With regards to this:
http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizo/customerService/whatTheHell
I learned that using attention-grabbing headlines when trying to grab the attention of customer service is frowned upon.
I still wonder, however, why 'What the Hell' is deemed so offensive, especially considering that Paizo actually produces and sells a guide to Hell (Book of the Damned, Vol. 1), and mentions it in other works (Guide to the Multiverse, Cheliax Companion).
It has nothing to do with mentioning hell, and everything to do with acting like you've been terribly wronged by not having an e-mail responded to immediately when there were many other circumstances involved.
Food for thought - imagine somebody leaves you a voicemail asking a question. However, you're out of town for a business trip that demands all of your attention and leaves you little time to think, much less do your normal everyday things. On the plane, you get sick, making things that much harder and leaving you even less time for those normal things. When you get home, you immediately begin working on all those normal things that you were unable to do because of your very important trip, which have, naturally, piled up while you were away. While you're doing so, the person who left you that voicemail (quite possibly one of dozens that you've been working on, listening to one and addressing it before moving on to the next) calls again, and the first words out of their mouth when you pick up the phone are "What the hell?" followed quickly by "What's wrong with you?" Now, tell me...would you, or would you not, take that as a hostile, offensive means of address?
It wasn't the mention of Hell that did it, but the usage of it. "What the Hell" is aggressive and inflammatory. (Not to mention that message subjects really should address the subjects of messages, but that's really a separate issue.)
On the one hand, I understand your desire to have an immediate response following the logic of "a company that cannot adequately fulfill its customer service needs has need of more customer service representatives."
However, you have stated you don't have any interest in "extenuating circumstances" and don't care why the need couldn't be met, so it doesn't matter that I can say "if they always had a shortage of customer service representatives then they would hire more reps. This was, however, a short term issue related to a scheduled event, and they aren't likely to hire more people because the issue doesn't persist." See, I could say that, but it wouldn't matter, because you don't care.
I could also mention that it was indicated on the website that Paizo was running on a skeleton crew last week, and customers could draw their own conclusions as to productivity around the office, (assuming it would be lower), but you don't care so it doesn't matter.
So on a follow-up survey, you would check "failed to meet expectations" and move on. Sometimes places are short staffed. Sometimes people call in sick or get hospitalized, or attend a major industry-wide conference. Ultimately for you, as the dispassionate consumer, it doesn't matter why they failed to meet your expectations, but they did.
You should care why though, because the reason why you got no response is more than a simple excuse. Instead it is a strong indicator that this one experience isn't indicative of possible future experiences, unless those experiences also happen to fall during GenCon.
It is a safe assumption that, should you have reason to contact customer service in the future, and should that contact fall within the time of GenCon (which is an annual industry conference), you can expect delays. However, performance during GenCon is not indicative of overall performance.
But I've strayed a bit from your topic. The main point is the usage of the word in context and tone. A similar response might have been garnered with the subject "What's wrong with you lazy people?!" That subject doesn't mention Hell at all though.
I was wondering when you were going to stop by. This thread's convenient placement in the OT forum had me giddy with the possibility of your pending appearance.
Ah...and here we go again...
Being the kind-hearted smurf I am, I'll just save everyone the next few pages of this thread and get right to what we all know it will devolve into.
Smurfdom? Egads....where is Gargamel and Azrael when you need them?!
Smurfdom? Egads....where is Gargamel and Azrael when you need them?!
I sent them an email informing them of this thread, but they haven't arrived yet. It's been almost a week.
Just to point out, most business emails have an out of office option, which sends out a response that the person is currently unavailable and will get back to the sender when they return. Perhaps something like this during the next GenCon might be a good customer service idea.
How exactly? This makes me curious, are smurfs acidic? Do smurfs frequently carry fire?Smurfs are teh ultimate Troll slayers!!!
Simple we eats them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How exactly? This makes me curious, are smurfs acidic? Do smurfs frequently carry fire?Smurfs are teh ultimate Troll slayers!!!
Smurfs cause heartburn/acid reflux on a catastrophic level, maybe?
Smurf Troll-slaying (Su): A smurf's natural weapons (including it's aura of thread derailment) suppress a troll's regeneration ability, even though they possess neither the acid nor the fire descriptor. This ability is Charisma-based.
Should have read this thread before posting.
Vomit guy!!! Haven't seen you in a while. Care for some cottage cheese? It's low fat!
What I want to know is Vomit Guy
A: Parking a carpet tiger.
B: Driving the porcelain bus.
C: Saying hello to Europe on the big white phone.
D: Having a technicolour yawn.
E: All of the above.
There is so much love here Vomit guy just needs to show up and help spread it around.
I do feel the love....
Oops, by bad. That was just breakfast I felt.
There is so much love here Vomit guy just needs to show up and help spread it around.I do feel the love....
Oops, by bad. That was just breakfast I felt.
I feel it too.... I should have moved my foot.
Care for some oatmeal?
Here I thought you were more of a scotch kind of guy.There is so much love here Vomit guy just needs to show up and help spread it around.I do feel the love....
Oops, by bad. That was just breakfast I felt.
I feel it too.... I should have moved my foot.
Care for some oatmeal?
I always found that scotch and oatmeal go together like peanut butter and bacon.
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I always found that scotch and oatmeal go together like peanut butter and bacon.Here I thought you were more of a scotch kind of guy.There is so much love here Vomit guy just needs to show up and help spread it around.I do feel the love....
Oops, by bad. That was just breakfast I felt.
I feel it too.... I should have moved my foot.
Care for some oatmeal?
Ewww
I learned you don't f!$$ with James Jacobs.
I learned you don't f&&! with James Jacobs.
You can, you just have to do it in a nice way. Do it the wrong way and he smotes you. :)