Monday, May 19, 2008

Can I file one.....

Through out my 23 years of life I have been taught to stand up for myself and to let my voice be heard. I will not allow people to push their way in front of me in a line, I use my horn to grab other drivers attention when they choose to be complete idiots, I will argue my case at a check out counter, and will file a complaint when necessary.
In the last week I have filed two formal complaints. One of these complaints was to Big Lots Corporate Office. The other was for a insurance dispute. Both of these I feel were by all means with in my right. However, am I the only when that does this? I will often send something back or request something new or different if the product, food or item is faulty, gross or broken. That's just the way I am. I feel it is important to let your voice be heard in matters and to use the power of the written word to express dislike in something that you are paying for. To my defense I am polite and honest when I do this.
The other side of my consumer personality drives me to compliment and to praise a company or employee when the service, item, food or product was amazing. I have been known to write a letter to their Corporate office thanking them for a job well done. I have praised employees to their managers and have written thank you notes on napkins for waitresses.
Do you all do this or am I some strange phenomenon? Are you a get what you get and live with it, or a speak up and take it back kind of person? Just curious.

8 comments:

Jan said...

I am getting more and more that way in the complaining and standing up for myself dept..

I like the complimenting part, but my blood pressure goes way up when I get upset about things, but I really think it is our duty to stand up for ourselves because they have a tendency to get away with too much.. You go girl.

Shayla said...

In the spur of the moment, I am often taken aback by something that has happened and don't think about what to say until well after the fact, but that's where the internet comes in. I love being able to go to a website and email a company my comments on an employee, a service gone bad/good, a product I liked/disliked, etc. I believe the same as you, it's important that we let our voices be heard when something doesn't go the way it should or vice versa. How else can we expect to change things for the better? Especially in such a commercial, consumer world. That said, hopefully I'll get better at standing up for myself in the moment, rather than after the fact. :-) Although, I've been known to exclaim something is a rip-off to an employee at a store, to the embarrassment of my hubby. I know, really mature, right? Not like they can do anything about it. :-)

Wendy Christensen said...

Sara, I love that you write letters and take a stand when things are good and/or bad. I remember working customer service for a local shop and a lady sent a letter thanking me for my kind service and it made my entire week! This was a great post - thanks!! :) I need to be a little more assertive in my day to day actions ....!

Gosfam said...

I definitely speak my mind, but it an a nice way. Recently I have a new cookie sheet arriving in the mail, several coupons and samples from products that I have called about being dissatisfied. Just ask Matt about a Red Robin incident right after we started dating. My food was not up to par, and I said something. I know by the sounds of it you would have said something too, since my meal was a complete mess. Thanks for sharing.

Rob and Juliann said...

Rob's mom is a consumer at it's best. She is SO good at "buttering up" people to get what she wants. I think when you are paying your money for something, you had better get the product that was promised. I also have a hard time with jerks who work in stores, museum desks, insurance companies etc. I find complaining in a nice way, get's the attention of the higher ups and lets them know what is going on.

Debie Spurgeon said...

I'm not very good at this AT ALL. I totally agree with you that if wer're not getting either what we paid for or inadequate services something needs to be said, but I am not good at doing this in a way that I feel comfortable with. I think that I get a little too "heated."

Kate said...

I am slowly becoming more vocal when it comes to these things.
I think it is great that you make sure people know how you feel, we all need to be better at it and need to do it more so that we all get better service or better products.
Kudos to you Sara! :)

CatherineWO said...

Well, you probably know that I have a passion for social justice, and this extends to consumer rights as well. I do find that it helps, even when I'm filing a complaint, to let the person know what I LIKED about the service or product first, before I start the complaint. You have a good approach to this, and I've seen it work for you.