I deplore incompetence

applecruncher

applecruncher

SF VIP
Location
Ohio USA
Call me picky, but I hate it when companies commit to do something then they …just DON’T do it!

I was discussing something with one of my insurance companies Monday morning. The rep said I needed to sign another document and she would send it out that day and I should sign and send it right back and she would enclose a return envelope to make it easy for me. I just picked up today’s mail (they're in the same city as me) – still don‘t have it. This is a time-sensitive matter. Of course their office is closed.

So this weekend I have to dig out some documentation, type a cover letter, then Monday morning go down the street and FAX the thing to her, and also MAIL the original just in case they lose the darned fax. (This can't be done via email) Grrrr. This type of crap drives me up the wall. (Yes, I will keep a copy of everything, including the fax confirmation.)
 

Or I'm sure laziness plays a role. Or being understaffed, in a hurry to get something off the desk and send to another area, being in a hurry to go to lunch, many things come into play. And lying.

I'm really surprised and pleased when something goes smoothly and people do what they said they were going to do.
 

applecruncher said:
Or I'm sure laziness plays a role. Or being understaffed, in a hurry to get something off the desk and send to anothe area, being in a hurry to go to lunch, many things come into play. And lying.

I'm really surprised and pleased when something goes smoothly and people do what they said they were going to do.
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I always expect the worst - that way, when something DOES go right, I can be pleasantly surprised; when it all goes South I'm not caught off-guard. :D
 
I'm on board with this. I'm always delighted when someone does what they say. It's becoming increasingly rare. What's da matter with youse people...lol

:soap2:
 
Karen99 said:
What's da matter with youse people...lol

:soap2:
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LOL!

I think that, as AC mentioned, there are several things in play here - it isn't just incompetence, stupidity or laziness, although those are probably high on the list. A lot of pressures in today's down-sized corporate world. Job-loss worries. Low pay. Foreign competition.

All of these, and more, are likely to take the employee's eye off the ball.
 
I'm pleasantly surprised when a cashier pays attention to me/the register/items INSTEAD of chatting/flirting with a bagger or talking with co-workers about their hours/schedules.
 
It's true these people might be distracted or unhappy or dreaming of the weekend...and I'm disrupting their day by asking them to take care of something...but hey, at least they are employed. I really love it when I have to wait while they check out whatever is on that magic phone in their hand.

:darth:
 
OTOH, when I cross paths with someone who is hard working, helpful, goes the extra mile, etc. I often get a name and tell the manager or go to the website and write a compliment.
 
applecruncher said:
OTOH, when I cross paths with someone who is hard working, helpful, goes the extra mile, etc. I often get a name and tell the manager or go to the website and write a compliment.
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I totally agree with giving praise when work is well done. We want to keep the good ones around, right. :)
 
There is a school of thought that goes like this: If you cannot abide a quality in someone to the point of being extremely critical, you usually have a good amount of that quality yourself, you are projecting your own faults onto someone else.

Everyone is incompetent at some point in some things. We will ourselves become more and more incompetent as you age. Tolerance in the face of incompetence would be something to develop.
 
Cookie said:
There is a school of thought that goes like this: If you cannot abide a quality in someone to the point of being extremely critical, you usually have a good amount of that quality yourself, you are projecting your own faults onto someone else.
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Meh ... sometimes "projection" is an over-used term.

Everyone is incompetent at some point in some things. We will ourselves become more and more incompetent as you age. Tolerance in the face of incompetence would be something to develop.
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But by tolerating incompetence we encourage it ...
 
Cookie said:
Ok, go ahead and don't tolerate..... and get high blood pressure or.... off with their heads then?
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I won't get high blood pressure.

Not necessarily off with their heads - but there's always someone who is willing and more able to take the job. If you aren't serious about your work then you're probably better off not working there.

As will I be. Better service.
 
Hey, I think more people get high blood pressure being long suffering. It's ok to have realistic expectations. I learned both those things from fortune cookies..

:shussh:
 
applecruncher said:
I'm pleasantly surprised when a cashier pays attention to me/the register/items INSTEAD of chatting/flirting with a bagger or talking with co-workers about their hours/schedules.
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Oh that happens over in the USA too does it?...it drives me nuts here.....but we're always told in the media that Customer service in America is superb and second to none and cashiers can't do enough for you ..unlike here.., so although I'm happy to hear we're not the only sufferers..I'm also sorry that you get the same treatment in many places too

When I first left school, I trained as a sales assistant ( as it was called then)..in several completely different types of stores..One extremely High end ( jewellers)...and the others middle market department stores, even a little local neighbourhood hardware store...as well as working in Cafe's and restaurants as holiday season jobs ....in all of them the Customer was the first priority..always. If we'd ever been found chatting to a co-worker at the expense of ignoring or paying little attention to the customer we'd have been out on our ear!! Now this wasn't in the dim and dark 40's where everyone seemed to be very conscientious ...but in the 70's..
 
applecruncher said:
I'm pleasantly surprised when a cashier pays attention to me/the register/items INSTEAD of chatting/flirting with a bagger or talking with co-workers about their hours/schedules.
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....or the other side of the coin is, when ignorant customers are talking on their mobiles when a cashier is trying to serve them.
 
I have been on both sides of the coin, actually. I know I'm never dawdling when I want help. When I was the person giving help I never made them wait...customer is king...and I needed the job. :)
 
Bee said:
....or the other side of the coin is, when ignorant customers are talking on their mobiles when a cashier is trying to serve them.
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Not the other side of the coin - that's not people not doing their jobs. Customers using cell phones is a different issue/topic.
 
applecruncher said:
Not the other side of the coin - that's not people not doing their jobs. Customers using cell phones is a different issue/topic.
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Oh! dear silly me, just a one sided coin it is then.:badgirl:
 

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