Can you imagine?

[Biscotti]

This is just a little update on my experiences as a catalog customer service rep in the call center at the major retailer I'm working for. As you know I felt I had to leave the design table to save my arthritic knees. But now I find myself in big business with BIG BROTHER recording every move I make.
At the center, when we get a call to take an order we get a prompt on the screen to sell a "membership" product or magazines at the end of the call. We have to read the "script" . Well, I had the audacity to actually think and make a decision NOT to prompt a customer on a few occasions. Those being...Elderly confused individuals who I knew wouldn't understand the procedure of the membership, or openly hostile customers upset about something, or if the customer interrupted me just before the sales pitch with a question and needed some further assistance.
Well guess what BIG BROTHER caught me.... and I was reprimanded like a bad little child...sent to the "Motivational" office to listen to predatory sales pitches so I could improve my sales technique! It did not matter that all my other ratings were excellent...I just didn't follow the script!
I'm not naive...but I find this predatory atmosphere appalling.
I guess I'm NOT the good little automoton. I actually think and try to make decisions. I'll keep this job for the time being but I'm actively looking for another position. I've done some home work into the company behind these membership products it's a MONSTER European insurance company and the retailer I'm working for sold their direct marketing services to this company for 1.6 billion! And we get a nice tidy $1.50 extra when we sell a membership product.
Ok my rant is done......I'll be quiet now.

 

[vghstaffer]

Ewww, the "Motivational Office" I like that one!
Guess the sign reads better other than " We are going to kick your azz office" or
" You are in big fat trouble" office.
That is the problem with working for one of these outfits. But if that is their policy, that is the way it is unfortunately. It is a true statistic that the average sale is obtained after the fifth visit or the fifth try...so that is why they make you ask at every call.
I feel for you, I am not a good "conformer" so I would probably have trouble with that myself.
Hugs to Marie!

 

[Biscotti]

Would you believe?

After the big fuss I made about Big Brother watching me I'm a little embarrassed. At the call center they also handle client services for certain mail in prescription drug companies. Before I called to the "OFFICE" I had signed up to be crossed trained to learn Pharmacy.....well..... I was one of the 10 people who got picked! And my manager recommended me highly..:rofl: The good part about this is there is NO upselling of nonsense membership products, thank you Jesus! I guess I'll stay awhile longer....oh, and I got a raise face

 

[Connie]

No need to be embarrassed! You told it as you saw it.

You were in a difficult position, and, IMHO, you did the honorable thing. Congrats on your new position.

 

[Palms]

Marie, i too used to work in a place like this with catalogue products and we always had to try and sell the prompt on the screen. The funny thing was though is that they were never related to the product the customer was buying, so someone could be buying a tv say, and i would have to ask them if they would like a bail of towels... I too used to ignore them lol

what rebels we are. Hey glad you got your new position, there are some good jobs to be had at call centres but i think you have to start on the phones taking orders first. Glad your talent was noticed!