View Full Version : Do you find some companies really patronising?
I think it's one thing to have a friendly image, but recently I've noticed more and more companies take the approach of being really friendly. Too friendly in my opinion, with really dumbed down language. I'm not 8. :huh:
Example:
Thank you for your e-mail. We're very busy this time of year, but we'll do our best to get back to you within 48 hours.
Informative, friendly and to the point. Right?
These days, it's more like this:
Hey! Thanks for the zippity email. Our team are being all busy and stuffs and running around like headless chickens! Sorry for any chickens reading, no offence! We'll do our very bestest to get back to you but unfortunately it might be a few days. Any hoo! Better get back to work! Cheerio!
I'm sure it's the work of overly camp and fluffy marketers who think the audience are as camp and bubbly as them. :confused:
Am I being miserable? Or does anybody else get fed up of all this crap and would just like a straight talking company once in a while?
Marketing is one thing, conducting business is another. If I'm contacting them to complain, for example, I don't want to be condescended to. I actually like companies/products that are less formal, like Innocent Smoothies and iwoot.com, both of whom are very casual and pally in their marketing. If I applied for a job there though and they said 'We're busy on the bananaphone right now. Orange you glad we have an automated email service though? Gooseberries!' I'd worry that I'd be working for the ****ing Munch Bunch.
Briggykins
21-08-2009, 20:06
There was one instance of a company being twee that made me laugh - when Elephant insurance sent a letter asking me to phone one of their 'Elephant Handlers'. I chuckled, then phoned. But generally, tis very annoying.
Charlie Brooker has a good piece on banks being chummy (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2006/nov/06/currentaccounts.comment). The last paragraph had me giggling all day.
(He also says in a later article about the same thing happening to Hellman's Mayonnaise. " It has "Once you dig in, keep me cold for three months ... but not too cold - I don't want to freeze!" printed on the jar. It's a rum state of affairs when you feel like punching a jar of mayonnaise in the face.")
Princess Griff
21-08-2009, 20:22
Oh but I do love reading the small print on Innocent products!!!
Hate it.
Likewise. So unprofessional.
Oh but I do love reading the small print on Innocent products!!!
This :D
Original post - if I got the "zippity" reply, I'd probably be nicely sarcastic back pointing out the flaws of sounding like a mental patient escapee
Blighter
22-08-2009, 00:28
It's all well and great being nice and friendly on products, but not during a service (especially letters/emails).
If I applied for insurance through Compare The Market then I would want to punch them in the face if they ever ended an email or letter with "simples" ;D
I'm off to the 24hour Tesco to punch all the Hellmans in the face.
</Brooker>
Supermarket checkouts are the worst for this. Aghhhhhh.
Do you need help with your packing, I've got bloody 3 items.
Thanks for shopping, come again blah blah blah.
Did you find everything you where looking for sir. WELL if I didn't I would bloody ask.
Or am I just over reacting.
Did you find everything you where looking for sir. WELL if I didn't I would bloody ask.
My mum called them on this once. 'No,' she said 'I couldn't find spring onions or paprika.'
'Oh, sorry'. Was the response.
There's a time and place!! I wouldn't dare do that to random business people but clients I have been working for for some time I may send a little sketch which is daft... but the writing will always be formal!
Madness!
Matblack
22-08-2009, 09:18
Original post - if I got the "zippity" reply, I'd probably be nicely sarcastic back pointing out the flaws of sounding like a mental patient escapee
Made me think of Pheebs!
Hmmmm
MB
Psymonkee
22-08-2009, 11:25
My mum called them on this once. 'No,' she said 'I couldn't find spring onions or paprika.'
'Oh, sorry'. Was the response.
I'm good at fixing those problems :D
Oh and asking if you want help to pack for even 3 items is neccesary - mostly incase your being watched by management :p
Supermarket checkouts are the worst for this. Aghhhhhh.
Do you need help with your packing, I've got bloody 3 items.
Thanks for shopping, come again blah blah blah.
Did you find everything you where looking for sir. WELL if I didn't I would bloody ask.
Or am I just over reacting.
I tend to find both questions quite polite and nice :)
Blighter
22-08-2009, 12:08
Our out of store management are feckers when it comes to greeting and approaching customers.
Obviously when someone comes in you smile at them, or say good morning. Then maybe approach them and ask if they are ok/need any help when they are browsing.
But they aren't happy unless you are virtually bugging the customer :(
Made me think of Pheebs!
That's exactly what I thought but didn't want to offend her. I think it was the Anyhoo! ;D
MarcLister
27-08-2009, 17:44
Supermarket checkouts are the worst for this. Aghhhhhh.
Do you need help with your packing, I've got bloody 3 items.
Thanks for shopping, come again blah blah blah.
Did you find everything you where looking for sir. WELL if I didn't I would bloody ask.
Or am I just over reacting.You ever been asked, "Anything else sir?" just before you pay? :huh:
Erm yes can we have a garlic bread starter? Oh, this is Morrisons' and not Pizza Hut. :o
Psymonkee
27-08-2009, 19:55
There is a chance you may want to buy some postage stamps. Or perhaps they want some cashback? :p
You never know :)
i got bored reading that second response after the first line :/ lose.
MarcLister
27-08-2009, 20:46
There is a chance you may want to buy some postage stamps. Or perhaps they want some cashback? :p
You never know :)Nyet. Stamps at the tobacco kiosk. And they ask if you want cashback when you put your card in the card machine.
Psymonkee
27-08-2009, 22:59
Stamps are sold at the main bank of tills ;)
Oh and some cashiers just don't ask about the cashback :p
I bought some hair product a while back and on the back it started:
Directions (yawn) ....
I really want to hurt whoever had that idea. Such a lame way of trying to put personality into your product.
Obviously when someone comes in you smile at them, or say good morning. Then maybe approach them and ask if they are ok/need any help when they are browsing.
But they aren't happy unless you are virtually bugging the customer :(
I don't mind sales staff that are polite and ask once if I need anything but if they are bugging me then I'm more than likely gonna go shop somewhere else.
I find staff in mobile phone shops the worst for this.
I find staff in mobile phone shops the worst for this.
Them and computer shops like PC World. It's usually bad enough that I've walked through the door, let alone have to suffer the inane comments of the generally clueless staff.
"Linux, does that run on Windows?"
The one that bugs me is at maccy d's. I ask for a sausage and egg muffin, and they always ask "Is that a meal?". Oh, I forgot, when I asked for a muffin I actually wanted a meal. Stupid me :angry:
And I always ask for a coke without ice, and 90% of the time they give me one with ice. FFS, how hard is it????
The one that bugs me is at maccy d's. I ask for a sausage and egg muffin, and they always ask "Is that a meal?". Oh, I forgot, when I asked for a muffin I actually wanted a meal. Stupid me :angry:
That's because there is a meal option. Muffin and coffee I do believe.
The one that bugs me is at maccy d's. I ask for a sausage and egg muffin, and they always ask "Is that a meal?". Oh, I forgot, when I asked for a muffin I actually wanted a meal. Stupid me :angry:
And I always ask for a coke without ice, and 90% of the time they give me one with ice. FFS, how hard is it????
To be fair, with the meal thing, the number of people i've seen who'll just say 'Big Mac please' but actually want a meal means they pretty much have to ask that because half the time the person does actually want a meal.
You have the stupidity of McDonalds customers to thank for that one.
Psymonkee
28-08-2009, 23:29
The one that bugs me is at maccy d's. I ask for a sausage and egg muffin, and they always ask "Is that a meal?". Oh, I forgot, when I asked for a muffin I actually wanted a meal. Stupid me :angry:
And I always ask for a coke without ice, and 90% of the time they give me one with ice. FFS, how hard is it????
Ahhhhh yes the 'No Ice' when ordering a drink! How bloody difficult is it to not stick ice in everything? :angry:
Drive-Thru's, Bars, Pubs, Clubs - you name it and they can get it wrong! (except my awesome local :D)
Blighter
29-08-2009, 00:40
I always make them change it if they put ice in it.
I must admit that they are usually good during quieter periods, but I guess everyone makes mistakes... especially at lunch when they can be serving 40-60 people an hour.
Blighter
29-08-2009, 00:41
One thing that gets on my nerves at McDonalds is about 20% of the time the give me banana instead of vanilla milkshake :(
I've never seen anyone go "oh yeah, I mean't a meal". If I wanted a meal I'd ask for one (or go somewhere that sold something big enough to be classed as a meal...)
Blackstar
29-08-2009, 17:12
Supermarket checkouts are the worst for this. Aghhhhhh.
Do you need help with your packing, I've got bloody 3 items.
Thanks for shopping, come again blah blah blah.
Did you find everything you where looking for sir. WELL if I didn't I would bloody ask.
Or am I just over reacting.
I ask this to customers in store, you would be surprised how many people don't ask for help. I then proceed to either get them the thing they couldn't find or tell them where to find it while I finish putting through their sale. Obviously not everyone is as wonderful at shopping as you are.
Blighter
29-08-2009, 18:00
(or go somewhere that sold something big enough to be classed as a meal...)
this!
It's actually selling up. The opportunity is there to sell a meal instead of just a burger. If one person thinks "actually I might as well have the meal" then it's a sale you wouldn't have had (usually twice the price). Nutcase, about 3-4/10 people do take the meal when they asked for a single burger, so it makes them tonnes of cash. And of course, that doesn't count the stupid peoe who meant a meal when they asked for a burger!
On the phone to direct line "sit tight, we're on our way" ;D
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