Good corporate citizenry... just a little (rant) advise.

We all get it.

Being a good corporate citizen (doesn't that sound grown up?) can be very satisfying.
It is a "feel good" moment when you realise your company can afford to help others.

We work hard to make sure we partner with  events that offer some  marketing value, if possible... because we have to make money in order to help others.

I also work hard to explain the benefits of supporting whatever event or charity I am :(pick one) selling tickets for, asking for donations in kind or asking for donations in cash.

It can be a problem picking & choosing where to give, what to give &  how often to give.

This economic crisis has created a "hamster wheel" of problems with the charitable sector .... industry supplies sponsorship....  they have no choice but to go smarter, harder & farther afield looking for support. All of us need to do what we can to support charities ... enough said about the merits of giving... everyone gets that.

So, Tracey....get to the bloody point.....

A word of advise: if you are already our customer ...

1) If you are our customer...no promises, but we always do what we can. We love you & appreciate your business. Remember , we have a large customer base....we can help everyone to some degree....but not the same company repeatedly several times per year.

2) No donation is a given for the next year unless we have made a prior commitment. Some years we are flush...some years, not so much.

A word of advise: If you are looking for a donation or a repeat donation &  have NO working relationship with us  ....(read carefully, twice).

1) Prepare some kind of written request (every year).  Show your commitment. Show us that you are fiscally accountable ... please don't come and ask us for money with no organisation (that can be identified as legit) behind you..... holding your hand out just isn't good enough.

2) If you think just walking in the door of a business &  asking for a donation is OK...well, that is
cold calling.... don't do it. Putting people on the spot can end badly for you.
 Act professionally (can't believe I have to spell that one out).... if you must drop in, leave a package or biz card.... then do the follow up. We really feel like chasing you to make a donation.
Our time is valuable, please respect that. 

3) We don't work to supply prizes for your brother-in-laws stag.
Go away....we don't even know you, you have never used our company, you don't know any of our staff, you aren't even related to any of our customers or suppliers. What are you thinking?

4) So ....you decided your child needs money to take a school trip to learn french in France  & for some reason, think we would want to contribute.  Why exactly,  would we want to do that?
You are looking for a hand out....not a sponsorship.

5) You didn't send a thank-you note for the donation we made last year.... oh yeah, I keep records of that.
Big mistake on your part. We were gracious enough to give you a donation, a thank-you note would be in order ... you are a dink.

6) Do not ask for a donation when you come to pick up your completed order.
 Way to make your supplier feel awkward. Did you just think that up on the drive over?

7) Do not ask for a donation and then ask us to call you. Do a follow up phone call you lazy b*tch.

8) Do not ask for a donation & then when it is granted, no one bothers to pick it up. Nice.

9) Corporations....please do not come asking for a donation  when  you give all your regular business to someone else. Do you have brain damage?

10)  My staff & I work hard for our money, please respect that. It is still our money until we commit some of it to you. Don't make us feel taken for granted.

Oh yeah... you might be one of those people that think all people that own their own business are rich.
Sorry, I forgot that about you.

Having said all that .... NEVER BE AFRAID TO ASK ...do help the community... ask the right way & ......well, you might just get what you need!
............................................................................................................................................................

And while I have your attention....this is the latest fundraiser I am working on.
Wanna buy tickets?....LOL!
Cheers!
Trace

http://www.waterloo-buskers.com/festival-of-fools

screenprintqueen: Dear Customer Service Rep ...you suck!

screenprintqueen: Dear Customer Service Rep ...you suck!: I bought a TV & TV stand this week.... one from a Department Store, the other from a Big Box store. Dear Customer Service Person: (in pe...

Dear Customer Service Rep ...you suck!

I bought a TV & TV stand this week.... one from a Department Store, the other from a Big Box store.


Dear Customer Service Person: (in person)
I am truly sorry you hate your job. I am sorry you feel a need to pretend you are busy. I am sorry you were raised by wolves & don't know to look up when I walk in or say hello when I am standing directly in front of  you.
I am thinking:
I would rather poke myself in the eye than deal with you.
Your behaviour is shameful . Do your employer a good turn & quit this job.
Go find a job that will make you happy & that will make you feel like being a company asset.

Dear Service Rep (on the phone),
I know your company wants to sell me warranties...THEN you could do something for me. I am sorry I just bought this product in the last few days & you feel no accountability to help me with my questions concerning it. You recommended I call the actual store I bought from...so, I did....they have NEVER bothered to call me back.
I am thinking:
Are you freaking kidding me? You can't help me with a question concerning a new purchase? How can you take my payment in full & feel no necessity to help? Your head office blew me off, the actual store of the purchase couldn't take the time to call me back.

My money was not well spent with you.

Dear Manufacturers Service Rep (on phone)
I am sorry you are frustrated by me. I am trying to explain my problem as carefully as I can. I am also sorry I don't know as much about your product, as you do, . If I did, I would most likely not need to put us both through this painful phone session.I am not an unintelligent person, yet you make me feel like I am unintelligent.And when I ask you to transfer me to someone with more experience in the area I am asking about, you say you can't transfer me ...... I will need to call back.
I am thinking:
I have purchased your product & because I can't get any help from the vendor, I am asking for your help ... you assh*le!
Are you not supposed to be the expert that knows about your companies products?  Your best suggestion is to keep calling back until I get someone who understands my problem. You are a total dick.

WTF kind of help is that! ?

Dear Customer Service Rep (on live chat on-line)
I am sorry you cannot call me from your location ....your cautious but remote typing feels impersonal....although your responses are carefully  prepared & obviously from a list of possible answers..... that enable you to do nothing for me.
At least your typing sounds polite.
I am thinking: If you can't advise or help me....who can?

End Result:

I fixed my own problems with help from staff & friends
.... without any help from the businesses that should have understood they have some accountability in the matter.

I feel good because the problems are fixed.

I feel bad because I spent hard earned money on household products with companies who really don't give a flying f*ck  about me, their reputation, their product or my continued patronage.

So...


Dear Department & Big Box stores & Manufacturer Service Reps:

 I'll bet when your company first opened, customer service was truly important to you
......but now you politely tell us to get lost... trivialise our problems & questions ... make us solve your products  problems, ourselves.... pass us off to another department to ditch us.... ask us to buy warranties on products newly purchased., in order to get any service... you put us on hold ....  sometimes you put us on forget ... or treat us rudely in person.

Shame on you.


Wanna know what product manufacturer & Department Store I will never shop again?

Dear Blog Reader:
thank-you for holding, your questions are important to us! The next available customer service representative will be right with you....