How do you handle rude people
Yesterday was a horrible day for me. I was sick as heck and did not feel like moving. I hate being sick, not just because I get no work done, and I feel like a horrible mom when I am sick, but it really takes a toll on your body.
My family has been passing the flu around for weeks now, and it is my turn to get sick yet again!
I had 2 appointments yesterday…one with a current client and one with a potential client. When i woke up and my body hurt so bad I did not feel like moving and my migraine would not go away, I need there was no way I was working yesterday.
I called my client and explained to her I was very sick and we needed to reschedule our appointment. I could tell by her voice she was pissed. Now this is a good client business wise, she always has work for me, she pays right away and sends me allot of referalls.
But yesterday she was not happy at all that I was sick. I explained to her what was going on and told her I could do Friday. (I mean what is one day?)
She questioned me like I was lying to her. Why would I lye to a client who sends me massive amounts of work and is generally easy to work with?
I am not sure how hard it was for her to understand I get sick too.
The other potential client, was a complete jerk to me. He asked me what kind of business I was running. UMMM, the kind where if I am sick I do not have to work…I thought to myself. I explained to him I have been in business for years and have 100’s of happy clients. I do however from time to time get sick just like half of America.
Needless to say, I had two options.. Hang the phone up on him or tell him off. I did not want to be unprofessional and just tell him off and put him in place, but I did not want to just hang up on him either.
I had to make a quick decision, as the point for calling him was to reschedule our appt. not spend 20 minutes on the phone explaining why I was sick. So, I simply say Mr. Davis, I apologize I am not able to speak with you today. I will gladly give you a call tomorrow or I can direct you to someone who may be able to help you right now. He paused for a minute and said don;t bother.
I quickly hung the phone up, never even said ok or bye. I was so frustrated I did not know what to say, but I knew if I did not hang up immediately I would have lost it and told him off.
My question to all of you is, how do you handle people who are just down right rude?
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March 21st, 2008 at 11:18 pm
You are so right. One of the great things about working from home is that yes we can be sick. Everyone gets sick and everyone should understand when you get sick. Sounds to me like you handled everything very business like. Kudos to you. Rude Customers are very hard to handle.
March 22nd, 2008 at 12:39 am
Just let it go. Rude people will always find a way to get pissed off at someone eventually. Had you been extra nice, you would have only delayed the inevitable. Your good client, on the other hand, was probably just having a bad day too. You have worked together a long time, so cut them a bit of slack, as they will probably do for you.
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March 27th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Im sorry that happend to you. It seems like when we are down thats when the most things come at us lol. I would of handled it the same way you did. Hope you are feeling better and dont let them get you down,
Maemae
June 27th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
I think you did the right thing. I was just insulted by being a stay at home mom while going to college. As if I had never been in the workforce before!! Pfft!!
I have made a formal complaint on him to my instructor and will do so with the dean if necessary very soon. It is not important where it happens, but what is said and in what context it is said. No matter what it is even, we are all equal and all get sick and make the same mistakes. No matter what sex, we all put our pants on the exact same way!! I don’t care if you’re 20 or all the way up to 60+, we all get sick and have days we prefer to take off. If you are in America, more than 1/2 do not take off the time needed, so that needs to be taken into consideration also. If one does not take care of oneself, then one cannot take care of anyone else. If you need someone to talk to, let me know and I will give you my email.
Good luck to you in the future. And, keep your head up and stand your ground!! You have as must right as anyone else whether you work at home or in a workplace.
Kimberly