Trust No One

Ya know, after working for the x amt of time doing customer "care", I've learned that you just can't rely on anything. Everyone always exaggerates, covers their butt, wants to make that sale. Which is evil. Commissions are evil, b/c then you're more focused short-term gain instead of improving the customer's long term satisfaction. But as a consumer it's caveat emptor time, so... ah screw the philosophy, here's what happened. Customer calls in complaining that the dealer told him that some software was going to be available at a certain time in the future. Which is true, but the customer has to get new equipment to get that software. Is it misrepresentation? Maybe. Is it unexpected? Shouldn't be. Most recently Microsoft released their latest IE patch only avail for Win XP, thereby trying to "persuade" users to upgrade their OS. Is it evil? Heck no, it's great business practice! The company saves money by not having to spend more money to support older products, not to mention it helps the company target its advertising and research. So why should American consumers be upset? You're living in a capitalist society aren't you? Enjoy the workings of capitalism! Everything in capitalism is about creating a need, and it's a throw-away society. Just do your duty and spend spend spend!

Anyways, something a little more related to the Title, there's the saying "customer's always right." But what if the customer is lying? Should we still believe that customer's can get away with whatever they want? Had a guy on the line that claimed that the dealer told him to call into Customer Care to get the cost of his phone credited back to him b/c he renewed his contract. I'm thinking "what the fah?! That *bleeping* dealer!" I call the dealer, dealer says "nope, just told him Customer Care might be able to give a discount, not that you would." I'm thinking "Okay, well expected dealer to say that but shouldn't even mention that Customer Care can do anything about phone pricing." Anyways dealer calls customer, customer then claims that he only wanted to see if I could give a discount, not that he expected one. Yeah right, I know how you phrased your question, you were totally expecting your money back. So trust no one, definitely not the customers who'll "stretch the truth" to get something that they hope will slip by, not the salespeople who want the commision, and not the rep that can't explain everything for you. If ya can't see it, don't trust it. Course, there's also Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle...