phone manners

Hello...can you hear me now?

Talking on the phone is one of my least favorite ways to communicate. I prefer face to face, preferably at a restaurant or bar or texting if it needs to be immediate. But there are times when we need to use the phone. Like when we're dealing with a problem, such as airline reservations, over billing, computer problem, FedEx.

The issues I have with these phone call centers is the NO one has trained these people in customer service. Basically, the customer is always right as long as they don't shout, call names or use obscenities. Unfortunately, after you have spoken with someone at a call center whose English is their third or fourth language and are reading from a script that doesn't have your problem on it you get a little bit frustrated. But what can we do?

When making this call, give yourself time. It may take an hour or more. Then the first thing to say is ask for a supervisor. Above everything do not let them upset you. Stay calm. Speak in a friendly manner. Lastly, until you get what you want, keep saying this is unacceptable. You may have to repeat this a lot. Say things like, "How can we solve this issue?"

I promise with good manners you will get what you want. You just have to be persistent.
xoxoAmanda

Oil Is Not Black Gold

Egad, the oil spill is such a dissaster, I can hardly think of anything else. I have to admit the mess it's making in the gulf is in a way beautiful in a twisted way. The way the oil is swirling in the water. It reminds me of the time I was sitting next to a surgeon on a flight and he started showing me brain scans of cancer patients...they were amazingly beautiful.

But it's sickening. BP is promising to pay, but no amount of money is ever going to fix this. I was lucky enough to visit the Florida panhandle over the New Year holiday in January...you've never seen such a pristine beach with white sand dollars washing ashore. That will all be gone...I'm not even sure my grandchildren will get to see what I saw only a few short months ago.

Greed is very bad manners. It make people do horrible things for money. You can't take money with you. All you have in the end is your integrity. Integrity is a word that is missing from most people's vocabulary. It's easy to put back, just do the right thing...even if it's painful. You will not regret it.

I promise and for those of you that know me...I never break a promise.
xoxoAmanda

Behaving Badly

Darlings...why is everyone behaving so badly? It seems I can't go anywhere anymore without being accosted by bad manners! I think it's television. The other day I was in the grocery store, I hope you read last Sunday's column, and a young man tried to pick me up. It was rediculous. I felt like I was in cougar town! I do not want to be flirted with a boy who Doesn't know who Donovan was or the Kinks or never had fizzies in their drinks. What a bore.

Have you noticed lately that it is just about impossible to get a word in during a conversation. Everyone is always talking about themselves. It's one thing to use that as a conversational tact when you have nothing to say, but to just go on talking and talking about yourself and never asking one question of the other is just plain rude.

When was the last time you heard a child say thank you without being prodded? If you did, it was probably my granddaughter! I have seen adults stop dead in their tracks when she thanks them for opening the door or for handing her something. Isn't that sad...

It just takes one idea to change something. Just a pleasantry of a hello or thank you will make someone's day or maybe their week. It's so simple to be polite. Just treat each other the way you would like to be treated.

Let's stop behaving badly and be a good example.
You know I'll do my part.
xoxoAmanda