Choisya wrote:
Well said TB. And those who have been justifiably complaining here are people who come onto these boards frequently, often daily, to post constructively in ongoing book clubs, not b*tchy fly-by-nights taking a poke at other users.
Perhaps smileys should disappear until we have something to smile about?
I was just fooling around with the above, but to be serious Choisya, I think I contribute enough here as a member to have a valid place in noting what I think to be wildly inappropriate conduct.
I don’t think it requires 10,000 plus posts to recognize the substantive difference in the content of constructive posts, outlining actual usage issues with the forum (what I thought these threads were meant for) and the tone throughout many of your posts.
And for me it’s not an issue of "bitchy fly-by-night take a poke at other users" comments. I’ve always been sensitive to how awfully customer service representatives are sometimes treated. Besides a short stint as a kid, I’ve never worked retail, so it’s hard for me to talk from experience. But I’ve been shocked by the sometimes reprehensible conduct I’ve witnessed, from otherwise seemingly courteous and considerate people, towards customer service representatives. I recognize this as a product of the customer’s power inherent in the long-established “customer is always right” policy. I guess I’m just shocked by how aggressively some wield that power, and particularly you as a non-capitalist consumer.
I do understand that B&N provides a product here, and as members/customers they hope to retain, we do maintain some negotiating power. But, I guess I see this similar to the power construct in the employer/employee relationship. Certainly, in most scenarios, the employer holds the majority of the power in the relationship. But wielding that power in a responsible way, I think, demands respect from both parties. The employer/employee relationship optimally works when there is a mutual respect. Likewise with the customer/customer service provider relationship.
And, I guess, frankly, considering other appeals for the worker you’ve advocated on this very forum, and considering the difficult economy, and serious job retention concerns, workers are faced with today, I was stunned you would call for peoples’ jobs, merely for glitches on a still largely operational internet book forum. These are, after all, peoples’ livelihoods we’re talking about here. And, at least some of those include people we’ve interacted with quite extensively on this forum.
I don’t think my sub-1000 post count precludes me from noting an instance when I think the “customer is always right” policy is being abused. Particularly when it is abused toward customer service personnel who have been nothing but courteous, attentive and hard-working.
just fine. But never until after I've posted, if that helps.
