How to make an irate customer even more irate (only when they deserve it)

[Crosshair]

Aha, there goes Raps, taking the wind out of my sail.

*Turns on ceiling fan to try and help SnapAddict218.*

[SnapAddict218]

Ah thank you, but the ego is still bruised
*cries in a corner*

[Sofar]

My old standby is "Sah." People hate being called "sah," especially with my maddening cheeky smile. When I get angry, my accent gets worse. And after a while, my lisp comes back. If I ever call you "thah," it's time to leave before I deep-fry your head.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

We had a woman used to come into Kinko's that used to demand to be called "Reverend Dr. Blah Blah." She was supposedly the reverend of some weird church (Church of the Very Irritating Crazy Assholes" near as I could tell) and claimed to be a Doctor of Cosmetology.

Yeah. You read that right. I'm right there with you.

[blas]

Wait a second boys and girls......

Don't most male sucky customers believe in their own mind that they are "Dr." or "Assistant DA" or....ya know..........and don't their *lovely* wife counterparts believe in their own minds that they are the beloved "Mrs." caboose on the ending of that lovely title???

[protege]

Depends - do you want to be better than them or sink to their level?

Rapscallion

I don't sink to their level--I was always polite to sucky customers. Why flip out over something? I've always found that the nicer and politer I am, the more pissed they get. My feeling is, if they want to make themselves look like an ass in public (or give themselves a heart attack) I'm only too happy to oblige. Besides, it's not like they can complain, since I was nothing but polite to them

[Kilamon]

I've found that the Phd's hate it even more than the MD's.

While working as the "internet guru" (Yes, it was on my business card and everything) for a hospital system, I found all the doctors to be insane, with only a couple of notable exceptions from the younger doctors. They refused to be available after logging service tickets, referring me to their secretary or a nurse and then calling me later when the non-existant problem resurfaced (usually a result of eye-dee-ten-tee errors). I'm so glad to not have to work with them any more. They were all primadonnas.

[Cedophile]

"It's been a pleasure having you fly with us today!"

When I hear that I want to imagine you staying that while imitating Robbin Williams imitating Carol Channing.

That's GOT to screw up customers.

youtube the Whose Line is it Anyway episode with Robbin Williams to listen to what I'm imagining.
Cookie if you knew that before I just said it.

[Rapscallion]

Merged duplicated threads, folks.

Rapscallion

[ArenaBoy]

I love being polite, pisses them off so much that I once saw a guy turn 6 shades of vermillion at one point

[Kusanagi]

Depends - do you want to be better than them or sink to their level?

Rapscallion

Sometime's it's nice to destroy them on a level they actually understand.

[Getoutofmylobby]

Alot of customers are bullies, maybe not in the "give me your lunch money" sense but more in the "I'm always right" sense.

Polite indifference is the best way to get even, and not get in trouble.

[greensinestro]

Alot of customers are bullies, maybe not in the "give me your lunch money" sense but more in the "I'm always right" sense.

Polite indifference is the best way to get even, and not get in trouble.

Got that right. I don't think it's actually stooping to their level if you are polite and courteous to them, even if it makes then angry. However, putting a little salt in the wound, to me, can be a good thing by undermining their title. I do not care how many degrees and Phds you have. That is no excuse for being the way you are. Again, if you are a pediatrician and are ugly on the phone, you can sure as hell bet my child will never be one of your patients. So, Doctor, I mean, Mister Spock, what can I help you with?

[trunks2k]

Yes, I have also noticed that about college professors. If they have PHd's, what exactly are they doctors of, and why are they teaching college instead of being doctors?

Because they are often not just Proffessors. People who have Phds often are paid by the University to do research and teach as well. Many college professors are either in the process of getting their doctorates or already have them.

Being a doctor does not mean you are a medical doctor. You can be a doctor of many things, Engineering, Math, Literature, etc... For some fields, teaching at a university is one of the few things that can be done with a doctorate.

[SuperB]

I've done it all with people. I've been overly nice, passive-agressive and downright in their face. It really depends on the attitude of what I'm dealing with. Most, if you attempt to explain logic to them, simply leave upset that they didn't get their way. Others you have to consider the type of person they appear to be and judge whether or not you want to battle with their type or not. And still others don't get anything unless it's thrown back at them in the same manner they are using.

And then there are those who truely deserved to be messed with.