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#Post#: 1407--------------------------------------------------
Have a shot: is it rude if saying by a customer service?
By: nataliestpete Date: May 27, 2018, 5:07 am
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Hi:)
I've just been in touch with Amazon's customer service, which
always was excellently trained. I mean, though I could have
issues with purchases, it was a pleasure to communicate with
this professional team.
However, today it wasn't a case. There were many reasons why,
including some obviously inappropriate phrases, manners,
rudeness, and silliness ( as I considered those:))
Though, I was pretty sure in some of those, I might be wrong in
two cases below:
1) I was trying to explain the issue, we were discussing the
situation and then a person asked me: "Btw, how are you today" .
I wanted to swear ::) ;D
Is it me? I mean is it ok for other countries to add this
question there?
2) Some time later, when I asked to wait a minute while I was
printing some information might have helped, he wrote: "Have a
shot". Hm?!)
The only reason why I didn't say anything rude was that I wanted
to ask you if it was really rude. ( I wasn't sure - Luckily in
fact. I don't like arguments and in this situation it could be
pointless)
Could you help me to find out? it would be great to understand
it just in case:)
Thank you
#Post#: 1409--------------------------------------------------
Re: Have a shot: is it rude if saying by a customer service?
By: MartinSR Date: May 27, 2018, 5:41 am
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I think this customer service staff usually have low salaries
and stressful work. I wouldn't like to generalise, because there
are many nice and helpful people working there, but in every
type of work you can spot a person with some kind of personality
disorder (not to use stronger word). Asking 'How are you?' could
be interpreted as a poor attempt of being nice. But the second
one I would consider extremely rude - the person is convinced
about his superiority and judges the foreigners basing on stupid
stereotypes.
I would consider informing the company about inapropriate
behaviour of their employee... but on the other hand I would
feel guilty myself if someone lost his job because of my
intervention.
They usually tell that the calls are being recorded. I think you
can tell the person that you just start recording it too - it
usually helps.
I had an interesting call from one of the insurance companies
this winter. The girl from their customer's centre was kind, but
she tried to convince me to buy the life insurance, saying that
the winter was coming and that there is high possibility that I
would die in an accident this winter. I've just said that it
wouldn't sweeten me the last days if my life, knowing that I die
insured. Anyway I felt some thrills ending this 'nice '
conversation.
#Post#: 1410--------------------------------------------------
Re: Have a shot: is it rude if saying by a customer service?
By: MartinSR Date: May 27, 2018, 5:54 am
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One more thing came to my mind.
And what if this 'Have a shot' has an innocent meaning, like
'Did you get the snapshot of the document I posted?'
It's probably the question to native speakers to judge...
#Post#: 1417--------------------------------------------------
Re: Have a shot: is it rude if saying by a customer service?
By: Susan Date: May 27, 2018, 9:03 am
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Natalie, I think ¨have a shot¨ is just the shortened version of
our expression ¨have a shot at it.¨ I did not take it as him
suggesting you should drink alcohol. i took it as an informal
way of saying, ¨go ahead¨ or ¨go ahead and try it.¨
When I read your title I could not understand why ¨have a shot¨
would be considered rude. Did you take it like he was telling
you to chill and have a drink?
Also- in American culture, and especially Latin American
culture, it often is considered NOT to ask someone how they are
doing if you have a conversation of any significant length. I
would be surprised if they are not trained to try to remember to
ask you how you are doing. It does not assume that you will
give an honest answer-- just a response of ¨fine¨is all that is
expected but it is also an opportunity to express your
frustration if you want to.
#Post#: 1419--------------------------------------------------
Re: Have a shot: is it rude if saying by a customer service?
By: Alharacas Date: May 27, 2018, 9:40 am
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Agree with Susan: "have a shot" = "Do try" or "Yes, let's try
that"
I would also find it pretty weird to be asked how I was in the
middle of a technical conversation. But then, I'm from a country
where we take that question literally (to the great surprise of
many visitors from abroad). :) So, I suppose Susan's right, that
poor person had probably been trained to remember to ask that
question.
#Post#: 1420--------------------------------------------------
Re: Have a shot: is it rude if saying by a customer service?
By: Truman Overby Date: May 27, 2018, 9:50 am
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Privet, Natasha. I would be willing to bet that the rep is not a
native speaker of English. Am I right?
Also, customer service reps are given scripts to follow for all
situations. It sounds to me like this one was 'freelancing' a
bit with his English ( he went off script ).
#Post#: 1422--------------------------------------------------
Re: Have a shot: is it rude if saying by a customer service?
By: nataliestpete Date: May 27, 2018, 10:38 am
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I’m always in hurry:(. Correcting some mistakes, sorry.
Thank you, Marcin for your comments and the story:))
Susan, thank you very much.
No, I didn't think he suggested me to have a drink:)))
I thought " have a shot" was a synonym for " Ok, let's try".
But I considered it as too informal and thus, being rude when
dealing with the customer. It seems to me as I'm too strict,
right? Perhaps the reason is I'm from the hotel industry and
feel some subtle points. To justify myself, I pay close
attention to any aspects which can be considered as rudeness
when I teach staff.
[quote author=Alharacas link=topic=173.msg1419#msg1419
date=1527432011]
I would also find it pretty weird to be asked how I was in the
middle of a technical conversation. But then, I'm from a country
where we take that question literally (to the great surprise of
many visitors from abroad). :) So, I suppose Susan's right, that
poor person had probably been trained to remember to ask that
question.
[/quote]
Alharacas, thanks to you, I love the country you are from. I'd
love to know more what other difference you see. I mean German
vs other EU.
[quote author=Truman Overby link=topic=173.msg1420#msg1420
date=1527432619]
Privet, Natasha. I would be willing to bet that the rep is not a
native speaker of English. Am I right?
[/quote]
:D Yes, Jerry, he wasn't a native speaker
I mean besides his name as staff from China often takes
American names.
Moreover. my hotel worked with a channel manager ( a kind of
software for downloading rooms on the Internet) which is located
in the US. Most employees weren't native speakers but their
writing English was obviously better than mine. However, their
spoken language wasn't the same. I hardly ever could understand
them.
In the case of Amazon (this time), I wouldn't say that English
was good.
#Post#: 1423--------------------------------------------------
Re: Have a shot: is it rude if saying by a customer service?
By: nataliestpete Date: May 27, 2018, 10:46 am
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May I ask you one more question, please?
When I get " a wrong" answer (in terms of professionalism,
manners & etc), I hardly ever can be objective then. I mean, any
further information I would consider sceptical.
Is it my bad temper?!) No offense. I promise ;)
#Post#: 1425--------------------------------------------------
Re: Have a shot: is it rude if saying by a customer service?
By: MartinSR Date: May 27, 2018, 11:04 am
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[quote author=Susan link=topic=173.msg1417#msg1417
date=1527429802]
Natalie, I think ¨have a shot¨ is just the shortened version of
our expression ¨have a shot at it.¨ I did not take it as him
suggesting you should drink alcohol. i took it as an informal
way of saying, ¨go ahead¨ or ¨go ahead and try it.¨
[/quote]
Oh. I haven't heard this expression before. It's a good lesson
for me not to take the worst interpretation ;)
But I think the customer service people should be advised to use
plain English when dealing with foreign customers.
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