10 years ago my mother had a stroke & around that time my teeth started hurting..." Flash forward 10 minutes of their waffling before they tell me they just need a repeat prescription. Sigh.
Peter Kelly 4 years ago (edited)
No, that's me when the store/garage/company asi me to repeat the same story for the eleventh time, just so they can put me through to the 'correct' person (who knows nothing and has no authority to do anything even if they had a hint of understanding, intelligence, or sympathy). And that's AFTER negotiating the endless automatic switchboard...
ZombieGirl 4 years ago
I do scheduling for tattoo clients at my husband's shop....pretty much every single day someone explains the "deep" meaning behind their tattoos and their life story that lead up to it. It's sweet that they are that excited about the tattoo but I do not get paid to chat (though, I do prefer those types of clients over the rude and demanding ones!)
Sky Render 4 years ago
Got that a lot at my last job. Especially from old men who had nothing better to do than to tell me all about the history of the vehicle they wrecked that I just needed the physical details of.
Jackie Porter 4 years ago
This happens even on calls to the emergency services. The amount of times we've had calls at the Ambulance service where someone will give us the patient's whole past history and when we finally get to shut them up and ask what the current issue is they say they're not breathing or are unconscious!
Downunderdude 4 years ago
I was trapped in a car on a long trip with a woman like this. 'So, anyway, on that day - it was a sunny day - no, wait, it wasn't - it was raining in the morning - well, not really raining, it was more like drizzle but it was sunny in the afternoon - well there was some cloud....' I opened the door at 100kmh/hr and threw myself out. It was less painful.
4 years ago
I had this happen. except the guy was giving the life story of the beans on his salad and how there weren't enough. I told him there is literally no way I could help him
Hollie Marie 4 years ago
Refunds as well. I come in yesterday with my son to buy this wallpaper and I thought I needed six rolls but I didn't cuz his rooms not that big, you see he's getting his own room now like a big boy and he really liked this wallpaper. Ahhhhh!!
Kimberley McMillan 4 years ago
That was me on Friday with a customer calling about another store and how they "mistreated her" without letting me get a word in edgewise. She had me on the phone for an HOUR.
Jenna Lanham 4 years ago
I hate this, just ask me the question and when I give you the answer don't tell me why you asked thinking you will get a different answer.
Debi Blackshaw 4 years ago
So many of my customers do this. I usually catch up on my emails while I wait for them to take a breath lol
Thomas Sweda 4 years ago
Or when a customer representative has no idea how to solve your problem!
#8
The amount of effort they put into their work and the situations they have to deal with, can be disproportionate to their paycheck at the end of the month. It can also be quite stressful and exhausting work too.
And there’s a multitude of consequences that come from disgruntled and undervalued employees, and one of them is health repercussions. The World Health Organization has officially recognized burnout as an occupational phenomenon. It is defined by three distinct characteristics: feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion, feelings of cynicism related to one's job, and reduced professional efficacy.
#10
Lauren Caswell 4 years ago (edited)
This is why I'm good at customer service jobs too 😂 I had the joy of one customer calling and saying I overcharged her for ham, her and all her friends had done the equations and according to the price per kilo it should be lower. I apologised, asked her if she could read me the weight, price per kilo, and charge price. Types it into my calculator "hmm, I seem to be getting the charge price as correct on my calculator. Perhaps it is not working properly. Do you have your calculator with you still?" I heard her tapping, then a "hmph" and dial tone. I enjoyed every second.
The effects of burnout are endless but let’s take an example for good measure. A survey was completed by Deloitte on it specifically. From one thousand respondents, 83% of them said that burnout from work impacted their personal relationships negatively.
Quite a huge number of people are feeling stressed out from their work. It’s easy to say, “it’s just work”, but it’s harder to shake off those feelings after you clock out for the day. So, How can we prevent these work emotions from spilling over into our personal life?
According to Dr. Juli Fraga, a psychologist and writer, there are a number of ways we can manage our feelings about work. She notes that our physical health has an enormous effect on our mental health. Here are her top tips:
Exercise: “Not only is exercise good for our physical health, but it can also give us an emotional boost. Stretched for time? You don’t need to spend hours at the gym to reap these benefits. Mini-workouts and short walks are convenient ways to make exercise a daily habit.”
Eat a balanced diet: “Eating a healthy diet filled with omega-3 fatty acids can be a natural antidepressant. Adding foods rich in omega-3s like flaxseed oil, walnuts, and fish may help give your mood a boost.”
Practice good sleep habits: “Our bodies need time to rest and reset, which is why healthy sleep habits are essential for our well-being. Avoiding caffeine before bedtime, establishing a relaxing bedtime ritual, and banning smartphones from the bedroom can help promote sound sleep hygiene.”
Ask for help: “During stressful times, it’s important to reach out for help. If asking for assistance feels difficult, consider developing a self-care ‘check-in’ with close friends and family members so that you can take care of each other during trying times.”
#17
#19
Ryan Deschanel 4 years ago
So they could vent, and supportively tell each other how legitimately annoyed they are... good idea.
#20
#21
Carol Emory 4 years ago
This was my sister when we both worked at Sears parts & service. "Hey Sis! Kenmore Dryer Timer K**b?" Her reply "Part number 68215ken. Second row from the front, third shelf up, in the middle."
#27
#28
Devil's Advocate 4 years ago
Huge queue of customers, each one gets to you "f**k off" *customer leaves*, next ... Repeat
#30
Poonam Chetry 4 years ago
when you think you are done with the dishes but your sister brings in more
#34
#36
Sean Forrester 4 years ago
And when you dont ask, you get: "Sorry I'm from menswear, I'll just get someone for you".
#37
Raven Sheridan 4 years ago
"I used to think my life was a tragedy. But now I realise, it's just the economy."
#41
Floofy Samoyed 4 years ago
It's will please you to learn that that is not the full saying. The full saying is "the customer is always right in matters of taste"
#43
Raven Sheridan 4 years ago
"Airgasm" Definition: The pleasurable breath of fresh air, one gets when leaving a stuffy office after a long shift. Or removing their face mask after arriving home.
#46
#47
Kari Panda 4 years ago
I know it doesn’t work in every situation, but I usually try to tell people, "I need to finish xyz, then I‘ll be right with you." Lets people know you saw them and will tend to them and gives them a time frame.
#52
Lauren Caswell 4 years ago
Can we make an ad with all the ppl who have breathing disorders, wearing their masks and saying hey dipshit I can barely process oxygen in my alveoli, and I wear a mask! (I know it's pointless, if they could understand that then they wouldn't be antimaskers. It's not really about they can't breathe, it's about their " right" to infect others and kill them)
#54
Kari Panda 4 years ago
If there are socially awkward/anxious people here: Don’t be afraid if you hear this question. Many people actually mean it, especially if you‘re nice to them.
#55
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
You obviously do not know that I'm a good friend of your CEO and I will tell her about you.
#56
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
Your answer is not what they want to hear. "Don't tell me I can't buy meat in a hair salon!!!"
#58
Jess Thompson 4 years ago
Ignore them back 👅 I don’t know why these posts are making me so bitter, takes me back too much
#70
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What do you think ?
Colin L 4 years ago
Working at a 7-11: every week the same kid comes in put up 2 distraction items and some beer. I ask for ID, he says "oh I just left it out in my car." I ask him to go get it.... and he doesn't come back. Every. Single. Week. Did you think it would work after the 20th time or what?
Lauren Caswell 4 years ago
It's like that movie (the terminal?) Where tom hanks's character couldn't leave the airport, but lined up every day in case she used the green stamp this time :D
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cybermerlin2000 4 years ago
I've always treated customer services with a smile and have always been polite. They are there to help you in what ever capacity they can. Don't expect them to perform miracles as they are usually limited by the company they work for, but being nice and understanding will give them the inclination to look for extra loopholes that can help with a problem. I have very rarely had a failed service call because of this. Sometimes it's unavoidable, but that is because the company does not care, and it shows, such as the time we had a burst water main outside our house for 3 years.
Katie Lutesinger 4 years ago
Same here. When someone in a shop starts apologising for the product I'm after not being in stock/sold there, I always say "no, it's okay, it's not your fault; you just work here after all!". They really seem to appreciate it. :)
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Jess-a-men 4 years ago
I used to have this irrational fear of cashiers hating me for minorly inconveniencing them sometimes. Then I became a cashier and f**k do I hate people who minorly inconvenience me.
Dorothy Parker 4 years ago
I worked in customer service for a very upscale store in Beverly Hills, California. I thought my back aches were due to a bad desk chair. Nope. The customers and boss gave me an ulcer.
ADHORTATOR 4 years ago
I am a customer service manager and I do this for over 20 years...some are relatable :-)
Kristoffer Rahbek-Jensen 4 years ago
I have worked in customer service for more than 20 years (in retail, phone service/sales and as a bartender) in two european countries (Germany and Denmark) an i must say i haven't had that many problems... Maybe it's an american problem?
RatherLoopy 4 years ago
Yeah, customers really suck, huh? Doing business with you, providing 100% of the capital to cover the rent, keep the lights on and the salaries paid. Then expecting us, what... to be polite to them? They should all just take their business somewhere else, right? That'll show them.
egracec 4 years ago
I really wish I could down vote you more. As someone who works customer service I try to always give advice, alternatives, suggestions or help newbies when I hear them stumble through trying to answer. People who come at me with an attitude like you have I immediately pass to management since my paycheck doesn't cover that attitude. And why would you acuse them of racism or sexism for no reason?
Load More Replies... Colin L 4 years ago
Working at a 7-11: every week the same kid comes in put up 2 distraction items and some beer. I ask for ID, he says "oh I just left it out in my car." I ask him to go get it.... and he doesn't come back. Every. Single. Week. Did you think it would work after the 20th time or what?
Lauren Caswell 4 years ago
It's like that movie (the terminal?) Where tom hanks's character couldn't leave the airport, but lined up every day in case she used the green stamp this time :D
Load More Replies... cybermerlin2000 4 years ago
I've always treated customer services with a smile and have always been polite. They are there to help you in what ever capacity they can. Don't expect them to perform miracles as they are usually limited by the company they work for, but being nice and understanding will give them the inclination to look for extra loopholes that can help with a problem. I have very rarely had a failed service call because of this. Sometimes it's unavoidable, but that is because the company does not care, and it shows, such as the time we had a burst water main outside our house for 3 years.
Katie Lutesinger 4 years ago
Same here. When someone in a shop starts apologising for the product I'm after not being in stock/sold there, I always say "no, it's okay, it's not your fault; you just work here after all!". They really seem to appreciate it. :)
Load More Replies... Jess-a-men 4 years ago
I used to have this irrational fear of cashiers hating me for minorly inconveniencing them sometimes. Then I became a cashier and f**k do I hate people who minorly inconvenience me.
Dorothy Parker 4 years ago
I worked in customer service for a very upscale store in Beverly Hills, California. I thought my back aches were due to a bad desk chair. Nope. The customers and boss gave me an ulcer.
ADHORTATOR 4 years ago
I am a customer service manager and I do this for over 20 years...some are relatable :-)
Kristoffer Rahbek-Jensen 4 years ago
I have worked in customer service for more than 20 years (in retail, phone service/sales and as a bartender) in two european countries (Germany and Denmark) an i must say i haven't had that many problems... Maybe it's an american problem?
RatherLoopy 4 years ago
Yeah, customers really suck, huh? Doing business with you, providing 100% of the capital to cover the rent, keep the lights on and the salaries paid. Then expecting us, what... to be polite to them? They should all just take their business somewhere else, right? That'll show them.
egracec 4 years ago
I really wish I could down vote you more. As someone who works customer service I try to always give advice, alternatives, suggestions or help newbies when I hear them stumble through trying to answer. People who come at me with an attitude like you have I immediately pass to management since my paycheck doesn't cover that attitude. And why would you acuse them of racism or sexism for no reason?
Load More Replies... You May Like 165 Of The Funniest Customer Service Jokes That Will Crack You Up 81 Funny Music Tweets To Get Your Mood In A Flow
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