Your Worst Customer Service Experience

[mickaholic4077]

Have to leave the library now....subscribing to a fun thread!!!

 

[PenguinWaiters]

One hyphenated word: U-Haul. I was moving out of a house I'd just sold. Had to move out that day, the next day the house was no longer mine. I rented a U-Haul truck that was overheating. I took it back and asked for another truck. No big deal, right? Not so fast. The manager, who we figured was a real tool after observing the way he treated his employees, refused to replace the truck. I pointed out that there were plenty of equivalent trucks on the lot, he told me that they were slated for other customers. WTH? I was a customer too and had a gimp truck. When I pointed this out, he literally tore up the rental contract and refused to rent a truck to me. The guy had a real evil aura about him. Great, I had to move in one day and had no truck. Never fear, I rented a truck from Penske, no problems at all, and did the job.

U-Haul: Bad! U-Haul: Bad!
Penske: Gooooood!

Was this in NH or are all U-Haul's evil?

I reserved a truck to help my mom move. We picked it up and it died a half block from the rental place. We went back and were given a 2nd truck. I got in a found that the passenger seat belt had been RIPPED OUT of the truck - there was a HUGE hole in the seat where it had been. Went back in and the guy said "So what - that is not illegal in NH anyway." Great. Just because my state is pretty much the ONLY state that doesn't have a seatbelt law doesn't mean that I'm going to ride around without one! He told me I was "being silly" and that he would not give us any other trucks - we had to take that one "or the first one." Um, OK the first one is DEAD on the side of the road! That is not really an option now is it? We ended up going to Budget AND got a better deal no less. We have NEVER been back to U-Haul since then, even though they are the only truck rental in our town.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

I have two, both in restaurants.

The first was an Olive Garden where I had gone for lunch with a co-worker. We gave our orders, and our waitress brought us drinks. Then we sat and waited, and waited. Finally, after almost an hour, a man - apparently a manager comes up to us and says: "Um, I'm sorry but your waitress quit. Would you mind giving me your order again?" We could not believe that someone would take our order and then just quit!

The other was when I went to a restaurant with two friends and one friend had brought along her toddler. The restaurant was empty when we arrived, and then a bit later two other people came in. There was apparently one waitress. She took our orders, and then didn't come back with drinks for about 20 minutes. What the heck was she doing, creating coca-cola from scratch in the back room? We were the only people there!!! My friend's little boy was getting hungry and cranky and I saved the day with some granola bars I had in my purse. It was almost an hour after we got the drinks that we were served our food. One of my friends had ordered a salad that was supposed to be topped with chicken. It came out with no chicken!! I had ordered the liver, which was described on the menu as coming with onions and mashed potatoes. No, all I got was two greyish cooked pieces of liver on a plate. When I asked the waitress about it, she said "you asked for the liver" and I said that on the menu the liver dish had other ingredients, she said I hadn't asked for them. Since when do you have to list every item in an entree in order to get them? Who eats nothing but two hunks of liver for dinner? Anyway, then my friend pointed out that there was no chicken on her chicken-topped salad. Looking very annoyed, the waitress walked back into the kitchen, and after about ten minutes re-appears carrying IN HER HAND some pieces of chicken which she dumped on top of what was left of my friend's salad! We were all just shocked. I NEVER got any side dishes for my liver, and my friend didn't touch the chicken. We sat there for another 15 minutes, and finally I was fed up and walked into the kitchen to see if we could settle up our bill. The waitress was standing there chatting to two guys - I assume they were the cooks or something. I asked for the bill and she glared at me, and it took (I'm not kidding) another 15 minutes before we got the bill. We were charged full price for everything. At that point, we couldn't face any more of this (we'd been there for HOURS by now) so we paid the exact amount of the bill and not one penny more.

We laugh about it now, but it was just unbelievably awful at the time.

Teresa

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

I had ordered the liver, which was described on the menu as coming with onions and mashed potatoes. No, all I got was two greyish cooked pieces of liver on a plate.

EEEEEEWWW liver!!!
Sorry, horrible CS, great story, but LIVER????

 

[famofsix]

I was trying to buy a shower curtain tonight. After endless searching I finally found one but it was the last on and one display. A clerk was taking down a curtain for another customer so I asked if she could take mine down too. She tells me she has to ring them up first but she will come back. Ten minutes passed and she didn't come back. I see there are four people in line in front of the customer who had the 1st curtain. I go to the clerk ringing people up and asked if she could please take the curtain down for me. She tells me she is sorry that she FORGOT about me. OK. So I see another older clerk who looked like a manager since she was going back and forth helping the cashiers. She is helping a lady find something so I asked her to take the curtain down for me after she helps the customer with her. SHe replies that she can't help me but will send someone over. I mention that someone who supposed to come over and that she forgot. The manager gets all huffy and says she didn't forget. I tell her that she said she forgot to me because she had taken a curtain down for another customer. She tells me she will send someone over. Then she comes back and takes the ladder and hooks it to the wall. She lookes at me and tells me she has to lock up the ladder until she can get someone to take the curtain down for me. I tell her my curtain is right over here and I point. She locks up the ladder and says I can't hear you and WALKS AWAY. So I go back up to the register and the customer who got the first curtain is checking out now and there are five more people in line. I guess I was supposed to wait until they have no customers Now I am beyond steamed and I look at the manager and the clerk who forgot me and I walk out of there. I bought a nicer one at JCPENNYS but I am mad I wasted a good 1/2 hour at that store.

 

[Pikester]

I finally thought of one.

There is a small convience store in my town that sells "World Famous Grinders". They are really good and I decided to walk from work to get one for my dinner. (I was in my late teens and not big on confrontation.) The grinders are kept in a case at the rear of the store near a small kitchen like area where they make them. I looked in the case and didn't see the kind I wanted, which was salami, so asked the older gent behind the counter if he had any behind the counter (I could see he was making some up but I was trying to be polite and ask nicely like my parents taught me). I have no idea what I did but he got so angry at me, picked up a grinder and practiclly threw it at me! All the while he's mumbling about "idiots" (can't swear on here!) that expect him to have grinders waiting for them and can't call first and order, on and on and on! I took the grinder to the front of the store, payed and got the heck out of there; crying all the way back to work. I have never in all the times I had bought a grinder there ever called and ordered one. They have always been some made in the cooler and when there haven't been some one is usually nice enough to make one while you wait. I found out later that it was the owner's father and that he can be a big jerk!

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

Oooh ooh I have yet ANOTHER ONE!!! I was young, like 17 or 18 and I pulled into the gas station to get gas. I'm very lucky, and have never had to pay for gas because I just use my fathers company card. This perticular card had apparently been used a lot, and the stip was worn off. So the guy (an old crust man) pumped my gas, and I gave him the card, but I forgot to tell him that it doesn't swipe. He goes into the office, and comes back out, and starts to tell me in a somewhat nice manor to inform my husband that I need a new card (because obviously a woman couldn't have her own gas card) until he gets a good look at my face and realizes that I'm to young to be married. HE TOTALLY FLIPPED. He stuck his arms and head in my car and started yelling at me that he doesn't have all day to stand there and punch in the numbers, and to tell "my daddy" to take the card away from me. Like PP, I was young, and just wanted to get the hell outa there rather than stand up for myself.

 

[SereneOne]

Wells Fargo will NEVER receive our business EVER. I forgot to pay the car payment for that month--my baby had died, we had her funeral a week after that and her twin was helicoptered the week after that to another hospital. They called and called and called and called, although I apologized and told them the circumstances and that I would send it out as soon as possible. I was in the Ronald McDonald House and did not bring the checkbook. I had tried getting a hold of my DH, but was unable, he was out of area and most of my time was spent in Level 3 NICU, not trying to get a hold of my husband. Even knowing what I was going through, they refused to stop calling several times a day and leaving nastygrams. They even called after we paid, saying we did not!

 

[marciemi]

Okay, I know this isn't fair, but I have 3 and they're all funny (not truly upsetting, just ) ones, so I'll post them separately!

The first one when was youngest DS was about 3. We were in a small town up in Ontario (an English speaking area so there was no language barrier or anythimg) and ate at a typical local family diner. DS ordered a kids' meal, which came with a free drink. DS asked for and got chocolate milk with the meal.

A bit later he'd finished and I asked if he could get more. Not surprisingly, they told me that there weren't refills on chocolate milk. I asked him if he REALLY wanted more and he said yes, so I asked to order another glass of chocolate milk.

The waitress told me she couldn't do that. I figured she didn't understand that I meant to pay for it and quickly explained that I'd be glad to pay for the next glass. But she continued to insist "No, I can't give him another chocolate milk!" We argued with her and finally she left, telling us she'd need to talk to the manager to "get approval". WTH? It's not like it's alcohol - they were cutting him off?!

Finally I ended up telling her to just bring ME a glass of chocolate milk because I wanted it. I guess her manager said this was okay because we eventually got that milk! Don't know what's in the chocolate milk in Canada, but apparently you don't want too much of it!

 

[OceanAnnie]

I have a bad customer service story from my teens too. I made a deposit at my bank. The next day something came up and I needed some extra cash. Went to make a withdrawal and the teller told me I couldn't. I asked why and she told me something about a waiting period. Then she added, "You should've thought about that yesterday.". I gave her a stare down and told her that is my business. She said yes it is. Asked for the manager. I told him what was said & I didn't appreciate the way I was spoken to. He was full of hot air and none of it was customer friendly. I told him I was going to make a small withdrawal, but now I was withdrawing it all. Funny thing, they didn't have any problem closing my accounts on the spot and giving me all of it.

I still can't believe the gall of that woman.

 

[marciemi]

The next story was when were on a 9 night cruise with our boys. One of the stops was in Puerto Rico. Well, after several days on the ship, the boys decided McDonalds' sounded great, and since we saw one we told them they could stop in and get just fries.

I found a table with the boys and DH went to order, but quickly realized that he wasn't making himself understood. He asked several times for three orders of small french fries, but just got blank stares and "no comprendos" in response. (Side note - if you work in a McDonalds that frequently serves cruise ship passengers who primarily speak English, wouldn't you expect them to at least recognize the names of their menu items? )

Since I'd had about 6 years of Spanish between high school and college, I tried to go help him out. I looked at their menu (in Spanish) and ordered "Tres papas fritas pequenas" (3 small fried potatoes). All was fine and we paid and got our order.

But the kicker was that when we got the receipt with our order, it said on it, in ENGLISH, "3 Small Fries"!

 

[marciemi]

Okay, the last one is also at a McDonald's. We were in Michigan, driving home from up north skiing. Drove home quickly through a McD's, trying to get the food and go. Unfortunately, we didn't check our order to make sure it was right before we were back on the highway.

DS had ordered a hamburger, plain, add bacon. We'd done this about a zillion times without any problem. Well, this McD's took the "plain" too literally. We're a couple miles down the highway, passing out food, and he opens his burger to find.....two pieces of bun, and two slices of bacon! Guess a hamburger "plain" doesn't include the hamburger patty itself!

 

[dinah439]

Two summers ago, my friend and I went to a local pizza restaurant for lunch. It was the first time either of us had been there. We walk in and the register is facing the door with a glass case full of pizzas on the left side, very similar to how it looks at Sbarro. So, we assumed you ordered at the counter and then sat down to eat.

We go up to the counter where there's a woman behind the register with a nametag stating she's the co-owner. I start to order and she snaps at me that they only take orders from people sitting at tables. She comes around from the counter and shows us to a booth and hands us menus.

We decide to share a cheese pizza and an order of garlic bread with Cokes to drink. We order large drinks but she brings us the small. Annoying, but not a big deal. As we're waiting we look around the restaurant and see a table of boys on the other side. The woman from before keeps going over there to re-fill their drinks (this is important later) and she must have gone back and forth 3-4 times.

Fifteen minutes later, she brings us our pizza but not the garlic bread. She leans in and whispers that her husband is making the garlic bread and boys are just so slow, aren't they? So, we start to cut into the pizza but realize she hadn't brought us any plates. I go up to the counter to ask for some plates. She goes to the back and brings back one paper plate but instead of handing it to me, she carries it to the table where she uses her bare hands to put a slice on the plate. I ask her for another plate and she says plates are limited to one per table.

A few minutes later, I see her husband go out to the car that's parked directly in front of the restaurant and start to fiddle around the gas cap. Seriously, he plays with that thing for at least 5 minutes. He finally comes back in and immediately delivers our garlic bread which we of course don't eat.

The woman comes back to our table to deliver the check and I ask for a refill on the drinks. This really upsets her and she screams "YOU'VE ALREADY HAD TWO REFILLS. THAT IS ENOUGH!" Yeah, well maybe if you'd given us the large cups like we'd asked for, we wouldn't need so many refills.

We go up to pay and she tells us that the recommended tip would be $5.70 or something close to that and she keeps a record of the tips people leave. That's the only time in my life I've never tipped.

 

[Mahnahmahnah]

I have one about Burlington Coat Factory:
I was really really pregnant and decided I needed to shop like a madwoman to help facilitate labor.(Thats what I told my DH anyway!)

Of couse I needed to pee, so I proceed to the rest room ALL the way on the other side(the place is huge) but you need to be buzzed in. I press the buzzer patiently dancing, and no response. I wait a few minutes, and press again, no response, I press again, again , again, and finally proceed to announce that I will pee on the floor unless someone lets me in!
Let me tell you I should have just peed on the floor because that bathroom was

So I have a cart full of baby stuff now and I decided to purchase a new vanity bench for our bedroom. Of course its really long in a box, and heavy - I tried to get help with it to put it in my cart, but not one person in that stupid store would help me! I asked 3 employees but they all said they would be right there but no one came. I probably should have left it - but the preg hormones rule so I ended up just hoisted it onto the top of the cart. I then proceed to check-out....

Well I could see now why it took so long to get buzzed into the bathroom - the camera for the bathroom is at the one register and they are so busy talking that they just IGNORE the buzzer! I say nothing at this point because i was afraid I would go "pregnant" on them.

So I check-out : I have a coupon from their "Baby Talk" magazine for 10%off, it's THEIR magazine and I am told that the coupon is not good YET!Ummm - it's Jan, it expires March, how is it not good yet.....

Now - have this heavy vanity bench sliding off the cart, and I see doors that are NOT automatic. Well there was a girl there who was straightening out stuff by the doors, and I said "Excuse me! Could you open the door-Thanks!" and she looked right AT ME and walked away!!! I am struggling trying to open the door get my cart out, and finally a manager sees me and helps me.

Poor girl - she got a major earful from a crazed pregnant woman who had to pee again and was craving DQ hot fudge.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I'll give you the worst one today.

I had to wait for the girl in the gas station to finish her call before I could pay for the pop and crackers. Over 2 minutes I stood there right at the counter and she chatted with her friend and made "I'm so sorry, I just can't get her to stop talking" faces.

The friend's cat had gotten out, she told me. And the friend was worried sick. And drunk. Just wouldn't stop talking and wasn't making any sense. Don't I hate it when I can't get people to stop talking?

I was so tempted to reply, "Not as much as I hate standing here waiting while you chat." But, instead, I told her to tell people who do that to her that she has a long line and has to go, then hang up.

BP should pay me for training their employee today.

 

[Mahnahmahnah]

Wells Fargo will NEVER receive our business EVER. I forgot to pay the car payment for that month--my baby had died, we had her funeral a week after that and her twin was helicoptered the week after that to another hospital. They called and called and called and called, although I apologized and told them the circumstances and that I would send it out as soon as possible. I was in the Ronald McDonald House and did not bring the checkbook. I had tried getting a hold of my DH, but was unable, he was out of area and most of my time was spent in Level 3 NICU, not trying to get a hold of my husband. Even knowing what I was going through, they refused to stop calling several times a day and leaving nastygrams. They even called after we paid, saying we did not!

I am so sorry for your loss

 

[rie'smom]

Mine are Wally World related.

1. I had to ring the bell to get someone to cut fabric from 3 different bolts. I asked the lady to please measure the amount that was left on 1 bolt and then to cut an equal amount from the other 2. No response, so I asked her-nicely-if she heard me. Her head snapped up so fast, I thought she'd get whiplash and she said_YES,I HEARD YOU!

2. I'm walk to the self checkout line. There's an employee on her time off checking out infront of me. No big deal except that after she checks out her 3 items, she looks back, doesn't get out of the line, sees me and by now a couple of other people behind her and proceeds to start a conversation with another employee. I saw red.
I found a manager and told her of these 2 incidents. She was very apologetic and said even if the employees were having a bad day, they shouldn't take it out on the customers. I agreed and told her that the employees wouldn't be too happy if every customer who had a bad day took it out on the employees.
Unfortunately with all the mom and pop stores biting the dust, we're left with impersonal big stores and ill mannered employees.

 

[Kycha]

Okay. Did you ever see the Chinese restaurant episode of Seinfeld? Anyway, we were at the Olive Garden for lunch one day. Give our name to the hostess and she tells us it's a 15 minute wait. Well, 15 minutes comes and goes. Now, I'm starting to see other people who arrived after us being seated. I just assumed they had call ahead seating or something. In the meantime, I have heard the hostess call for the "Johnson party" like 5 times. Finally, after waiting another 15 minutes I approach the hostess and ask how much longer is our wait. She proceeds to tell me that they have been calling my name for 15 minutes and we never came forward. Whatthaheck? I said we have heard you call the Johnson party over and over, but our name is not Johnson and sounds nothing like Johnson. And I think that if they had called our name, that at least one person in our party would have recognized OUR OWN NAME!!!!! We were sitting 5 feet from the hostess' podium. There is no way we wouldn't hear them. But, the hostess wanted to stand there and argue with me that she had indeed called our name. Then, this lovely lady that was sitting next to us spoke up. She came to our defense and said she had not heard our name called in the 20 minutes she had been waiting. I was ready to walk right out of there. But, I was starving and knew that if we went to another restaurant we would have to start all over again(another 30 min+ wait). Miraculously, they managed to find us a table within minutes.

 

[Barb D]

I have two.

Worst ever: I was very pregnant with DS17, and had to go to a lab for a glucose tolerance test. For some reason the doctor wanted me to eat a specified list of foods instead of drinking the sweet gunk. I had to drive to the lab -- fasting, of course, through sleet. I finally got there, had the first blood draw, and started to pull out my breakfast. The lab person started YELLING at me that I wasn't allowed to eat in the lab. I asked her what I was supposed to do, go out in the sleet to eat it? Then I started to cry. To make matters worse, she was SMOKING, which was clearly against the lab rules. She said, "It's just your pregnancy hormones."


2nd worst: One of my kids was at the stage where every man was "Dada". We were in a small store, and she saw a male employee and started saying, "Dada! Dada!" A female employee teased him and said, "Steve, is there something you're not telling us?" He immediately got VERY huffy and said, "I am NOT a breeder!" Not a very good salesman either, if he's going to offend the customers who are!

 

[DarthKTrava]

I had to get a tetanus shot done at the hospital after I went there for them to examine the big bruise on my arm. I'd done that at work and it was done under workmen's comp. The nurse who gave me the shot told me, "Let me put it in that arm (indicating the bruised one) as it already hurts..." How the heck do you know it hurts? Just 'cause it's 4 shades of ugly bruising? It wasn't hurting until she stuck that needle in.... OUCH!. What bedside manners she had....[sarcasm]