4 ms·

Does it matter? Simply put, I parse that as a creepy attempt of simulating a personal relationship that just isn't there.

by Argorak 13y ago

dopamean 13y ago
I feel the same way. It would bother me to know that the support person has an opinion regarding my personal details regardless of what that opinion is.
- ceejayoz 13y ago
  They have an opinion, whether or not they're stating it to you.
cylinder 13y ago
Agreed; I'm getting sick of this faux-friendliness that's trendy in American customer service these days. Banks and B2B startups are equally as guilty. I don't want to be asked how I'm doing or discuss the weather every time I call you for a quick question, wasting lots of time with useless polite banter. I'd rather a business call with an established vendor go like this: * Ring, quick answer * V: Yeah? * Me: I need X changed to Y. * V: Got it. * Me: Thanks. end call
- josephjrobison 13y ago
  What about at Trader Joe's how they always have a nice conversation with you, what's your take on that?
  - cylinder 13y ago
    I live in NYC and was actually thinking about Trader Joe's and checkout lines here generally when I wrote my comment. Cashiers here generally don't waste anytime with small-talk and that's understood as common practice since we're all in a hurry. In other parts of the country, some small talk is expected and one party will be viewed as rude if they don't participate. I prefer we skip it.
  - travisp 13y ago
    In my experience it feels different in part because you have the person in front of you (it's harder to fake seeming genuine face to face). It also feels different because they are talking while they are doing something else, unlike on a phone call where these questions are preventing you from doing the communication you need to do to finish the call. It would be more similar to Trader Joe's employee stopping you on your way in to ask you a bunch of questions about your day and the weather outside.
  - Argorak 13y ago
    Depends on what the conversation is about. The ring on my finger? (similar to the example above?) No-no. The weather, because it is summer and hot? Ok. Just banter. The crowded store and the fact that I had to stand in line 5 minutes? ("Crazy, we didn't expect that many customers today!") Yes! Shows they are aware and care. It's not that I don't want to interact, I just don't want to be dragged into that 'we're friends' game.
  - lmm 13y ago
    I use self-checkout even when the line's longer, so that I don't have to talk to someone.
- FireBeyond 13y ago
  One institution I am forced to deal with regularly has this horrific phone intro (from a live person): "Thank you for calling XXX where it's always a great day, my name is XXX and how about you tell me what I can help you bring home today?"
  - hessenwolf 13y ago
    I would be genuinely depressed by having to lie all day. This makes me appreciate more my standard European grumpy wait-staff.

Does it matter? Simply put, I parse that as a creepy attempt of simulating a personal relationship that just isn't there.

by Argorak 13y ago

Does it matter? Simply put, I parse that as a creepy attempt of simulating a personal relationship that just isn't there.

dopamean 13y ago

I feel the same way. It would bother me to know that the support person has an opinion regarding my personal details regardless of what that opinion is.

ceejayoz 13y ago
They have an opinion, whether or not they're stating it to you.

cylinder 13y ago

Agreed; I'm getting sick of this faux-friendliness that's trendy in American customer service these days. Banks and B2B startups are equally as guilty. I don't want to be asked how I'm doing or discuss the weather every time I call you for a quick question, wasting lots of time with useless polite banter. I'd rather a business call with an established vendor go like this: * Ring, quick answer * V: Yeah? * Me: I need X changed to Y. * V: Got it. * Me: Thanks. end call

josephjrobison 13y ago
What about at Trader Joe's how they always have a nice conversation with you, what's your take on that?
- cylinder 13y ago
  I live in NYC and was actually thinking about Trader Joe's and checkout lines here generally when I wrote my comment. Cashiers here generally don't waste anytime with small-talk and that's understood as common practice since we're all in a hurry. In other parts of the country, some small talk is expected and one party will be viewed as rude if they don't participate. I prefer we skip it.
- travisp 13y ago
  In my experience it feels different in part because you have the person in front of you (it's harder to fake seeming genuine face to face). It also feels different because they are talking while they are doing something else, unlike on a phone call where these questions are preventing you from doing the communication you need to do to finish the call. It would be more similar to Trader Joe's employee stopping you on your way in to ask you a bunch of questions about your day and the weather outside.
- Argorak 13y ago
  Depends on what the conversation is about. The ring on my finger? (similar to the example above?) No-no. The weather, because it is summer and hot? Ok. Just banter. The crowded store and the fact that I had to stand in line 5 minutes? ("Crazy, we didn't expect that many customers today!") Yes! Shows they are aware and care. It's not that I don't want to interact, I just don't want to be dragged into that 'we're friends' game.
- lmm 13y ago
  I use self-checkout even when the line's longer, so that I don't have to talk to someone.
FireBeyond 13y ago
One institution I am forced to deal with regularly has this horrific phone intro (from a live person): "Thank you for calling XXX where it's always a great day, my name is XXX and how about you tell me what I can help you bring home today?"
- hessenwolf 13y ago
  I would be genuinely depressed by having to lie all day. This makes me appreciate more my standard European grumpy wait-staff.