Do you care enough to file a complaint?

quichebradford

I have a coworker who prides herself on the fact that she will call and complain if she doesn’t receive good service somewhere. Fast food restaurant, the grocery store, nail salon, wherever. She also does it here at work. If someone here does something she feels is out of line, she’ll complain to the manager. A lady was out of dress code once; she took the time to find out what department she worked in, and told her manager. Granted, there are some instances when it may be necessary to report an issue, but EVERY time? C'mon!

Personally, it has to be something really horrible for me to complain about it, to the establishment anyway. The few times when I have spoken up about something, it was pointless. For instance, a group of us were having breakfast at 59 Diner. When our food arrived, everything was cooked unevenly, bacon burned, pancakes raw in the middle, etc. Called the manager over to show her, all she said was “humn, I don’t know what the problem could be, we cooked everything like we normally do” Clearly the food wasn’t prepared right. She didn’t offer to make the food over or anything like that. So, I just vowed to never go there again…but that’s just me.

What about you? Do you feel that taking the time to file a complaint is worth the effort?

Iamfit4life

I've never found anything upset me enough to.

My mother and father will at the drop of a hat, so will siggy.

DannyMussels

Once I did.

Went to Tim Hortons and literally every table was dirty with food/empty cups (like 30 tables).

It was around 11pm after work, they had a shift change and the staff were complaning 'it was the other shifts job' so I emailed the company to complain. All I got was a 'we are aware of problems at that store'.

Meh.

Not worth it, I don't really even care, I was just mind blown cause I've never been somewhere that you couldn't sit down at. Also the store was void of customers, which made it even weirder.

BigDaddyBRC

Sounds like a Negative Nancy...that being said...when you are out and about and spending YOUR money to buy their Goods and Services...you're damn right I expect to have good service.

DannyMussels

Semi-related.

Worked in restaurants for 10-12 years now. Some people are born complainers. They'll come in and whoever gets stuck with them in their section will grumble cause they know.

Kinda funny when that's the kinda reputation that preceeds you. Haha.

Also, some complaints are justified.

That being said, I still never complain. Even if my orders wrong or missing something. I really don't expect much from places, cause I know how it works. I'm satisfied with mediocre service and food.

glockster972

Waste of time, nothing will get accomplished anyway.

Hellbent_Heidi

You co-worker sounds like a pain, and as a result, she's probably eaten a lot of spit in her life!!

I don't usually take the time to complain. It has to reach a special level of bad service to set me off....and that only happened once that I can recall, over 10 years ago and my BP still rises when I think about it. :explode:

Shannon023

What kind of service does she expect from a grocery store??? :huh:

I usually won't raise a stink (especially in a restaurant... I don't want a spit-sandwich, thankyewverymuch!) but they won't get my return business either. :glasses:

jennajava

you gotta choose your battles

sharonsjones

I never complain. Usually if service is bad I leave a small tip and never go back.

Pollywog39

I have done that when it's warranted - like when you're at a hotel and it's incredibly dirty, or when a company stops making a favorite product. I have sometimes gotten coupons or refunds based on letters I've written, so it can work.

But the little stuff? nahhhhhhhhhhh.......not worth it.

Qarol

A lady was out of dress code once; she took the time to find out what department she worked in, and told her manager.

This is fracking ridiculous! Does she not have enough work to do that she has to care about someone else's subordinate?

stormieweather

If I don't get satisfaction, yes I will complain. I've contacted chain department stores, utilities companies, and landlord home offices about their employee's conduct and lack of customer service. I've worked as a waitress and as a peon, so I know that the customer is always right. Even if it's not your fault, just apologize and try to make it right. Business that refuse don't ever get my business again.

bikermike5094

I had a checker in wal-mart a few weeks ago that stood there and yakked with his customer and would ring up one item like every 15 seconds. I of course was in his line and had someplace to be so really pissed me off. When i left i called the store and laid into the store manager. first time I've ever done something like that.

vim_n_vigor

There are some instances where I will file a complaint, but it has to be for pretty good reasons. If I can see a place is super busy, I won't complain that things take time. If it is something pretty far out of the norm I will say something, or if it is unsafe or unsanitary.

bry_all01

I vent moreso than outright complain. I mean, I see nothing serious enough (so far) to actually launch a compliant about. Life is too short and I'm too ditzy to remember to follow through, even if it were enough.

And, hey, you answered before I could ask what you would do, lol.

hazelmae123

There are two reasons to complain and two ways to do it. Some people just do it because they feel entitled and are mean. Other people would like to feel more comfortable or have better service and they can do it in a respectful way. I had a friend in college who everywhere we went she complained, she was just nasty to everyone! The checkout girl, the waiter etc. I finally sat her down and told her, "look when you are being rude and negative it reflects on me and I don't like it. People work hard and treating them with a little respect isn't too hard to do." Later she got a job in retail and found out what it was like on the other side of the coin. She told me she appreciated me pointing it out to her because she didn't realize she was like that and now she saw how it felt.

Shannon023

There are two reasons to complain and two ways to do it. Some people just do it because they feel entitled and are mean. Other people would like to feel more comfortable or have better service and they can do it in a respectful way. I had a friend in college who everywhere we went she complained, she was just nasty to everyone! The checkout girl, the waiter etc. I finally sat her down and told her, "look when you are being rude and negative it reflects on me and I don't like it. People work hard and treating them with a little respect isn't too hard to do." Later she got a job in retail and found out what it was like on the other side of the coin. She told me she appreciated me pointing it out to her because she didn't realize she was like that and now she saw how it felt.

I've always thought everyone should work in a customer service job at least once in their life. :bigsmile:

Contrarian

I rarely complain. I would rather just laugh it off. When I do complain I do it in a kind and respectful way, because no one wants to help someone who is screaming at them.

ItsCasey

Depends on the circumstances. If it's something that could've caused physical harm to me, I'll complain, not so much for myself but for other people who may not be aware of the problems at a certain place. If it's just a rude waiter/salesperson, etc., I probably just wouldn't go there again. Most places are only truly concerned about potential lawsuits, so they don't really care if someone found one of their employees to be rude.

I have been a few places in my lifetime where the owner truly cared whether or not customers had a great experience in his/her establishment, and in those cases, I would always take the time to let them know if something went wrong (not something that was a genuine accident but something that was the result of an employee doing a poor job). I'd want to know things like that about my employees if I owned a business that depended on word-of-mouth and repeat customers.

knittnponder

I will occasionally if the situation merits it but I always try to be polite and friendly. If I don't make them defensive I usually get better service and I've always had my situation remedied.

I want to ask, do you care enough to give a compliment? If I get exceptional service I make it a point to say so. I once e-mailed the corporate office of a restaurant chain just to tell them how exceptional the service was at one of their restaurants (we had a large, loud group). I got an email back thanking me profusely and telling me that all they ever get are complaints so my comments were very refreshing. Then they mailed me gift certificates for the restaurant and my DH and I got to go out to dinner for free.

In the words of Nancy Drew, "Courtesy counts!" (Sorry, I have four kids and one of them is obsessed with Nancy! lol)

rachemn

I have a coworker who prides herself on the fact that she will call and complain if she doesn’t receive good service somewhere. Fast food restaurant, the grocery store, nail salon, wherever. She also does it here at work. If someone here does something she feels is out of line, she’ll complain to the manager. A lady was out of dress code once; she took the time to find out what department she worked in, and told her manager. Granted, there are some instances when it may be necessary to report an issue, but EVERY time? C'mon!

Personally, it has to be something really horrible for me to complain about it, to the establishment anyway. The few times when I have spoken up about something, it was pointless. For instance, a group of us were having breakfast at 59 Diner. When our food arrived, everything was cooked unevenly, bacon burned, pancakes raw in the middle, etc. Called the manager over to show her, all she said was “humn, I don’t know what the problem could be, we cooked everything like we normally do” Clearly the food wasn’t prepared right. She didn’t offer to make the food over or anything like that. So, I just vowed to never go there again…but that’s just me.

What about you? Do you feel that taking the time to file a complaint is worth the effort?

Do you work in a hospital? I do and people are always calling someone else's manager to complain if they're unhappy. It's ridiculous. I will complain on occasion...bad service somewhere, bad product, but I wouldn't dream of calling someone's manager to complain that they're not complying with dress code! Seriously?? Why would you really care that much? That's just spiteful.

wannabesexymama

I have only ever complained TWICE in my life Both times I was pregnant and they brought me uncooked meat!! I asked the waiter to take it back and have them throw it back on the grill for like 10 more min I couldn't eat it like that I was Pregnant! One of the 2 times I was at a Chili's and the Manager came and apologized and offered to comp the meal but I told him it wast necessarily its an honest mistake, He still didn't make me pay for my Stake though and I got a few drinks on the house as well! A $60 meal cost me $24 and some change!

reese66

Wow, it sounds like you work with my sister. Went to lunch one day everything was fine, we paid our bill and was ready to leave but before we did I finished my drink and she did too, as we were leaving she stopped and spoke to the manager and complained about how we never got refills, she complained to the point that they refunded the money. I was so embarrassed.

Our mom went to the hospital having a stoke, they had to find a vein that they could put th iv in, mind you my mom has small ceons and this can be a difficult task on a good day. They were able to get the iv in on the right ARM, later that day when my mom kept moving her right ARM she kept messing it up and my sister had the nerve to get on to a different nurse about their choice of arms to put the iv, geez...

quichebradford

I will occasionally if the situation merits it but I always try to be polite and friendly. If I don't make them defensive I usually get better service and I've always had my situation remedied.

I want to ask, do you care enough to give a compliment? If I get exceptional service I make it a point to say so. I once e-mailed the corporate office of a restaurant chain just to tell them how exceptional the service was at one of their restaurants (we had a large, loud group). I got an email back thanking me profusely and telling me that all they ever get are complaints so my comments were very refreshing. Then they mailed me gift certificates for the restaurant and my DH and I got to go out to dinner for free.

In the words of Nancy Drew, "Courtesy counts!" (Sorry, I have four kids and one of them is obsessed with Nancy! lol)

Yes, I actually do! There is a lady who works at the taco Bell by my job. She ALWAYS is nice to me. I wanted her manager to know, so I called and told them. He was surprised to hear a compliment, just like you said!

agwilker

I always feel bad when I complain. Even if they did my order wrong. For instance if I say "potato, no butter". I will say something, because otherwise I won't eat it. Never been a fan of butter on potatoes.
However, if it's they forgot to put mushrooms in my whatever. I won't say anything.

I was a server at weddings for several years, so I think I over-sympathize. I hate for them to get in trouble, when in all likelihood it was the cook's fault. I had a lot of people send back their silverware if it had any spots, while I had 8 tables to look after. I think some people just like to find something to complain about.

Though, I can't STAND when I hear someone else complaining about everything at a restaurant. I notice two trends in that: A)They are generally older They will get free food/reduced bill. Hm.

binary_jester

Personally I dislike people who will complain at the drop of a hat, but will fail to compliment when warranted.

Hellbent_Heidi

I want to ask, do you care enough to give a compliment? If I get exceptional service I make it a point to say so.

Same here...I've actually stopped to tell the manager at several restaurants on occasions where I had a particularly good waitress/waiter.

Hellbent_Heidi

Though, I can't STAND when I hear someone else complaining about everything at a restaurant. I notice two trends in that: A)They are generally older They will get free food/reduced bill. Hm.

My brother once cooked at a high-end steakhouse and they had a guy who came in every Friday, ordered a filet, ate half, then said it was undercooked. He's send it back, wait for it, eat the rest and then say it was overcooked and he wasn't paying....so I'd have to disagree with the concept that the "customer is always right". Sometimes the customer is just a big fat scammer!

VeryKerri

Well this one time...at band camp...

Kidding, but I really did complain one time about a restaurant. My church's youth group was having a fundraiser at a local mexican food place near my job. I rounded up a group of 20 of my co-workers and planned for a lunch time outing. I phoned ahead to the restaurant and asked if they would accept a reservation. I was assured that I was 1) speaking to the manager and 2) my reservation was accepted. My group of 21 show up at our designated time and find that our table was given away 5 minutes before our scheduled time. Not only that but the hostess was completely rude to me and told me that she could not help me and that I should have gotten there sooner and that they dont take reservations at lunch time. I asked to speak to the manager and he came and lied and said he had never spoken to me. It was him, I am sure of it as he had a very thick accent. We did eventually get sat however we only had 1 server for a party of 21 which made things much slower. Our 1 hour lunch turned in to 2.5 (which we later were chastised for from the VP) Everyone did tip accordingly as it wasn't the servers fault. After I got back to work, I emailed their corporate offices and received a call back 15 minutes later to apologize and say they were aware of issues at that location. He offered to buy my group lunch again, but I turned him down. The apology was all that was needed as we never got one from either the hostess of the manager.

Johnnyswife

Personally, it has to be something really horrible for me to complain about it, to the establishment anyway. The few times when I have spoken up about something, it was pointless. For instance, a group of us were having breakfast at 59 Diner. When our food arrived, everything was cooked unevenly, bacon burned, pancakes raw in the middle, etc. Called the manager over to show her, all she said was “humn, I don’t know what the problem could be, we cooked everything like we normally do” Clearly the food wasn’t prepared right. She didn’t offer to make the food over or anything like that. So, I just vowed to never go there again…but that’s just me.

What about you? Do you feel that taking the time to file a complaint is worth the effort?

Yes...Not to the extent your coworker does, but yeah. If I was in that resturaunt, I wouldn't pay for the food unless they fixed it. If I can't eat it, I am not paying for it.
If I get crappy service with attitude, I stand up for myself and make a complaint. If the service is great or even just normal, I will make sure the manager knows they did a good job. I figure it evens itself out.