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Original poster

Are you a complainer?

46 replies

marykissmouse · 14/12/2018 22:35

I have been temping in the customer relations department of a food manufacturer and I am astonished at the things people complain about. I am not much of an 'official' complainer myself (too lazy!) but I am interested in hearing the best complaints you've made / heard someone make.

OP posts:
BackforGood · 14/12/2018 23:43

Depends what you mean by 'complainer'
Yes, I will say something if I get poor service or something isn't right with something. However, I do it politely, and will often say I understand it isn't the fault of the person I am initially talking too.
I am also a 'complimenter' too though - I go out my way to say thank you, or comment on something good about a product or service.

youcanthaveitchyteeth · 15/12/2018 00:32

Placemarking
Waitress here and I have some belters

SingingSands · 15/12/2018 00:53

I'm not, but I work with a woman who complains all the time. Last time we went out for a team lunch (in the summer) she complained to the waiters that it was too sunny. In the summer. At lunchtime. Sitting outdoors.

I just sit as far away as possible from her when we go out.

Bloodybridget · 15/12/2018 03:49

Years ago I was in M&S when a woman was trying to return a dress she'd bought several years previously! She claimed to have only worn it a couple of times, and it had come apart a bit. I didn't hang around to see the outcome, but I thought they would probably end up giving her a refund because of her brass-faced cheek!

treaclesoda · 15/12/2018 03:59

I'm a complainer by some people's standards in that I will contact a company if I have a problem, instead of just moaning about it to everyone else. I know that the standard behaviour seems to be to complain to all and sundry except for the people who might actually be able to help Hmm

I don't however complain about ridiculous things.

Refusing to complain can be so passive aggressive. I remember having dinner in a restaurant with my in laws once. A couple of side dishes never appeared and they refused to ask the waiter where they were. Then they appeared on the bill and they refused to query the bill because 'we're not the type of people who like to cause a scene'. Then they left the restaurant, refused to ever go back and told everyone about how they had been ripped off. They thought they were being terribly polite, I thought they were utterly unreasonable. But they got to pat themselves on the back about not being complainers.

Dowser · 15/12/2018 04:36

Yes.. I believe you should get what you are paying for and it should do whatever it says on the tin.

I also believe if someone is doing a good job...that it’s nice to say thank you and appreciate them for the good job they do..

However, sometimes I will wind my neck in, if someone might just be having a bad day...I wouldn’t want anyone to lose their job...we do t know what someone has had to go through before they get to their job.

When I do complain I tend to give it a light touch, unless I’ve really been dicked around...and then it’s full steam ahead.

CaraCarbonara · 15/12/2018 05:02

I once emailed M&S to say that there wasn't enough custard on one of their Eve's puddings. They didn't reply Blush

sushisuperstar · 15/12/2018 05:15

If it's an expensive hotel in particular or service then yes I will but I'm always nice about it.

Original poster
marykissmouse · 15/12/2018 05:43

Sorry, should make it clear that I don't consider complaining a bad thing! I agree that you should get what you ask / pay for and it's much better to point out a problem to the company / shop / service than it is to moan self-indulgently and not give them the chance to put things right.

It was really that I'd encountered some funny complaints and also some people who were quite unreasonable and unpleasant and I wondered how widespread this was.

It seems to me that there are people who are completely justified in complaining bitterly and they're the ones who are polite and reasonable and there are others who seem to enjoy a moan (and contact often) who are rude and unreasonable.

OP posts:
knittedjest · 15/12/2018 06:03

No. If I'm going to complain I do it right then and there. My sister is and my father was and boy did they get some cool shit from it over the years but I'm more chilled out and if I really dislike something I just won't go there or buy it again.

sonlypuppyfat · 15/12/2018 06:06

DD bought a bag from Superdry once, she wasn't very old she'd saved up for it, was very excited about buying it. She tried chatting to the girl who served her but she just ignored her and talked with her colleague. So she complained on fb and got a £50 voucher!

Original poster
marykissmouse · 15/12/2018 06:35

Wow that's extremely generous of Superdry! I do think complaining on social media probably gets better results for obvious reasons!

OP posts:
geonater · 15/12/2018 06:45

I suppose I'd be classed as a complainer by British standards!
If something is wrong, I'll complain, I'll be polite to the call handler or whoever is taking the complaint as its usually not their fault, but it's also not mine that the product is broken/wrong/crap and I don't get the point in just not going back to the shop, I'd rather give them a chance to rectify the problem then boycott it.
I also contact companies to pass on praise if someone has been particularly helpful, like a delivery driver or someone in their shop.

Heyjudas · 15/12/2018 06:47

Superdry are brilliant. I find the brands that don't get sold through other chains are more careful about how their label comes across.
DD had nothing but the height of service at Superdry in Westfield when she was over this year. She felt like a proper valued customer. They really treated her like she was spending a fortune

Ellisandra · 15/12/2018 06:48

I frequently mutter to myself about making a complaint, but I rarely do because:

  • I then get lazy
  • I worry that the consequences could outreach my intentions - when it’s a person. On the one hand, I think - no excuse whatever is going on in your life. Then I totally overthink and imagine scenarios where the genuine misdemeanour is blown out of all proportion aa the person has a nasty bully of a boss who delights in the ammunition.

My last complaint that never made it was supermarket checkout, we were buying birthday tableware:

  • is it your birthday?
  • (daughter) yes!
  • don’t forget to close your mouth when you smile, hide your teeth
  • (me) what in the name of fuck? Her teeth are lovely normal teeth
  • ah, I always say it to mine, then they do the opposite, means you get a good smile!

Except my daughter has just started being self conscious of her normal teeth (she’s 10) and not smiling naturally in photos.

So thanks a fucking bunch you moron!!!!!

I was so close to complaining over that. But the woman was really friendly, just misguided. And as I said - I worried that some jumped up power hungry manager might have it in for her so I let it go, other than telling her it wasn’t helpful - but that was hard, because I was simultaneously trying to not focus on it, with daughter there Angry

Ellisandra · 15/12/2018 06:51

My dad is an Official Complainer. Not for reward, his recipient is generally the local council. He has MH issues.

He has had both of these:

  • my mother buying him a fax machine for Xmas t enable his complaint lodging
  • the local council legal department sending him a warning letter pre action for harassment against certain officers

I think being one step short of a flipping harassment order for complaining, makes you hardcore Hmm

Heyjudas · 15/12/2018 06:51

And it meant a lot to dd because while to a store, less than a hundred isn't really a big spender, to dd, it was all her savings for her shopping and she was choosing to spend it there, so to be treated with the gravitas that went with such an occasion was good for her confidence. I just sort of stayed in the wings to let her get more confident with dealing with things on her own. She had her own GoHenry card and felt like a boss, bless her. We then had to take a photo of her with all the Superdry bags as they do give out big shopping bags lol.

Heyjudas · 15/12/2018 06:56

I'm a complain on their social media page type of person. I'll complain in person at the time, they do nothing, so I take to social media. I got a body cream and body scrub out of one complaint. They're currently ornaments on my bathroom windowsill.
I don't really complain to get anything, unless my money back, but if that ain't happening, I'll blacken their name enough to ensure they ain't getting any future business either.
I'm also the type who only gives reviews to Uber drivers if they are either brilliant or shit. The inbetweeners, I don't review.
I do review pubs I'm in.

SnaccidentsHappen · 15/12/2018 07:27

I had someone complain once, his exact words "I have just moved house so will have no landline/internet for 2 months, I don't get a good signal on my mobile here, SO HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO DO NY ONKINE BANKING?"

Why he thought that was the banks problem I will never know

Original poster
marykissmouse · 15/12/2018 07:41

@SnaccidentsHappen
That's a classic! I've noticed that in my job.

'I got home with my shopping and was horrified to find I couldn't store my fish fingers because of a power cut, and they defrosted. I'd like my money back'

Hmm... probably complaining to the wrong company here. We only make the fish fingers! Can't be held responsible for the power cut! But they do reimburse the cost of the fish fingers which boggles my mind a bit.

OP posts:
hidinginthenightgarden · 15/12/2018 08:01

DH is great at complaining. A company who we paid to come out and fix the toilet repeatedly messed us around. I waited in so many times for them and on one occasion they actually caused a flood!
We got about £200 compensation from them.
Sent TV to be repaired under warranty. It came back with a tiny scratch on it. The company agreed to give us the money to replace the TV ans were meant to collect the old one. They never collected it and eventually we sold it.

Most recent was when I took my phone to apple to have a new battery. Shortly after the screen became a bit unresponsive and after 3 months I had to get a new phone as it was knackered.
DH complained and eventually they agreed to fix it. They couldn't so sent us a brand new iPhone! We are giving it to MIL for xmas as her screen is cracked thanks to my kids.

treaclesoda · 15/12/2018 08:08

Many years ago I had a customer make a complaint about me because...I was carrying my handbag.

The reason I was carrying my handbag was because she had appeared at the security desk at the main entrance to our office building just as I was going out for lunch. We were not a customer facing organisation but instead of ignoring her I tried to help. I missed most of my lunch break, pissed off the friend who was waiting in a restaurant to meet me for lunch (no mobile phones in those days) and she complained that I was unprofessional.

The worst thing was that my manager agreed with her. He said it showed a poor attitude and I should have taken my handbag back to the office before helping her because it wasn't acceptable for the public to know that we took a lunch break.

bunintheoven88 · 15/12/2018 08:16

@treaclesoda

ShockShockShock

I hope you don't still work there?!

treaclesoda · 15/12/2018 08:19

bunintheoven no, thankfully not! This was just one example out of many as to what a terrible place it was to work Grin

Original poster
marykissmouse · 15/12/2018 08:39

@youcanthaveitchyteeth
Please tell us yours. I bet all waiting staff have some stories to tell.

OP posts:
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