A Time For Reflection.......

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TheSimpleLife

Grumbler in Training
Joined
Sep 6, 2004
Posts
7
Loc
California
For the past few years, I have been a frequent visitor to this site. I am not a framer nor a distributor of moulding. I am your neighborhood customer service rep...or at least I WAS...until recently. Although I am no longer in this business..I still feel a kinship with my fellow C/S reps and just wanted to give my last 2 cents.

I worked for a company who has been talked about quite a bit on this site...and although there are "no ties that bind me"....I shall keep the company name from this posting.

Through all the rumors...through all the "verbal bashing"...through all the storms..I treated my customer's with respect. I always tried to remember that I, too, was a "customer" and always tried to put myself in the framer's shoes. On quite a few occasions I even delivered materials to a customer who was in a desperate situation(no matter who's fault it was)
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I understand that not ALL C/S rep's are like me...some don't come close.....but not ALL customer's are a joy to work with either. ;) For every "bad customer service" story you may have...I have a "bad customer" story to go with it.

The "powers-that-be" often remain unscathed by the rumors or "speculation" about their company. They go on as though nothing is wrong....and refuse to address the issue at all. MONEY always makes for good padding during AND after a fall
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. If a company's president doesnt care enough to address his/her customer's concerns.....how well do you think he/she treats their employees??? From my own experience I can tell you.....NOT VERY WELL!!
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I only wish the best for everyone I left behind and I only hope things get better. Framer's are a whole diffrent kind of people...good or bad I will miss them deeply!!!
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You're right! For every person that's a dream to work with there is an a**hole lurking just around the corner. They come in every different shape and size and they are found in all walks of life.

Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength. ~Eric Hoffer
 
Originally posted by TheSimpleLife:
... For every "bad customer service" story you may have...I have a "bad customer" story to go with it...
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There are two sides to every story, and I guess this is the side we seldom hear.

Thanks for your candor, and good luck with your new job -- whatever it may be.
 
Thesimplelife ,thanks for your prospective and for expressing the thought that sometimes C/S reps and Customers are booth seen in the same light by "The Powers That Be". I also wish there were and still are C/S reps that renedered the same service you offered .I have been licky enough to know one. But even he can't overcome the BOSS/OWNERS.

I guess iam a bit out of touch ,but I don't see what Paris Hilton has to do with your sentiments. BYW boxer that sign off is very apropriate."Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength. ~Eric Hoffer"
BUDDY
 
I guess the "Paris Hilton" remark is aimed towards my log-in name...
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Funny!!
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It actually reflects how I live. Simply. Without drama. Like I said....framer's are a diffrent breed but you gotta love 'em...
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Bob, you deserved a whole lot better. You gave the best selling years of your life to that company, it's a shame they let you down. They let the entire industry down as well.

You are one of the old time professional salesmen and it was a pleasure to have met you. I know it is late in the game for you, but have you considered starting your own independent sales rep company?

Whatever you do, I wish you and your family well, and hope you receive twice as much.

John
 
Originally posted by TheSimpleLife:
[...framer's are a diffrent breed but you gotta love 'em...
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Many of us are a mixed bag, we didn't start out as framers.

Good luck to you and thanks for posting.
 
Although this thread was not started by "Bob"...
I think I know which "Bob" you are referring to JRB and you're right... he did deserve alot better. We ALL did!
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Thanks for all the great compliments...
 
Do manufacturers and distributors have any idea how important reps are??? There have been some great ones in this industry - going back the thirty five years I've been around - and the great ones or even good ones are few and far between nowadays.

Static-y cell phone calls and random corner samples do not make up for real human contact.

Good Luck to you, Simple Life - and you don't have to be a stranger here on the Grumble - dish some dirt if you want!

Buddy - Paris Hilton has a stupid "reality" show on TV and its called The Simple Life - an insult to the term if there ever was!
 
Thanks Framar I think I remeber now. BTW that show's premiss is so far removed from the truth (IMHO) that I don't watch or evne care to wtach it. This person on the other hand seems to have EARNED a simple life as do reps who display the considreation and care he claimes to have given. In different fields of endevaor ,I can to a small degere understand. Sometimes a lot of us find ourselves in a position that demands that we do what we are told even when we don't agree and when we aren't shown anymore respect then those we are told to disregaurd.

When some one finds ways to circumvent the uncaring decision makers's demands and be considerate it is to be commemded. It is also to be commended when WE can understand that to keep a job some are told to do things they don't agree with ,but don't always have the Luxury to openly refuse to do.
So we should appreciate those who tried and or did and do it, despite the pressures. Thanks Simplelife .
BUDDY
 
I don't think the "Big Wigs" understand how important reps OR office staff is until the good ones are gone. Sometimes they don't even realize it then either!
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The heart of any company comes from the people inside the office building. The order takers...the problem solvers...the accounting staff..the cutters..the packers..the shippers..the road reps. Its hard to build a "relationship" with a customer if they can't trust what you say. Without information from the "brains"...the "heart" stops beating and eventually the company dies. Sad analogy..but true all the same. I only wish more Big Wigs could heed the warning signs.....
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My husband was "laid off"(a nice term for "fired")4 years ago from the HUGE health insurance company he had worked for for 15 years. He was a very good rep (sound familiar?), but the new boss didn't like him.

After a couple of years of working for others, he went out on his own. He has been an independant insurance rep for about three years now, and doing better than he ever could have imagined.

I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason. My husband couldn't see it during the time he was struggling (do any of us?), but things turned out well for him. He had been in the insurance industry for a long time. He had many friends in the industry who passed along referrals. He contacted his old accounts. Maybe his former new boss didn't like him, but his customer's did.

My husband would have stayed with his old company forever, I am certain. He had a rude awakening, and was forced to do something about it. I am proud of him for how far he has come, and thankful to his old boss for kicking him out the door. He even sells their product when it is to his customer's advantage.

The days of job security or employee loyalty are becoming a thing of the past, if they aren't already. Even customer loyalty has to earned and still you have to fight to maintain their loyalty every day.

I am sorry you lost your job. Starting over is not easy. Good luck.
 
WOW I can't believe you quit. I guess there is no one left in customer service there at LM. Well no one as good as you any way
I hope the best for you and I know you will be fine. If you need a referral feel free to contact me. Good luck.

P.S. Everyone this person knows what she is talking about.
 
Gryphon 1 i am glad you can give such a whole hearted endorsement. But I can't help but wonder ,since this person dilbertly avoided saying which Company they worked for and only has California listed as their location ( which is a very big state) and their profile only adds Customer service as their occupation,How on earth do you know so many details? You said it was a "SHE' they worked for "LM" and that "SHE " was the very best customer service rep and that she knew EACTLY how what she spoke.

I have frequently admitted being Computer Illiterate but PLEASE tell me how I missed so much information?LOL
BUDDY
 
I guessed "He" (Bob), Gryphon guessed "She" ( still don't know who", it's all just guessing. I would concur that the company in question is La Marche, but who knows? It is fun trying to figure out who is going to be right, or if it even matters anymore.

John
 
Gryphon1 ( Philip La Marche ?)
Gryphon I am very sorry I irrateted you with my honest questioning. I meant no insult. However if you did not wish me or anyone else to read or reply to your post why didn't you message her privately? In the future I will know better than to ask honest question ,when I am amazed by your intuitiveness or any one elses.

I didn't mean to interfear with your personal sentiments. I just couldn't get over how little I was able to glean from previous post,while you seemed to know so much.

John I agree that we all are probably trying to determine who thesimplelife might be .However I never thought for a moment that asking how Gryphon or anyone else came up with so much information would be offensive. I truly wanted to learn why I am so unable to read between the lines.

So I will once again remain silent and know my place.
EXSCUSE ME PLEASE.
BUDDY
 
Buddy,

No problem I just felt you were attacking me with a sarcastic tone. Sometimes I am way to straight forward and expect others to be the same. This is stupid! Her name is Louisa (excuse the spelling) She was in customer service at LaMarche for many years. She helped a lot of customers who probably never totaly appreciated what she did for them. She truly loved the work she did and has taken the step from a 9to5er to posting here showing her sincere interest in the industry. I know she resigned from LaMarche just recently. I truly am just guessing it is her but I am willing to bet on it and I only bet on what I feel to be a sure thing.
 
GRYPHON 1 is your current email addressses on file correct?
I have had to mailer -demons rejections when useing it.
However I tryed to FWD my message to you useing your website address and addressing it to GRYPHON 1. Please excuse the spelling and grammar errors if you receive this one .I sent you the unchecked versionin a panic.LOL
BUDDY
 
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