Customer service

Simply say thank you for the service rather than commenting on the fact that the worker is working on a holiday.

Workers appreciate people who just say thanks and leave more than those who remind them they are working.

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Wait a few days or weeks for online orders picked up in-store, as staff are overwhelmed processing them.

The entire staff may be called in just to man the system.

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Buy small, wrapped treats like candy bars for stressed grocery store workers to brighten their day.

It can make the worker feel happier and provide hope to the giver.

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Buy pizza for mechanics and waiting customers if you are stuck at a shop for a long time.

Food is always appreciated.

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Regularly praise customer service staff.

Since they frequently face hostility and difficult clients, kindness brightens their day.

• You may receive negative reactions from some workers.

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• Compliment retail workers directly and sincerely.1

Avoid asking employees if you are keeping them from leaving work.

It can be perceived as playing mind games or feigning concern.

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If you notice a retail worker is unhappy on a holiday, wish them a happy celebration.

One person reported that this simple gesture meant so much they still remembered it 15 years later.

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Ask cashiers for their favorite candy and buy it for them.

It makes their day.

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Assume service workers are polite because it is required by their job, not because they genuinely like you.

Minimum wage workers may not be excited to help, and rules like the 'ten foot' rule mandate smiles and greetings regardless of personal feeling.

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Do not give free items or special treatment to mean customers, as this encourages them to return.

Rewarding bad behavior makes them come back like rats.

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Never demand special treatment from a new employee by citing a previous employee's actions, as this can get the first employee fired and end future favors.

It causes problems for staff and ensures you receive no more exceptions.

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Bring small gifts like chocolate or buy rounds of drinks for IT staff.

To build rapport and ensure faster ticket resolution.

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Accept 'no' from retail workers without arguing or complaining.

Retail workers likely face trouble for saying 'yes' and want to avoid conflict.

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Treat retail workers with basic politeness and kindness.

It increases the likelihood of receiving better service, extra items, or exceptions to policy.

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• Treat retail and customer service employees with dignity and kindness, even if they cannot achieve the result you want.1
• Be polite and respectful to potentially receive cheaper or free goods and services.1
• Treat retail workers with kindness, as they are likely to remember regular customers' faces and attitudes.1

One approach reported by a worker: weigh container lids separately for customers who anger them.

It acts as a petty revenge tactic, costing approximately $0.08 per lid.

• This is described as a retaliatory act by an employee, not general advice.

one person who lived it

Be polite to customer service employees, as they have broad discretionary power to help you and may withhold assistance if treated poorly.

Employees can apply goodwill at their own discretion and may look for excuses to stop helping if you are hostile.

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Do not assume all service workers are unhappy about their jobs; some find joy or community in them.

Some view patients or colleagues as a second family or prefer working over doing nothing.

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Use a soft introduction like 'hi' or 'sorry to bother you' when approaching retail staff, but avoid asking 'how are you?' if you do not intend to have a conversation.

Asking 'how are you?' without interest in a response feels disingenuous.

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Be pleasant and nice to service industry workers.

They are more likely to go above and beyond, potentially offering bill credits or discounts you weren't aware of.

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Ask customer service reps 'how are you?' sincerely, as it is appreciated.

It makes their day.

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Avoid forcing small talk with retail workers who appear reserved or uninterested.

Failing to read social cues can make reserved people feel awkward.

• One perspective argues that making conversation is the employee's job, not the customer's.

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Recognize that friendly behavior from service staff is part of their job duties, not necessarily personal interest.

Staff are paid to be friendly and do not necessarily want to talk to customers personally.

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Say 'thank you for being here' to retail workers instead of apologizing that they have to work.

Apologizing can imply insincerity if you are still shopping on the holiday.

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Express specific appreciation to essential workers for their efforts, as they may need to hear it.

One worker stated they really needed to hear such appreciation.

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If dining out near closing time, explicitly state that you understand the staff wants to leave and promise to be quick.

This encourages faster and friendlier service.

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Treat agents with respect to encourage them to help you, as good customers motivate staff to provide assistance.

Agents recharge and feel motivated to help when they encounter a 'good customer'.

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Be friendly to security guards and equipment managers when you do not need anything from them.

Building goodwill during low-stakes interactions can lead to immediate assistance when you have a big ask later.

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Greet the employee first before stating your request.

Jumping straight to demands without a greeting feels dehumanizing to the worker.

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Do not demand policy overrides from low-level workers who lack the authority or system access to comply.

These employees are not decision makers and may face consequences for breaking rules.

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Do not run into a business five minutes before closing and act apologetic.

This behavior pisses off employees more.

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Do not demand reserved items from workers just because you are present and the reserver is not.

The purpose of reserving an item is to secure it for the person who made the reservation.

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Leave a larger tip if you are satisfied with the service.

It provides immediate financial reward to the worker.

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Be patient when retail staff enforce new policies that differ from previous visits.

Stores change procedures daily or weekly, which is hard for both customers and staff.

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Be polite and avoid acting entitled when requesting quotes or services from small business owners.

The servicer may offer a discount if they have no other jobs and need to fill their bottom line.

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Consider that customers demanding prior special treatment may be ignorant rather than malicious.

They may simply not realize their request is unusual and assume it is standard practice.

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Assume slow service is caused by understaffing rather than laziness.

Businesses often struggle to keep staff due to safety concerns or other factors.

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Ask for free replacement parts or items for discontinued or broken products, even without proof of purchase.

Companies will often send free replacements simply for asking.

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Volunteer at nursing homes during holidays by visiting, bringing gifts, or performing music.

Nursing homes love volunteers, especially for residents without family.

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Politely express that you are disappointed or inconvenienced to provide a reason for refunds or discounts.

Refunds or discounts are usually not granted unless there is a stated reason.

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Be generally nice to pharmacy staff.

They have worked continuously through Covid and are often understaffed.

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Do not loudly demand special treatment in front of managers based on previous experiences.

This fast-tracks you to being considered the 'most hated regular'.

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Keep a friendly tone and express gratitude to retail workers, as they may discuss customers negatively after they leave.

A friendlier tone and saying thank you can reduce negative discussions about you among staff.

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Keep special prices from service employees to yourself to avoid alerting management.

Informing management may cause the owner to become furious with the employee for giving you a break.

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Avoid rudeness to service workers, as it can lead to stricter enforcement of rules or denial of discretionary benefits.

Workers may enforce rules they would normally overlook if treated poorly.

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Call out customers who are being abusive or disrespectful to retail workers.

Workers often cannot defend themselves due to economic subservience.

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Show extra patience, compassion, and understanding to frontline workers, particularly during busy times.

They are often overwhelmed.

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Ask politely for a discount at thrift stores or similar venues.

One person reported that asking nicely results in receiving a discount.

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Have your payment method ready before reaching the register.

Being prepared with payment is prioritized over greetings for efficiency.

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Be specific when giving compliments to employees or team members.

Generic praise like 'good job' sounds artificial; specific details show you pay attention.

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Do not compliment female waitresses on their bodies or appearance in a sexualized way.

It feels super creepy to women in today's society.

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Express gratitude and compliment customer service staff when they provide good service.

It can deeply move them, as they rarely receive thanks.

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Avoid telling the joke that items should be free when interacting with cashiers.

It is no longer considered funny, even in a satirical way.

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Use gentle language in written communications with customer service; avoid all caps and swearing.

Agents may avoid angry or profane tickets to protect their performance metrics, and companies may allow reps to terminate interactions involving swearing.

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Do not use a service worker's name unless they actively offered it.

Using their name without permission can come off as patronizing, condescending, or unsettling.

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Maintain natural politeness rather than using overly scripted or fake enthusiasm.

Answers that sound like sales pitches with obviously fake enthusiasm are a pet peeve.

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Do not use condescending politeness, as it grates on staff; ensure politeness is genuine.

Condescending politeness grates on staff.

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If you are a professional dealing with a novice client, avoid talking down to them or acting as if your expertise is a burden.

The client is encountering the problem for the first time and may not be an expert; treating them well may result in better treatment from customers.

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Address customer service agents as normal human beings rather than servants.

Acknowledging that they are there to help, not serve.

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• Help customers regardless of how nice they are, as they are likely calling because something has gone wrong.1
• Be polite to customer service agents to calm yourself and communicate more clearly.1

Express frustration with the company's policies rather than the employee, then thank the employee for their efforts.

Employees will do what they can when not targeted with anger.

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Accept bad news or delays calmly and politely rather than ranting.

Ranting results in a rigid 'by the book' response where nothing can be done to help.

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Say 'I need your help' instead of 'I know it's not your fault', since they already know it is not their fault.

They know

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Be polite and patient with entry-level workers when making complaints.

They lack the power to resolve issues.

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If you bend a policy for a customer, explicitly warn them not to mention it to others or claim it as standard practice.

To prevent getting in trouble if they cite your exception later.

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Ask for a server's name and use it to get their attention instead of snapping or waving.

Using a name is more respectful than non-verbal cues.

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Provide convincing reasons for wanting a lower bill, such as moving or losing a job, rather than just saying it is too high.

Saying the bill is too high suggests overages, while specific life changes elicit help.

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Acknowledge that the agent is not personally responsible for company policies to build rapport.

Saying 'I know this isn't your fault' in a respectful voice works like magic.

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• Acknowledge that the worker is not personally responsible for the problem by saying phrases like 'I know this isn't your fault.'1

Say 'I beg your pardon' or 'pardon?' when a customer is rude.

Hopefully they will repeat themselves more calmly.

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Show extra patience and kindness to customers who struggle with language barriers, as they often feel embarrassed.

They feel bad about being hard to understand and whisper due to embarrassment; your kindness brings them relief.

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Be specific about the reasons for your complaint rather than relying on general trite phrases.

Relying on old phrases weakens your whole complaint; being specific yields better results.

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Apologize for the situation and acknowledge the error without admitting fault if it was the customer's mistake.

This helps calm someone down.

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• If you feel your temper rising during a customer service interaction, apologize immediately rather than exploding.1

Validate the customer's attempt at humor by simply stating they are funny.

They want to feel funny, and this avoids the need for witty banter.

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Explain your problem clearly, honestly, and respectfully to ensure the agent cares about resolving it.

Agents are less likely to care if you curse them out, especially if the issue stems from unpaid bills.

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If service is slow due to understaffing, remain patient and avoid making scenes.

Making a scene creates a horrid experience and causes more agitation than the wait itself.

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Be persistent rather than rude when seeking results; politeness and persistence are not mutually exclusive.

Being rude is ineffective, whereas being a 'squeaky wheel' can be both polite and persistent.

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Explicitly state that you understand the issue is not the representative's personal fault.

This approach works wonders for getting help.

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Thank people for being patient or polite instead of apologizing for delays or inconveniences.

It defuses tension and is better than saying sorry.

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Avoid getting angry, as it creates unnecessary stress that makes you quicker to anger in a vicious cycle.

Anger generates stress which lowers your threshold for future anger.

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If you are upset, start the interaction by stating that your frustration is not directed at the worker personally.

This approach helps prevent bad service experiences.

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When dealing with circular arguments, adopt a happy, indifferent tone and stop arguing.

Acting like you do not care disengages the aggressor.

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Separate the agent from the company's errors by directing your frustration at the organization rather than the individual.

The mistake is likely not the fault of the person you are speaking with.

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Initiate contact with retail staff using a soft greeting like 'excuse me' instead of rushing in with demands.

Rushing up with immediate complaints or questions can irritate staff.

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Start conversations with a kind attitude to set a positive trajectory for the interaction.

Keeping an angry attitude can lead to a poor experience.

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Do not claim 'the customer is always right'; instead, explain the issue clearly.

Customer service representatives often find this phrase dismissive and unhelpful.

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Show compassion and understanding to customer service reps when mistakes are not their fault.

Reps may respond by sending replacements with expedited shipping, giving credits, or tossing in coupons.

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Avoid belittling employees over matters they cannot control.

It yields no results.

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Say "Pardon me" instead of "Sorry" when interrupting an employee or asking a question.

Apologizing implies you did something wrong or harmed them, which is not the case for honest questions or interruptions.

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Let angry customers vent completely before speaking.

Interjecting can make them feel interrupted, which is never good.

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Begin interactions with a polite demeanor and only switch to a firm approach if necessary.

Being aggressive from the start often results in being labeled negatively without achieving the goal.

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Keep a non-hostile attitude when facing service errors or unavailability.

One person received their order for free as compensation after saying 'no worries'.

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Preface complaints by expressing disappointment rather than anger.

Acting heartbroken works better than being angry.

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Recognize that other customers often empathize with you when you are dealing with a difficult customer.

Observers often display comforting, empathetic looks because they can tell the other party is acting poorly.

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Apologize for appearing angry and clarify that your frustration is not the representative's fault.

One person reported they would still help even if the caller remained somewhat rude after offering this apology.

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Be firm and polite rather than aggressive when stating what you expect for a resolution.

Assertive customers who describe reasonable expectations get more satisfaction options.

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Start interactions politely to maintain the option of escalation later if needed.

It is almost impossible to de-escalate once you have crossed the boundary into hostility.

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Politely ask for exceptions to policy given the circumstances, acknowledging the existing rules.

Remaining nice may lead to discounts or concessions, even if the representative has to advocate for it internally.

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Adopt a 'polite yet confused' demeanor when questioning billing errors or policy changes.

This approach is extremely effective for addressing issues like unexpected bill increases.

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Avoid complaining about previous representatives being unhelpful.

It rarely gets you anywhere.

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Avoid blaming 'company policy' as an explanation for refusals.

Regurgitating store information or passing the buck can escalate anger.

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Keep a pleasant demeanor when interacting with service staff, as causing a scene often prevents resolution of issues.

Storming off or being aggressive can prevent staff from fixing your problem; polite interaction is preferable to conflict.

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Phrase requests as polite questions rather than barking orders.

Polite phrasing makes a difference in interactions.

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Be firm about your needs without being abusive or insulting.

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Use inclusive language to frame the interaction as a collaborative problem-solving effort.

It personalizes the situation and helps tackle the issue together.

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Give genuine, specific praise to employees or loved ones when you catch them doing something well.

Positive feedback builds morale, reinforces good work habits, and reduces burnout.

• The praise must be genuine; do not throw around empty compliments.

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Ask service employees if you can report their good performance to management.

They may be surprised and proud, as few customers ask this.

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Include the employee's name in any positive feedback or review.

Managers often do not give credit unless the employee's name is specifically mentioned.

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Write thank-you notes or nice comments on receipts and credit card slips so managers see them when reconciling tills.

Managers see these comments during payout processes.

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Compliment colleagues to their bosses in office settings.

It creates a great feeling amongst the team.

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Leave survey feedback for employees, as seeing it can motivate them to maintain or improve their service.

It makes employees feel appreciated for their hard work and motivates them to keep up or improve stellar service.

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• Fill out positive feedback surveys or request a kudos call for high-quality service.1

Send compliments directly to kitchen staff or cooks.

They rarely hear positive feedback and it boosts morale.

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Tell customer service workers they did a good job, even if they only did the bare minimum.

Criticism is most people's default, so they rarely get validated.

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Recognize that supervisors may not have more power or knowledge than frontline agents.

Supervisors may only monitor attendance and would not know how to handle real issues.

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Send written praise including the employee's name and specific details via official company channels to ensure it reaches headquarters and enters the employee's file.

Written feedback from head office has a bigger impact on careers than verbal thanks.

2 people, independently

Leave a good post-call survey instead of asking for a manager to praise an agent, as it helps their stats more efficiently.

A verbal compliment to a supervisor may not benefit the agent, whereas a good survey directly improves their metrics.

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Give positive feedback to build a relationship that can support future negative feedback.

It builds the relationship so it is strong enough to handle later criticism.

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Contact a police officer's commanding officer to provide positive feedback after a good interaction.

Positive feedback is rare and highly appreciated by officers.

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Tell an employee's supervisor about exceptionally good service, but keep the praise general.

Specific details like receiving free items might get the employee in trouble.

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Tell a good manager directly that you appreciate their support, unless they are shielding you from corporate mandates, in which case avoid emailing thanks for ignoring those mandates.

Acknowledging efforts prevents supervisors from becoming jaded over time feeling their efforts are meaningless.

• If a manager permits ignoring a stupid corporate mandate, do not send an email thanking them for it.

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Do not expect compliments, as they are rare but impactful when received.

Compliments are unexpected and make the employee's day.

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Send praise directly to corporate offices rather than just the store manager, as it carries more weight.

Corporate comments are celebrated and added to employee files, whereas managers often cannot give raises based solely on local feedback.

2 people, independently

Call to compliment rather than complain.

Receiving positive feedback feels much better than receiving complaints.

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Ask helpful representatives if there is a survey where you can provide positive feedback that benefits them personally.

Many agents receive rewards for good reviews.

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Be specific when praising a manager, mentioning exactly what improved your work environment so they know to repeat the behavior.

Vague praise like 'good job' is too vague; specificity ensures they will do more of it.

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Write emails to headquarters or management to praise staff, creating a permanent record that can be referenced during raise and bonus discussions.

Written testimony helps and creates a permanent record.

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Send emails or letters to companies praising specific employees by name.

Companies receive mostly negative feedback and appreciate positive notes; some offer bonuses for named mentions.

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Write generic positive reviews for helpful employees without specifying details that might reveal policy violations.

Specifics may indicate they were bending policy, which could lead to adverse consequences if reported to management.

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Ask to speak to a manager to compliment staff, specifying that it is not urgent.

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Ask for the manager's contact information or request to be transferred to them immediately after receiving excellent service to share positive feedback.

Positive feedback is rare and appreciated by managers.

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Consider the effort versus reward when deciding to pursue praise through multiple management levels.

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Decline requests to record calls for training purposes.

The agent may see your refusal and speak more freely as a result.

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Use persistence rather than just politeness, as call centers often judge operators on the number of calls handled.

Operators are judged on call volume and want to avoid long interactions, though some focus on fixing the issue to avoid repeat calls.

• Some operators are more bothered by repeat calls than initial duration.

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Write down bullet points of issues on your phone or paper before calling support to ensure all items are handled in one session.

It helps break things down into smaller steps.

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Wish the representative a fantastic week or weekend at the end of a call.

It can make someone's day.

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Be prepared to describe your previous issue in your own words rather than relying on a call reference number.

Call reference numbers often do not exist or are generated after the call, and notes may be poor.

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Begin by stating your paraphrased reason for calling and asking if they can help.

They can quickly redirect you if needed, saving everyone time.

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• State your reason for calling immediately and concisely to receptionists, avoiding drawn-out explanations.1

Perform basic troubleshooting steps (like rebooting or trying different browsers) before contacting IT.

This proves the issue is real and earns their respect.

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Avoid engaging in small talk or asking call center agents about their day.

Small talk artificially inflates call resolution time, which reflects poorly on the employee's metrics and may lead to points being subtracted for going off script.

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Put both blaming parties on a conference call simultaneously to resolve circular blame loops.

The answer often comes out when they are backed into a corner.

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Select 'billing' or 'close account' options in automated phone menus to reach a live agent more quickly.

These options signal potential revenue loss, which often bypasses long hold times.

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Hang up and call back to get a different representative if the current one cannot help or refuses to transfer you.

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Say 'representative' three to four times to bypass automated phone trees.

It transfers you more quickly than navigating the menu.

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Speak clearly and loudly to customer service reps.

Speaking quietly or rushing words makes calls longer and more frustrating.

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Keep a pen and paper ready when calling customer service to record names, reference numbers, and key details.

Recording the person's name and other details helps with follow-ups or raising issues with senior management.

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Answer call center questions sequentially rather than providing a long initial explanation.

Let the representative guide the conversation; they may already know your problem from your account.

• Some users report that explaining everything upfront shows they have exhausted other options.

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Explicitly state at the end of a recorded customer service call that the agent was helpful, so supervisors reviewing the recording hear the praise.

Calls are recorded for training purposes.

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Answer all questions from customer service agents fully, even if they seem obvious.

Agents cannot read your mind and need specific details to understand your problem.

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• Answer agents' questions directly without adding unnecessary details or stories, and avoid interrupting them.1
• Answer simple information requests directly without arguing to avoid wasting time and frustrating the agent.1

Expect that some customer service representatives may provide fake last names or withhold their full names.

Some places require this because people are creeps.

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• Accept gracefully if a representative refuses to provide their name or location, as this is often required by privacy policies or safety concerns.1

Keep explanations brief and factual rather than telling your life story.

Keeping information to just what is needed reduces wait times.

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Make jokes or light comments during live chat interactions.

The agent may appreciate it, potentially resolving your issue faster or enjoying the process more.

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Do not assume 'greater than usual call volumes' messages indicate a temporary spike, as this may be the standard operational state.

If the message is always present, that volume is the new usual.

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Provide only the specific information requested by the representative during warranty or support calls; do not overshare details about how the issue occurred or voided the warranty.

Oversharing is annoying to reps and often leads callers to inadvertently reveal information that voids their warranty.

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Avoid using the representative's name frequently during the conversation.

It can feel awkward, fake, or uncomfortable, as if they are logging the interaction for a review.

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Remain quiet and patient after explaining your issue, allowing the representative to work without unnecessary conversation.

The process moves faster when you let the agent do their job instead of making small talk.

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Avoid using the agent's name excessively during the call.

Overusing their name can feel manipulative and reduce their willingness to help.

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Avoid requesting a specific server by name upon arrival.

It can disrupt seating rotations and hinder the host's ability to manage table flow efficiently.

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Allow the agent to finish their introduction without interrupting.

Interrupting can throw them off and negatively impact the quality of the call.

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Avoid using speakerphone during customer service calls.

Poor audio quality from hands-free devices can cause physical discomfort for the representative.

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Answer only the specific question asked to avoid confusing the process.

Adding additional info makes it confusing.

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Do not insist on speaking to the same representative if you are disconnected.

Representatives are busy with other customers and cannot be interrupted.

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Compliment call center agents during the recorded call itself, using their name and polite language.

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Do not call a company to compliment an employee if the employee explicitly asks you not to.

one person reported that calling despite being told not to resulted in the employee getting fired

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Call the individual store rather than corporate headquarters to resolve complaints quickly, unless the issue is very serious.

Corporate complaints may not be seen for days, whereas stores can resolve issues immediately.

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Hang up or walk away and transfer the interaction to a manager if the customer becomes verbally abusive.

Managers are paid more and it is their job to deal with difficult situations.

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Direct complaints to management via social media or by asking for a supervisor rather than arguing with frontline staff.

It usually works.

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Direct complaints to public channels like social media rather than calling customer service solely to vent anger.

Agents cannot change company policies and it is not their fault.

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Avoid being rude to call center agents, as they remember customers and discussing you negatively will not yield desired results.

Call center staff remember you and talk about you; being a 'jackass' or demanding a supervisor is unlikely to get you what you want.

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Avoid threatening legal action or suing early in a customer service interaction.

Threats may cause the company to ignore you or transfer the issue to a separate legal team, stalling resolution.

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Contact customer service early in their shift.

Agents may be less helpful after enduring difficult interactions throughout the day.

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If you struggle to keep your cool, have a spouse or partner handle customer service calls instead.

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Report issues to the hotel front desk immediately upon discovery rather than waiting until check-out or leaving a review.

companies may tell you 'too bad' if you wait until after you leave

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Use the company's name instead of 'you' when filing complaints to keep the tone professional and less aggressive.

Omitting 'you' circumvents the ego and avoids sounding personal.

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Call during standard business hours to access specialized departments for complex issues.

Specialized departments may not be available 24/7 even if the call center is.

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Blame the company or its policies rather than the individual employee when describing a problem.

Customer service workers often dislike their own companies and are more likely to empathize with you if you criticize the organization rather than them personally.

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Do not threaten to call corporate headquarters when dealing with a franchise hotel.

Corporate typically defers to the local hotel's decision.

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Address complaints to higher authorities (like regional AVPs or CEOs) rather than low-level employees.

Managers prefer this approach when enforcing policies they consider bullshit.

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Understand that giving neutral or negative reviews can lower a call center worker's pay for a period of time.

Some call centers base pay on positive review percentage.

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Be aware that some companies average survey scores poorly, penalizing non-perfect scores heavily.

At one office supply store, anything under 100% counts as 0%, so a mix of 100% and 80% scores averages to 50% instead of 90%.

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Give call center representatives the highest possible score on post-call surveys.

Lower scores are often treated as neutral or negative feedback.

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Provide explanations for low survey ratings so companies know how to improve service.

Companies read customer reviews and get frustrated by low scores with no explanation.

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Practice 'customer accountability' by praising good service as diligently as you complain about bad service.

It works both ways.

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Leave positive reviews for small businesses.

Positive reviews make the owners' day.

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Read reviews and hear others' experiences regarding customer service before purchasing.

A large sample size of shared reviews provides reliable insight into support quality.

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Focus negative reviews on food, service, price versus quality, and cleanliness or atmosphere.

Angry rants provide little to no useful information.

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Avoid calling a manager over solely to praise an employee, as it wastes time and may annoy the busy manager.

The manager is busy, being summoned for praise will piss them off, and it wastes everyone’s time.

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Send an email to management praising an employee.

Store managers don't always pass on compliments.

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Make an effort to notice and praise good service that proceeds without errors.

Good service often goes unnoticed because it does not draw attention through mistakes.

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Email corporate headquarters directly to commend a retail employee for good service.

The message works its way down to the employee's manager; some stores give gift voucher bonuses for this.

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Find the parents of a child who did something outstanding or helpful to praise them.

Parents are often amazed and appreciative when their child's good behavior is acknowledged.

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Tell service workers 'I appreciate you' or express specific appreciation for their work.

It can improve their day and feels heartwarming.

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Call the company to recognize phone reps who provide good treatment, helping prevent disillusionment and setting a positive example.

Recognizing good reps helps make their day less shitty and holds them up as an example, whereas firing bad ones just replaces them with inexperienced people.

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Call businesses occasionally to praise employees who performed well.

It ensures management knows about staff members who improved your day while doing difficult work.

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If you received free items or discounts, omit them from survey comments to avoid getting the employee in trouble.

Employees may face repercussions for providing unauthorized benefits.

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Do not call customer service lines before purchasing to test support quality.

This wastes company time and causes frustrated customers to wait in line.

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Expect that corporate metrics may penalize you for taking the time needed to get high customer satisfaction.

Companies often focus on quantity over quality, creating a conflict between speed targets and service excellence.

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Do not punish employees for negative survey ratings caused by company policies rather than individual performance.

One bad survey about company policy cost one employee $100 by dropping their satisfaction average below 90%.

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Understand that some customers may give specific scores based on cultural beliefs (such as viewing certain numbers as lucky), which can inadvertently trigger mandatory training or bonus cuts for staff under strict metric systems.

Staff may be forced into online learning tasks and lose bonuses despite the score being culturally auspicious.

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Be aware that mystery shoppers may misidentify employees, leading to unfair penalties for those who actually assist.

One employee received a poor rating and write-up because they stepped up to help a mystery shopper who then put their name on the form.

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In call centers, focus on taking the survey over calling the manager.

Surveys drive significant bonuses.

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Avoid mentioning specific unauthorized actions or policy violations in positive survey comments.

Such details could get the employee in trouble with their employer.

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Fill out store surveys honestly to help good employees get raises or punish bad ones, as management reviews these daily.

Surveys are used to gauge performance and can directly impact employee compensation and morale.

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• Fill out customer service surveys from companies you called, especially if the experience was positive, to help employees earn bonuses.1

Do not complain about a representative's rudeness if they are strictly following a mandated script.

Management may ding their rating without fully reviewing if the low rating was deserved.

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Do not fill out customer service surveys if you believe they only punish frontline workers for minor infractions.

Companies use them as free quality inspectors rather than paying for their own monitoring, grading workers on trivial metrics like greeting speed.

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Do not blame individual call center representatives for company policies or issues in surveys.

Representatives cannot change these factors and may face termination or suspension for low scores.

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Decline phone surveys by stating you are underage.

Surveyors typically hang up because minors cannot participate.

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Ignore transactional surveys from banks or dentists that appear to come from the business but are actually from independent third parties.

These outfits have bamboozled the businesses into collecting information independently.

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