The word “Supervisor” can solve anything, it seems like. For some, a cringe when you hear “I want to speak to your supervisor” and for others, its a Godsent. To me, my battle has been won when someone asks “Can I speak to your supervisor?” Sure, go right ahead. Sucker!
I always figure, when this does happen, they are disgruntled with what they hear, and they just want reconfirmation they are hearing right. What was a twenty minute call, now turns into, most of the time, two minute call, and that call, is overwith. What took me, five times of repeating, too them, 90 perecent less then that. I think if they threatened to share a sigh over the phone, the person would instantly turn passive. Then again, it seems effortless to us, when it really isn’t, and I’ve heard calls that lasted for days.
“They were suppose to call me back.” That was that Supervisor’s polite way of saying, they were tired of going in circles with you and hopefully you’ve calmed down after a week or two to finish that last discussion you had with them. This usually results in that costumer wishing to speak to a supervisor, and sometimes, you hear the story of them going to the supervisor of the supervisor, because they were never called back. Those are always fun to be a fly on the wall with.
“I’ve called about this issue, and been on the phone with the last person for over an hour. I’ve spent all day on this phone call. I want to speak to a supervisor.” This one translates into, “I’ve talked to three other supvisors and I’m not getting the answer I want. Maybe this one will give me what I want.” Sure. With all calls being monitored now adays, and comments being made in profiles, it’s almost a given that this person is a persistent dick.
My favorite is, when the person doesn’t even say “hello” they just say “I want to speak to a supervisor.” You are like, oh sheeet, it’s that bad, huh. You know this person is terse, and before finding a supervisor, you have to find out exactly why they want to speak to one. You cautiously ask the question, “Ok, um….may I ask the reason you want to speak to a supervisor?” This, in itself, can have them ask to speak to a supervisor again, just for asking this very question.
My all time supervisor grudge match, was when I was talking to someone, who had their supervisor on the phone with them, who insisted that I was wrong, and would like to speak to my supervisor. It was supervisor vrs supervisor. This was a first for me. So, they didn’t like what they were hearing, they got their supervisor, they argued with me, and insisted they speak to my supervisor. Well, hence to say, that conversation was still shorter then mine, and my supervisor, basically told them, the SAME EXACT thing as I had told them. The even funnier, and entertaining thing is, even when they are agreeing, they are both still yelling at each other, like two umpires at the ball feild. “FINE, and HAVE your cake and eat it too!” “FINE, I will.” “FINE.”
Too bad I didn’t have my own personal supervisor work for me at the gas pumps.
