are you a complainer?

Robsweezie · 02-03-2015 12:38am #1

if you had poor service in a restaurant or the food was bad, would you let them know about it? or if a delivery driver was late to deliver your takeaway through his own fault, would you make him feel it?

I personally wouldn't complain unless in exceptional circumstances where its truly deserved, I resent those who make a hobby out of it, complaining that is.

and in general, do you complain about the ups and downs of life or just get on with it???

Links234 · 02-03-2015 12:46am

No, not unless something's particularly wrong. My mum is dreadful for it, she'll take issue with everything, she once ordered a plain sandwich then complained that it was plain. I was mortified.

BrokenArrows · 02-03-2015 12:47am

Robsweezie wrote: »

if you had poor service in a restaurant or the food was bad, would you let them know about it? or if a delivery driver was late to deliver your takeaway through his own fault, would you make him feel it?

I personally wouldn't complain unless in exceptional circumstances where its truly deserved, I resent those who make a hobby out of it, complaining that is.

and in general, do you complain about the ups and downs of life or just get on with it???

Unless the service is horrible I won't complain. Except when I'm in the USA. If im being forced to give 15-20% tip I'm dam sure going to get good service.

Señor Fancy Pants · 02-03-2015 12:48am

What the hell is a "plain sandwich"? Just two slices of bread?

I never complain, I just soak it up and take it out on the ironing.

Sciprio · 02-03-2015 12:49am

I don't complain. I just pay and will consider choosing another place/Service next time.

CJ Haughey · 02-03-2015 12:50am

Truffle Pig wrote: »

What the hell is a "plain sandwich"? Just two slices of bread?

A very plain one is one slice bent over.

biko · 02-03-2015 12:52am

I will complain rather than leave and moan about it after. If you don't bring things up with the relevant party how are they to know something isn't right?

cloud493 · 02-03-2015 12:58am

biko wrote: »

I will complain rather than leave and moan about it after. If you don't bring things up with the relevant party how are they to know something isn't right?

Nothing better than having a good moan sure.

thelad95 · 02-03-2015 1:01am

Robsweezie wrote: »

if you had poor service in a restaurant or the food was bad, would you let them know about it? or if a delivery driver was late to deliver your takeaway through his own fault, would you make him feel it?

I personally wouldn't complain unless in exceptional circumstances where its truly deserved, I resent those who make a hobby out of it, complaining that is.

and in general, do you complain about the ups and downs of life or just get on with it???

Why wouldn't you complain? You're paying for a service and you actually have a legal entitlement to a certain minimum level of quality. If it's not meeting that level of quality, then by all means complain.

The lazy rat · 02-03-2015 1:02am

Forever squeaking away.

wretcheddomain · 02-03-2015 1:04am

thelad95 wrote: »

Why wouldn't you complain? You're paying for a service and you actually have a legal entitlement to a certain minimum level of quality. If it's not meeting that level of quality, then by all means complain.

Stop complaining.

Smidge · 02-03-2015 1:18am

If I went out for a meal and something was wrong with the food(burnt/raw/gone off) then I send it back. I don't take anything else from the kitchen for eh, fear of repercussions

I fumed too many times in front of a plate of inedible crap that was costing me not only money but a rare treat, to not send it back now.

Wompa1 · 02-03-2015 1:38am

I don't complain about service. I'm also living in the US..so the tip makes no difference to me. Even if I get bad service, I still tip 20%.

You could get bad service because the waiting staff are overwhelmed. It could be poor management. It could be any number of reasons that are out of the waiters\waitresses control.

I tend to give a place two chances. If I get bad service twice then I just don't go back

kfallon · 02-03-2015 1:39am

Generally, I'm just a moaning cúnt :pac:

Duke O Smiley · 02-03-2015 1:40am

No because I know what a job in customer service is like

Atlantic Dawn · 02-03-2015 1:42am

I usually just blacklist companies with bad service, no time for moaning.

SMJSF · 02-03-2015 1:43am

I'm the person who leaves and then moans about it to others

Neyite · 02-03-2015 1:47am

Yes, but because I waitressed and worked on customer service for years, I complain in a civil reasonable tone, firm but friendly.

There is no point in bollocking the front line staff, they are very limited in what they can do, dont get paid half enough to put up with abuse and its unfair to them, but I've no problem asking for the manager. I'll always give them a chance to rectify the issue, mistakes happen etc, and be realistic about an outcome or solution too. And I have to say, I've always came away with a problem resolved to my satisfaction.

unkel · 02-03-2015 1:52am

I only really enjoy a steak when it is cooked "blue". When I order a steak, I explicitly tell the waiter that if it is not blue, it will be sent back. This usually leaves enough of an impression in the staff that I get my steak the way I ordered it

When you order a very rare steak, the chef / cook will also generally give you the best piece of meat he/she has :cool:

Tip if you are mortified about sending your wrongly cooked steak back and you would never go that far: order it 2 full shades rarer than you want. (only applies to Ireland - do not do this in France as your blue steak will mooh and actually pooh on your plate

)

Pumpkinseeds · 02-03-2015 9:43am

Not unless something is particularly bad. I worked in customer focused/facing jobs for years and I know what it's like to have a customer bitching about something completely trivial and minor, mostly because they think they'll get something out of it, like a discount.

AudreyHepburn · 02-03-2015 9:53am

No, not unless it's over something unspeakably bad. I've worked in customer services jobs for years and I know all to well what it's having some-one screaming and roaring at you over something that's a.) not actually your fault, or anyone else's and b.) not even really that bad.

Giving the first person you see or hear on the telephone a going over is unfair and unreasonable and from experience 9 times of 10 the customer is actually in the wrong anyway.

Just count to ten and walk away. Mistakes happen and there's no point in tearing some-one shreds over it.

efb · 02-03-2015 9:56am

Mmm....

But I do complain and complement in equal measure

Aongus Von Bismarck · 02-03-2015 10:33am

I have no hesitation in complaining if I feel there is something worth complaining about. I really don't like this Irish thing of not complaining at the time, but then bad-mouthing the business later. It's so passive aggressive.

Last year I had a meal in an extremely well-known Michelin starred restaurant in London. I was footing the bill, so expected everything to be perfect. It wasn't. My caviar blini was rubbery, and one of the cheese served as part of the cheeseboard was obviously unripened. Our waiter was rather surly in that way that only the French can be. Refused to accept that the cheese wasn't right. A quick chat with the maître d and all was rectified. The waiter was made to apologise and we got a lovely bottle of Yves Cuilleron condrieu on the house.

Better than mumbling about it at the time before going home, getting drunk and writing a bitter and semi-coherent rant about the place on TripAdvisor.

Crooked Jack · 02-03-2015 10:59am

No. I dont know why but I find it very difficult to do so, even if im totally in the right. I started a new job last week and got underpaid on friday and now im dreading having to go and ask about it.

jamesbere · 02-03-2015 11:06am

Saw this fella on Channel 4 before, An utter tosser and how he had a girlfriend I'll never know.

https://twitter.com/ianwalker1991

RonanP77 · 02-03-2015 1:35pm

I complain if things are especially bad, I try to be polite about it though. The only time I got seriously pissed off and gave someone a real ear bashing was when I was getting work done on the house, he was two months late. We renegotiated the price when he was finished. I basically fined him for lateness.

Robsweezie · 02-03-2015 2:31pm

Crooked Jack wrote:

No. I dont know why but I find it very difficult to do so, even if im totally in the right. I started a new job last week and got underpaid on friday and now im dreading having to go and ask about it.

depends....are you assertive?? I think it's something you could work on, especially if its losing you pay.

Karl Stein · 02-03-2015 3:10pm

I don't complain. I simply have the staff thrashed in the courtyard if standards don't remain exemplary. Fear is the best way of instilling a strive-for-excellence work ethic in the lower class of man.

Lollipops23 · 02-03-2015 3:15pm

Only if something was really, really bad.

I find there's a time and a place for it-my stepmum is like her own mother and will complain over *anything* in a restaurant, when we're all out for a special occasion. It makes for a total dampener on proceedings and creates an atmosphere.

rizzla · 02-03-2015 3:20pm

I work in customer service. Complain and complain hard. Complainers get what they want, t&c's be damned. Don't speak to the front line either demand managers, if they don't help go above them. You'll eventually get to someone who just doesn't want the headache. All depends on how much time and effort you want to commit to complaining though.

I do complain if something is bad/broken/not sold as advertised.

sashafierce · 02-03-2015 3:36pm

This post has been deleted.

Eugene Norman · 07-03-2015 8:15pm

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

I have no hesitation in complaining if I feel there is something worth complaining about. I really don't like this Irish thing of not complaining at the time, but then bad-mouthing the business later. It's so passive aggressive.

Last year I had a meal in an extremely well-known Michelin starred restaurant in London. I was footing the bill, so expected everything to be perfect. It wasn't. My caviar blini was rubbery, and one of the cheese served as part of the cheeseboard was obviously unripened. Our waiter was rather surly in that way that only the French can be. Refused to accept that the cheese wasn't right. A quick chat with the maître d and all was rectified. The waiter was made to apologise and we got a lovely bottle of Yves Cuilleron condrieu on the house.

Better than mumbling about it at the time before going home, getting drunk and writing a bitter and semi-coherent rant about the place on TripAdvisor.

They were just shutting you up Aonghus mc Bogger. The cheese was meant to be like that. Michellian starred waiters know their cheese

jas376 · 07-03-2015 8:29pm

I was once advised by a chef to never complain about food in a restaurant. The reason he gave was that if the kitchen staff take exception to your complaint they can do anything they wish to your food and you'll probably never even know. For example, I've heard stories about saliva being added to soup and steaks being dragged across kitchen floors by belligerent kitchen staff.

eviltwin · 07-03-2015 8:31pm

I'm quite a shy person but if I feel someone is trying to con me or isn't giving me the service I paid for I will have no problem complaining.

Baby Jane · 08-03-2015 1:47am

Yes I have raised it if I think a service is poor - rarely, but have done so (Vodafone, UPC, a restaurant, and a bar). I have worked in a lot of customer-facing roles, and know what it's like for those dealing with the public and how unreasonable (to the point of lunacy at times) members of the public can be, so I like to think I can tell the difference between a valid grievance and just being a whinge.
The one thing I have always ensured though is NEVER to be aggressive; it is possible to express unhappiness with a service via being polite and understanding and even pleasant, and to remember that it's not usually the fault personally of the person you're complaining to.
This approach results in the issue being resolved/a conciliatory gesture. You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. If a customer is being an aggressive, abusive arsehole, no matter how valid their grievance is, it just causes the staff to lose any sympathy for them and not to be as willing to help them.

P. Breathnach · 08-03-2015 1:56am

I agree with Baby Jane about being polite. I work on the assumption that if I tell people what is wrong, they will put it right. That's what usually happens. If it doesn't, I'm prepared to escalate things - but that is rarely necessary.

I'm quite willing to tell people about problems with quality or service. Why not? I give them money, and they are supposed to give me value for it.

Baby Jane · 08-03-2015 2:02am

That said, sickeningly, a lot of the shouty types do get pandered to even if their grievance isn't valid - for a quiet life.
So that approach can work, but I don't think being an absolute dick to people is worth anything.

are you a complainer?

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