I’ve been at my present job for almost two years. I started this job March 2009. Last year, I had the Top Quality Assurance statistics in my department. I received an award, $100, and I was taken out to dinner. Recently, I was offered the chance to cross train. I was asked if I wanted to consider leadership opportunities. I wish I could but my schedule prohibits that I take on any extra responsibility. But, I digress.

Needless to say, I know what I’m doing. I take my job pretty seriously for the $2300 I receive monthly. I need this job so I educate myself on our products when I’m off the clock so I can make sure my monthly incentive is never below $350. Now, I deal with irritating customers everyday. I deal with them so often that I almost always find humor in the dialogue. Like this one:

Disclaimer: As a bath product specialist, I am knowledgeable about mirrors, toilets, sinks, bathtubs, whirlpools, showers, shower stalls, water heaters, etc. I do not deal with flooring, etc. Also, after a customer sends something to me, I have one minute to respond.

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[15:10:38] Carla: Welcome to THD. I am a Bath Product Specialist. How may I assist you today?
[15:10:36] G: Hello
[15:11:28] G: Yes, I am looking at all different types of mirriors. Can you help me pick out one?
[15:11:51] G: Carla?
[15:11:57] Carla: I’d be happy to assist you with that!
[15:12:07] Carla: What size do you need?
[15:12:16] G: Hold on for a sec
[15:12:44] G: I’m getting I think it’s 12×12 square
[15:12:57] G: Yes, it is 12×12 square
[15:13:17] G: Carla?
[15:13:23] Carla: What is your color preference?
[15:13:48] G: Can you giveme a few options
[15:13:55] G: I mean give me
[15:14:36] G: Um.. Carla are you still here
[15:14:43] Carla: One moment please.
[15:14:51] G: okay
[15:15:29] G: Are you a real person or are you a robot because sometimes these things are with robots
[15:15:51] Carla: I am a person. Please allow me a moment to research this for you,.
[15:15:52] Carla: Thank you.
[15:16:32] G: Okay, Because I don’t like it when they have little robota talking to people with help
[15:17:50] Carla: Currently, we do not stock any models online that meet those specifications. You may want to refer to your local store for more options. If you refer to your local store, they may be able to special order a model for you that will suit your needs. If you provide me with your zip code, I could provide you with the contact information to your local store.
[15:18:19] G: Carla, I said give me options of all the titles in that size
[15:18:44] Carla: We do not have mirrors online that are 12″ x 12″.
[15:19:07] G: No, no no!!! I said titles
[15:19:55] Carla: I’m not sure I understand what you mean by titles.
[15:20:02] Carla: Please clarify.
[15:20:43] G: Carla, you are causing nothing but problems so I am going to get a more experiences in this catagory so can you pass me on to another person that can help me better
[15:21:06] G: help me pick out tiles
[15:21:36] G: CARLA!!!
[15:21:42] Carla: On the “Contact Us” page you will be able to initiate a chat with our Internet Customer Service team. Once you are connected to a representative you can request to be transferred to a Bath Specialist. Click here to visit the Contact Us page.
[15:22:15] G: I AM TELLING THEM YOU WERE THE WORST CONTRACTOR EVER!!
[15:22:33] Carla: Was there anything else I could do to assist you today?

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So, after calling me a contractor which I’m not, I have been called the worst when my performance stats say I’m the best. Go figure!

.. and this is all because this person said they wanted a mirror with a size that we do not have but they really meant “titles” which is something that isn’t even associated with a bath item. Turns out, this genius misspelled T-I-L-E-S! And even so, flooring is not a bath item.. its…. flooring!

The Joys of my Workplace..

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I could use a dream or a genie or a wish..
To go back to a place much simpler than this..

Even though I always seem to pull myself out of rough and troubling situations, sometimes I wish I could go back to when things were much simpler and much easier to deal with. I wish I could go back the times where Neosporin and Mommy&Daddy kisses were all it took to make all the trouble and stress subside. The stress of living on your own, raising two kids, and attending school isn’t easy to deal with everything; but I’m well aware of that. Sometimes I wish I had a dependent mindset where I would allow myself to live in my parent’s home and pocket the extra $1000 that I spend on rent and utilities a month. If that were the case, I’d have a new car and I wouldn’t be stressing about whether or not my car can even be repaired. I can treat myself to vacations and retail items that tickle my fancy. I can have money on standby that I wouldn’t be able to spend in 2 months.

But, I’ve been born with the mindset of my mother and father: working hard and having your own. These mindsets are definitely things that I don’t ever see receding. Right now, I’m dependent upon other people that I really shouldn’t even allow to help me. But, desperate times call for desperate measures. I’m having a hard time dealing with this dependency especially when I’m used to being independent. I can deal with the thought of being dependent upon my family, but other people, this is taking some time to get used to. It’s taking a lot of out me to do things and say things that I though I’d never have to say again. Nevertheless, I’ve come to the conclusion that if I ever want to return to the state of normalcy that I’ve grown so accustomed to, I have to swallow my pride and deal with the fact that I’ll be temporarily out of my element.

And let me tell you, swallowing this pride never tasted so disgusting!

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