I run a small business that caters to Truck Drivers. 97% of our business is conducted over the phone all over the U.S. Most of the time, these Truck Driver's are VERY upstanding, and show us a great deal of respect seeings how my office is 100% ran by females. Recently, we had some very outlandish behavior come from a client that was directed at my assistant. She didn't handle it well, and he continued on until it became very nasty. What I'm looking for is some "one liners" to put these guys in their place without loosing business or reputation (which is totally word of mouth). Does anyone have some ideas? REMEMBER we have to be nice!
2006-11-03 08:47:11 · 6 answers · asked by T. 6 in Business & Finance ➔ Small Business
"One-liners" won't cut it. The drivers who abuse your employees will continue to do so, unless they are told that their conduct toward your employees is unacceptable, and that you would rather lose their business than to subject your employees to that insulting behavior. "One-liners", retorts, or quips will make the driver(s) think that you or your employees are flirting with them, which will only encourage the unacceptable behavior.
In addition, by failing to stop such behavior, you are in fact condoning it and opening yourself to a "hostile work environment" lawsuit.
Can you afford a million dollar settlement, to keep a driver's business?
2006-11-03 14:18:16 · answer #1 · answered by PALADIN 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The next time this happens, keep to the business end of all conversations, other than to tell the client firmly, yet politely, that you aren't comfortable with that kind of talk and you don't find it to be very professional. The is no reason that you should have to allow anyone to make you feel uncomfortable. Tape the conversations, or just tell him thats what ur doing. That might curb the language. Good Luck!!
2006-11-03 09:13:59 · answer #2 · answered by spunkyshell2000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being "nice" doesn't mean that you have to sit there and take it while some pig gets all disgusting with you.
Being "nice" means that you are nice to yourself as well, and having a reputation that you value yourself, your business and your employees as well as provide excellent service will get you a lot farther than putting up with extremely inappropriate behavior.
Realistically, what do you think would have happened if your girl told this guy in no uncertain terms to knock it off? So what if he told his friends or other drivers. Do you honestly think they don't already know what kind of a person he is?
Anyway, "Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?" is my personal favorite.
2006-11-03 09:32:42 · answer #3 · answered by BoomChikkaBoom 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hang up on the idiots...That's both being nice and stern at the same time.
2006-11-03 08:52:08 · answer #4 · answered by Marshall Lee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I get perverted clients on the phone as well in my job.
I kindly ask them to please stop using explicit language, or I'll have to terminate the call.
Or "I'm sure your wife wouldn't be happy about what you said."
Or, "let me transfer you to my manager and he'll finish your transaction."
2006-11-03 08:56:05 · answer #5 · answered by JenGen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just say "This call being recorded for marketing purposes" when they call, that should do it.
2006-11-03 09:05:49 · answer #6 · answered by Latin Techie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋