What kind of complainer are you?

[gillian w]

After reading about one of our poor geeks waxing experiences and what she should do.It got me wondering what kind of complainer are you.

Do you never complain about any service you have.Do you just pick out the greenfly in your salad say nothing but never go back to the restaurant or do you kick up a right fuss and demand your meals free.
Are you ready to complain to anyone about everything if its not to your satisfaction or are you much to shy or accepting to ever say anything even if you have had terrible treatment or service.

I tend to let things go up to a point.Im very wary about complaining too much in restaurants in case they do horrible things to the food .Id rather just not go back.
I do complain about things i consider important though but not very aggressively,just firmly.

 

[An*Gel]

I'm rubbish at complaining.. I start by saying "I'm really sorry but..".. says it all doesn't it :smack:

 

[Bagpuss]

If i really feel i need to complain then i do it as nicely as possible...you get much further by being nice than you do ranting...if you rant and rave all you will get back is more of the same.

I don't complain much at all....But i do praise alot....often i will ring the takeaway place and say thank you for a wonderful meal...or mention to a supervisor at Tesco how helpful a member of staff was...purely cos i think in this country people are too quick to complain and rarely think about giving praise when something has been good.

 

[1999judy]

NEVER make a stink at a restaurant etc. they will be sure to spit in your food next time they see you!!! (believe me...)
If I have to complain about something then I do in my most polite way and see how it goes from there....and if it doesn't work....
THEN I go superfly TNT.
It's not good tbh.
It does work though admittedly.

 

[gillian w]

If i really feel i need to complain then i do it as nicely as possible...you get much further by being nice than you do ranting...if you rant and rave all you will get back is more of the same.

I don't complain much at all....But i do praise alot....often i will ring the takeaway place and say thank you for a wonderful meal...or mention to a supervisor at Tesco how helpful a member of staff was...purely cos i think in this country people are too quick to complain and rarely think about giving praise when something has been good.

You are so right.We should all praise more.
The most complaining i ever do is probably to the tv and internet cable people im usually pretty livid by the time i get through to them after 40 minutes of dreadful music.They are quite good at calming you down though obviously used to it .

 

[shell28]

Im so placid i never complain

 

[marioned]

Hmmm, I guess I let things go to a point. I'd probably pick the greenfly out, as I don't rate this important. I'd even go back. LOL I guess I complain, in an assertive way if I know I am in the right and it is something which bothers me.

However, I often doubt myself. I recently took delivery of a printer in my work, which I couldn't get to work.. I phoned up and arranged for it to be uplifted and a new one delivered. I knew I'd followed all the instructions when setting it up, but was willing to believe maybe I'd made a mistake (what I don't know!).

So, when the next one arrived I was meticulous in following the instructions step by step. Lo and behold, it came up with the same error. By this point I was prepared to believe it was me that had done something wrong. I checked on the manufacturers website and reserched solutions, followed them, but to no avail. I then phoned the manufacturer, holding on for about 15 minutes before I could speak to someone. They confirmed it was a faulty printer. I still doubted myself! I phoned the supplier and arranged for another pick up and delivery, whilst trying not to sound guilty of breaking their two printers!

A new one was delivered and it took courage for me to even open the box. I set it up, to the point of turning on the power, and then gave a colleague step by step instructions about which buttons to press, as there was no way I was doing it again! I was so glad it worked, but I'm sill left with the niggling doubt that I somehow jinxed the first two.

Even with my waxing problem, I'm still thinking, was it something I've done which caused this?

I guess I should be more confident in myself, not feeling I'm a jinx, or that I've caused the problem. I'm looking forward to reading other replies! xx

 

[1999judy]

I've been to MANY countries and WATCHED Americans complain....they don't take ANY cr*p...and they get a result a lot of the time.
Us English.....waaayyyy too namby pamby a lot of the time.
JMHO!!

 

[An*Gel]

I'd like to make a complaint about this thread!! ha ha yes I've had a glass of wine and I'm getting all brave now

 

[gillian w]

I'd like to make a complaint about this thread!! ha ha yes I've had a glass of wine and I'm getting all brave now

OH YEAH !!!! come on then im ready for yer

 

[loubylou]

Generally i don't really complain,
i have complained twice in restaurants and been offered free desert or drinks but i declined their offers and said if they could just improve their standards that would do nicely lol (didn't dare take the freebies)

but in the case of the waxing incident i would complain big time,
i have made mistakes myself when totally new to intimate waxing (forgot the oil on 2 clients ) but i did not cause any injuries and both clients have returned for more waxing (thank god)
i think the wax i use had a lot to do with me getting away it.

 

[Nailsinlondon1]

If i really feel i need to complain then i do it as nicely as possible...you get much further by being nice than you do ranting...if you rant and rave all you will get back is more of the same.

I don't complain much at all....But i do praise alot....often i will ring the takeaway place and say thank you for a wonderful meal...or mention to a supervisor at Tesco how helpful a member of staff was...purely cos i think in this country people are too quick to complain and rarely think about giving praise when something has been good.

Yep same here, I can make my point with a smile on my face, rather then a face of thunder. The response is so different, like Gigi once said , you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar........
But I do praise when praise is due, some people may think thats crawling but, aint it nice when someone comments on how well something is done.
xxx

 

[fifitrix]

NEVER make a stink at a restaurant etc. they will be sure to spit in your food next time they see you!!! (believe me...)
If I have to complain about something then I do in my most polite way and see how it goes from there....and if it doesn't work....
THEN I go superfly TNT.
It's not good tbh.
It does work though admittedly.

I am much the same as you Judy, try the polite approach at first then when it goes pear shaped then duck! :lol:

I agree I would never complain in a restaurant, I have worked in the hotel industry too long to know what can happen

 

[gillian w]

Generally i don't really complain,
i have complained twice in restaurants and been offered free desert or drinks but i declined their offers and said if they could just improve their standards that would do nicely lol (didn't dare take the freebies)

but in the case of the waxing incident i would complain big time,
i have made mistakes myself when totally new to intimate waxing (forgot the oil on 2 clients ) but i did not cause any injuries and both clients have returned for more waxing (thank god)
i think the wax i use had a lot to do with me getting away it.

If you had caused an injury how would you have liked to have been approached.
I have been lucky if i have ever done anything to anyone its been on friends and its never been anything that bad and they are still my friends .
Its difficult times when you just learn something especially if you are just out of college.No you shouldn't injure people but sometimes things like this can happen.If someone goes in to complain with the attitude 'right thats it i'll see you in court 'etc etc like some might do now there is the compensation culture i dont think thats right.

 

[hippy-chick]

hmmmmmm!

I too have worked in the catering trade and I hate shoddy service or food so am very critical if I go out for a meal so tend to complain quite freely.....BUT my husband always says I spoil the evening by complaining, so, if with him I tend to hold it in but hurmmmmph into my meal.

If I get a rubbish treatment, I tend to feel very superior and congratulate myself on doing it better. also, if you have people doing inferior treatments, then hopefully the clients will come flocking to you/me!

I did complain recently about a dermologica facial that I had booked the 15 minute free facemapping and didn't get the facemapping. I think I got 10% off.

As Bagpuss says, its good to compliment. I've often left good comments about meals I've had in tesco and commented on the friendly staff, I've rang dysons up to compliment them on their service, etc.

 

[fifitrix]

As Bagpuss says, its good to compliment. I've often left good comments about meals I've had in tesco and commented on the friendly staff, I've rang dysons up to compliment them on their service, etc.

I agree with this too, I do like to say if I have received a very good service.

One of my clients gob-smacked me by sending me flowers after I had done her nails because she was so pleased and I cannot say how happy that made me feel.

 

[tog]

If it was a real top dollar restaurant I would comment if I wasn't happy about sth and try and get it put right, after all you're paying loads for what should be high class food and excellent service. If it was little chef I prob wouldn't make a big fuss and if the service was bad I'd just withhold or deduct the tip.

In a salon I think you usually get really good service, as therapists are hopefully in the job as they like working with the public and are empathetic people. It would depend what the problem was. . . if my eyelash extensions had fallen off after a few days/ my spray tan was slightly streaky/ my nail enamel chipped quickly I wouldn't bother going back to the salon to complain as it's not exactly life and death. However if like one of the other geeks on this site my skin was left sore and weeping after a bad wax, I would certainly return to the salon and show them, especially as I wouldn't like to think of it happening to another client.
I guess what I'm saying is that there're shades of grey when it comes to complaining - you have to get things in proportion and only make a fuss when it warrants it, otherwise we all turn into Victor Meldrew. . . !

 

[becki x]

I'm the sort who will and does complain,but not in a complaining manner iykwim.

I'm not bothered about asking for discount either,yesterday i picked a jumper at Tesco's for Bailey,and took it to customer servce as it had a tear of the seam (which could be easily stitched) i asked if they had another in the back or would they reduce it as i really liked it and it was the last one,i got it half price

Tbh imo it's not what you say it's how you say it

 

[Miss Sylk]

If im having a bad day - they will know about it, i actually scare myself, as i know when im old im going tobe like one of those miserable old fogies who moan about everything. I no longeer wait till things get on my wick so much i explode, people need to know there and then that they arnt doing their job properly!! grrrr.

 

[adelekeegan1]

I will and do complain. I always do it quietly and usually get results. If I don't get a suitable response I will raise the volume very slightly and get even more articulate, if that doesn't get results the volume increases and I am likely to dig my heels in, but always politely. I only ever complain about genuine problems and when I am 100% sure of my facts.

I praise far more often than I complain and sometimes, particularly about service in a shop for example when someone has really gone out of their way, I will ask for the Manager and convey my thoughts.

I did this with a junior in a shop a little while ago and the sweet little school leaver who had served me, gave me a huge grin - then burst into tears