It's time for a post that I need to pay more attention to myself, playing nicely with customer service agents.
I am continually surprised at the way in which some people treat those who work in the customer service industry - banks, shops, hotels, restaurants, call centres, and the like. Treating people with disdain, disrespect and rudeness is not a sign of their behaviour, it is more a sign of who you are.
We sometimes get annoyed, frustrated and disappointed when things don't go as well as our expectations demand that they should. Because of this we get angry and demand better, often we react in the heat of the situation and say or do something that we might later regret.
In these situations, it is important to determine if the poor service you are receiving is a result of the person who is helping you or is something out of their control. If the service is something that is out of the agent’s control then the agent has limited ability to assist you in meeting your expectations.
If the poor service is within the agent's control, treating them with disdain or becoming angry at the time will only make the situation worse. If you change your attitude in these situations there is a good chance that you can positively change the outcome.
Additionally, the nicer you are the more likely the agent will regret the way in which they dealt with you.
Don't treat people how you would like to be treated, treat them with respect and see what happens. You may be pleasantly surprised at the outcome.