AOL user spotted

[mackstann]

I know, this is the millionth "AOL sucks" thread, but here it goes:

I work for a credit card company, taking apps over the phone. This woman calls up today, (mind you i am barely conscious from lack of sleep), and is kind of snotty, decides to apply for a card. She says she has a card with her husband, but he is the primary cardholder, and she wants a card specifically in her name. So I start to take her info, about 2/3 through the call, I ask for her "Gross annual household income", which includes all people that live in the house. She throws a big ass fit, talkin about, if we take her and her hubby's income, then we will turn around and force her into putting the card into his name, and all of this crap which is completely wrong, ("No mam, we don't do that....&quot, and she talks about how we screwed her on her other card, and how she wants to transfer all of these balances, and crap that I really did'nt care about, and the kicker was, she started bitching about how she had some problem with AOL's charges when she switched cards, blah blah blah, finally she tells me her income, and hers only, and it's 10,000. So now I am thinking, "You aren't transferring anything, idiot", because the credit line is usually 10% of your annual income (so it would be about $1,000). So, turns out she will get her payback in approximately 3-4 weeks.

Moral of the story: I have no idea, but I wasn't one bit surprised when she mentioned she used AOL. I think she is a good representative of a large portion of the AOL community: middle-class baby boomers who know nothing about computers, but seem to think they know everything else. (i.e. my dad, except he doesn't "need" a computer, he's got a Harley. Lucky him.)

 

[Platypus]

There is no end to know-it-all customers man, you kept your cool which is the only thing that matters. Slay them afterwords

 

[mackstann]

thanks for the kind words of inspiration, CR, and I do slay them afterwards. ALL OF THEM. I AM SERIOUS. STOP SMILING. YOU WILL STOP SMILING NOW. Oh, sorry...

 

[Platypus]

Heh, we have a wall of shame at $tarbucks. We have this big whiteboard and we just write down all the reasons we hate customers, and whoever comes up with the best reason wins.



Edit: I cannot spell this late.

 

[GoldenBear]

I'm not one bit surprised that people here are so over-generalizing. It just really disgusts me when you stereo-type someone, and in this case something so benevolent such as their ISP.

Get a clue. AOL users are everywhere. You have neighbors that use AOL, family, garbage men, and I'm sure a cashier at your local supermarket uses AOL. I in fact know many intelligent, nice, and friendly people that use AOL. My own family members use AOL, and if it weren't for AOL, our phone bill would be about $2,000 a month, and there'd be no way to send pictures, videos, etc., if it weren't for AOL.

Snotty people are everywhere.
AOL people are everywhere.

It may surprise you, but one's choice of an ISP has absolutely nothing with their personality, nor does their personality have anything to do with their ISP of choice.

I really can't express how disgusted I am with that.

You seem to feel elite over others because you don't use AOL, and that cockiness attitude is a million times worse than this woman who called you.

 

[mackstann]

haha goldenbear i was waiting for that response. i am sorry i upsetted you, but there is definitely a correlation between AOL users, and lack of intelligence, at least from my experience.

 

[mackstann]

btw AOL is not only an ISP, but a community. Hell, it's so easy to use, no wonder it's number one!!

 

[Platypus]

Lol mack.

Golden. As terrible as it is to stereotype a certain group of people for doing something, you learn from experience. As a customer service rep like mack and I, you learn to suss out what type of people have a certain attitude. I dont think its necessarly all AOL members either, that would be a foolish assumption, he is describing a certain group of members who use their service and think they know everything because "They've got mail!". Its the false sense of pride they carry in their tone of voice. Just like when customers come into starbucks who used to work at a coffee shop or something and they are all snotty because we do our drinks different or "this isnt what a latte is, I used to work in a coff-blah blah blah" I despise people like this.

Its just the way the world works man, there are some people who just dont get it, and there are some who do. Customer service is the hardest job in the world, I dont care what anyone says. You have to deal with John Q Public everyday.

 

[GoldenBear]

<< haha goldenbear i was waiting for that response. i am sorry i upsetted you, but there is definitely a correlation between AOL users, and lack of intelligence, at least from my experience. >>

From my experience, there is also much correlation between AOL bashers, and an aura of arrogance.

 

[GoldenBear]

I dont think its necessarly all AOL members either, that would be a foolish assumption, he is describing a certain group of members who use their service and think they know everything because &quot;They've got mail!&quot;.

If you read, he said &quot;I think she is a good representative of a large portion of the AOL community: middle-class baby boomers who know nothing about computers, but seem to think they know everything else. &quot;, which is just the stupidest thing I've ever read times 5 billion.

Its just the way the world works man, there are some people who just dont get it, and there are some who do. Customer service is the hardest job in the world, I dont care what anyone says. You have to deal with John Q Public everyday.

So quit.

 

[CromNogger]

My own family members use AOL, and if it weren't for AOL, our phone bill would be about $2,000 a month, and there'd be no way to send pictures, videos, etc., if it weren't for AOL.

Right. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiight. &quot;There would be no way to send pictures and videos if it weren't for AOL&quot;. You have clearly been ass-imilated by the evil force AOHELL. GET A GRIP MAN! You think everyone on AT uses aol? No... but we send pictures and videos, talk to one another, communicate with people thousands of miles away, etc. Don't act like AOL's some big savior-type thing. AOL is just like a bloated ISP with too many &quot;user friendly&quot; features and slow access.

Bashing AOL is perfectly acceptable.

I'd also like to note, that nobody was implying that &quot;all AOL users are complete dolts&quot;. You seem to have automatically assumed so, and are peculiarly defending AOL. Hmmm, odd.

 

[Platypus]

<< I dont think its necessarly all AOL members either, that would be a foolish assumption, he is describing a certain group of members who use their service and think they know everything because &quot;They've got mail!&quot;.

If you read, he said &quot;I think she is a good representative of a large portion of the AOL community: middle-class baby boomers who know nothing about computers, but seem to think they know everything else. &quot;, which is just the stupidest thing I've ever read times 5 billion.

Its just the way the world works man, there are some people who just dont get it, and there are some who do. Customer service is the hardest job in the world, I dont care what anyone says. You have to deal with John Q Public everyday.

So quit. >>




Uh, I did read what he said, otherwise I wouldnt have posted my reply. What he described is right on target. AOL is MARKETED for this age group. And they have a sense of arrogance themselves.

Quitting doesnt solve anything Mr.Bear, it just makes it worse. Dealing with customers can be the greatest feeling in the world, but also the hardest thing ever. No one ever did anything worthwile without a bit of effort and pain. Just accept the fact that he is not being arrogant just becase he can, its because he knows what he is talking about, and he deals with it everyday.

 

[GoldenBear]

You think everyone on AT uses aol? No...

There's a concept, asking and answering your own questions.

but we send pictures and videos, talk to one another, communicate with people thousands of miles away, etc. Don't act like AOL's some big savior-type thing. AOL is just like a bloated ISP with too many &quot;user friendly&quot; features and slow access.

There are millions out there that wouldn't know what the internet is if AOL were never around. I know I would never have been into the internet world 8 years back with AOL.

Bashing AOL is perfectly acceptable.

I'd also like to note, that nobody was implying that &quot;all AOL users are complete dolts&quot;. You seem to have automatically assumed so, and are peculiarly defending AOL. Hmmm, odd.

There was no one implying that anyone was implying &quot;all AOL users are complete dolts&quot;. You seem to have automatically assumed so, and you are peculiarly defending these people. Hmmm, odd.

It seems to work both ways, d'oh.

 

[mackstann]

Chill out GB, you are scaring me..

btw, i do hate my job but i am not in a position to up and quit. But i will be soon and trust me, i will not miss my current job.

see here.

 

[Yzzim]

*farts to break the tension*

ok, back arguing

 

[GoldenBear]

Uh, I did read what he said, otherwise I wouldnt have posted my reply. What he described is right on target.

And you have proof that &quot;a good representative of a large portion of the AOL community: middle-class baby boomers who know nothing about computers, but seem to think they know everything else.&quot;?

AOL is MARKETED for this age group.

WHAT?

I suppose Earthlink/Mindspring/AT&amp;T is marketed to those..in another age group?

And they have a sense of arrogance themselves.

Now it's getting ridicolous.

Quitting doesnt solve anything Mr.Bear, it just makes it worse. Dealing with customers can be the greatest feeling in the world, but also the hardest thing ever.

For some reason I find it very rare that anyone ever displays this &quot;greatest feeling in the world&quot; idea, but rather only the bad.

If you do in fact love your job so much, why not ignore the bad and talk about the good?

 

[CromNogger]

hahahahahahhahaha.

 

[Pretender]

goldenbear, most people are stupid.

See my thread for details
*note: I'm too lazy to link to it right now, find it for yourself.

 

[GoldenBear]

Chill out GB, you are scaring me..

And you're annoying me with your ignorance.

So that makes us even..

All I want is proof that &quot;a large portion of the AOL community: middle-class baby boomers who know nothing about computers, but seem to think they know everything else.&quot;

Otherwise you're making a dumb and stupid argument.

If a hundred people called you, all with different ISPs, would you be able to spot the AOL users?

 

<< (i.e. my dad, except he doesn't &quot;need&quot; a computer, he's got a Harley. Lucky him.) >>


Lots of bikers love harleys AND computers, its good business



<< From my experience, there is also much correlation between AOL bashers, and an aura of arrogance >>


People that know what they are doing are arrogant, because the rest of the world does not know.
And the people who DO know, are a minority, therefore elitest.

Yes there are people on AOL who are perfectly fine people, thats very obvious.
But the majority have no idea what is going on. They are very novice.

This harshness towards users of AOL, can be seen in many things, such as the Golf scene.
How elitest is that?
&quot;OMG, you use the big bertha oversize copper shafted metal wonder, how passe!&quot;

 

[GoldenBear]

<< goldenbear, most people are stupid. >>

But apparently since you don't use AOL, build your own computer, found your way to Anandtech, you're somehow better than these people?

That's the impression I get from people here. Because of their ISP choice, and rejecting AOL, they somehow are 733t.

 

[Platypus]

Ok Ive seen you dont get it, so I will stop being so polite.
AOL is marketed for this age group, dont you watch your TV?! The commercials involve old people and parents. AKA this age group. Why do you think they include parental control software and claim this in their ads? Lets think for a minute before opening your mouth.


About my job? How old are you 12? If you deal with rude people all day, you will hate your job. I feel sorry for you if you dont understand that man, you are in for such a rude awakening.

Martyr without a cause?

 

[GoldenBear]

AOL is marketed for this age group, dont you watch your TV?! The commercials involve old people and parents.

Those are the people that pay the bills and would determine what internet service will lie in the home..who should they market it to then? 15-year-olds making $6 at McDonald's?

Why do you think they include parental control software and claim this in their ads? Lets think for a minute before opening your mouth.

I still do not see the point here. So you're saying..

Because they market to the people who pay bills and are the type of people who makes the decision on what internet provider the household would use, THAT's what makes &quot;a large portion of the AOL community: middle-class baby boomers who know nothing about computers, but seem to think they know everything else.&quot;

About my job? How old are you 12? If you deal with rude people all day, you will hate your job. I feel sorry for you if you dont understand that man, you are in for such a rude awakening.

Martyr without a cause?

...eh, I'll leave my childish nonsensical comment to myself.

 

[Platypus]

<< AOL is marketed for this age group, dont you watch your TV?! The commercials involve old people and parents.
>>




Is that why in the ads, the old people claim how easy it is to send pictures to their grandkids and how easy it is to email?

Yeah they just pay the bills dont they.....

 

[mackstann]

im just getting bored now. what's 733t???????