Ugh. I have one word to describe my frustration:
Comcast.
I know, I know- who doesn't have issues with this internet provider?
But hear me out. It's not because of their sketchy internet (although that was one of the main reasons we cancelled last year).
It's because of their rude customer service agents.
After months of sharing the internet with our extremely friendly neighbors (a fantastic deal, as we split the cost), we have decided to try again. This is partly because when our neighbors go on vacation, and the internet goes out, we have no way of pushing the reset button.
(On a completely unrelated note, my apartment complex frowns on breaking and entering.)
So that was my assignment this week. Find our own internet.
I started with Comcast. I looked up their prices, and then compared them to Verizon.
Hmm. Verizon is looking a bit cheaper.
Still, Comcast is familiar. And I have to start somewhere.
So this morning, I got on my cell phone and gave them a call. The guy who answered the phone set me at ease immediately. He was friendly, and helpful, and
on the other side of the country.
Shoot. They routed me to the Utah office, because that's where my cell number is from.
We laughed about the mix up, and then he kindly transferred me to the Pittsburgh office.
Where I was treated like crap.
"Hi! I am looking into getting the internet set up at my home. And I was hoping you could tell me about the prices."
"Um, ok. Are you calling to have the internet installed?"
Those words sound so innocent here, but believe me, they were not. He was talking down at me like I was stupid. It was a total "you're wasting my time" kind of voice.
The rest of the call went pretty much like that. Him sighing loudly, being almost-sarcastic, and generally treating me like I was a waste of oxygen.
WHAT THE HELL, COMCAST?
I am the customer. I'm sorry if doing your job is inconvenient to your social life. I get that you are being asked to do such terrible things like sitting on your butt, answering the phone, and typing on a keyboard.
But do you have to take it out on me?
I am so tired of bitchy sales clerks, and customer service people who act like I'm ruining their life by asking them to do their job. You don't feel like opening a dressing room, looking up a price, or answering the phone? TOUGH SHIT.
Maybe it's my fault for not saying something. Maybe I smile too much, or back down too easily. Maybe I have a sign on my back saying "kick this one, she won't hit back."
And maybe I just need to lose my temper, and start talking to them like they talk to me. If it all escalates, and I get a reputation at the local police station, well, what can I say? At least I stood up for myself.
...but I probably won't. Instead, I will grit my teeth, and keep the peace, and then spend the rest of the day running different scenarios through my mind, and muttering under my breath like a crazy person.
So in conclusion, I will be calling Verizon tomorrow. And if they are nice to me, I will sign up in a heartbeat.
So how about you? Do you have any Comcast stories? Or stories about rude sales people in general? Because I would Love to hear them.
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