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On the 24th of December, on Christmas Eve, a customer emailed me and asked when she could drop off her sofa. When I heard the notification sound on my phone, I picked it up because I was sure it was either family or a friend who just wanted to wish us a Merry Christmas.
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I was flabbergasted when I read the email, and I felt sad. “How dare you?” I thought and I tried to ignore the incident, but it didn’t leave my mind. Christmas Eve, really?
It was not just the time but also the coldness and the unfriendliness that puzzled me. Did I overreact? Maybe, but when you are my age, you live by your own moral code, something most of us develop over the years, something that works just for us.
I might sound old-fashioned now, but I found the email on Christmas Eve very impolite and also very unnecessary. Did I overreact? Perhaps, but as many know, Christmas Eve, that’s when the Austrian Christmas child brings the presents to the children and the memories of Christmas past are very alive, stored in a treasure chest inside me.
On Christmas morning, I celebrate with my husband, but let’s be honest, it has no meaning to me. The way we celebrate Holidays as children stays with us for the rest of our lives, and while we might adopt new routines and traditions, nothing will ever come close to the origins. That’s why foreigners, migrants, refugees, and immigrants bring so much diversity to our normal routines, and we all should be thankful for it. Imagine a life without the Mexican fiestas, the German Octoberfest, the Chinese New Year, the Celtic Halloween, or the Irish St. Patrick’s Day.
In the afternoon on Christmas Day, I thought about my customer’s behavior again. Let me correct myself; she wasn’t a customer yet. She had gotten a quote and I had not started to work on her piece of furniture, neither had she paid the deposit. Hmmm!
I thought about the other customers and my students. Texting has taken over this society, and it has made interactions with customers more unfriendly. There is no “Hi, how are you doing today?” To be honest, most texts today start without a simple “Hi”.
Even strangers – potential new customers – send me texts now. They send a text to a business number they found on Google, and most of them start with “Do you guys do….?” Which always ticks me off. There are no guys, it’s just me. I am a one-woman-show :).
It’s not just the TONE but also the times when they text. My business hours on Google show 9 am – 6 pm Monday to Friday
10 am – 5 pm Saturday
closed on Sunday.
So, why do I get texts from complete strangers in the evening, late at night at 11 pm, or on Sundays?
I don’t use the word HATE too often, but I really hate what modern technology has done to us, the way we interact now, the way we text, the shortness, the unfriendliness via phone or on social media, it’s all not my style.
Perhaps it means I have to adjust my STYLE and lower my expectations.
Do I want to?
No! I do not want to lower my expectations.
Does it mean I am too old to adjust?
No! I don’t think so. I am tired of the adjustments we as a society are making without thinking.
So now what?
I decided to make some changes. I decided to not work for this customer, and I wrote an email to her. When I sent it, I knew that this kind of person would most likely leave me a bad review, but still, I sent it because I went for my inner peace.
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How did I feel when I sent it? Good, confident, and at peace. Was I too dramatic? Too sensible? Too honest? Probably!
Three days later, I got the 1-star rating,g and it made me smile.
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It didn’t bother me a bit, and the way it looks, it’s not bothering potential new customers either.
In the end, it’s up to us how much we allow modern technology to interfere in our lives or how much modern technology alters our lives.
This incident made it clear to me that I needed some “Texting Rules” as well, and ever since, I ignore texts from new numbers. Sooner or later, they all call, and I explain to them why I didn’t answer their text. “I don’t like texting.”
I enjoy communication and interaction with people. I love words and complete sentences. I want to hear the laughter in someone’s voice. I want to hear the emotion when they describe the piece they want me to work on. I want to hear the story behind it.
I work with my hands, and texting forces me to stop my work, lay down the tools, or pause the sewing machine so that I can answer. I am no longer willing to do that.
My life! My rules!
It works for me. I am no longer the slave of my phone, and it feels good. Modern technology has given people the misconception of entitlement. Everything has to happen quickly, and most of us are getting more impatient by the day. A PING on the phone makes us drop everything, and we ignore the people around us to check on something that’s not important at all. I don’t know how other people handle it, but I had to change it – drastically.
So, to answer today’s Prompt. Yes, technology tried to change my job, but I didn’t let it.
Signed,
the stubborn older lady 🙂
A very reasonable response to the potential customer. People are so quick to spread a bad review even if they are the ones in the wrong. For that very reason I am not very sold on reviews from online. Glad you stood your ground!
I think it’s a ‘age-thing’. I just didn’t want to work for this lady and I didn’t give a hoot 🙂
A good response. Not too old to adjust – just old enough to remember how it should be
Good for you! I am totally with you on this. I wonder, as you do, why does everyone only want to text? People act like you’re unreasonable if you want to call them and talk with them. Sometimes I miss my wall phone with the 15-ft cord, whispered calls from my friends late at night, and the voice of my grandmother calling me from across the country to tell me she loves me. Technology is great, but like you said, it makes people feel entitled and there are less boundaries.
I totally agree Bridget. Too many of us are incapable of ignoring our phones. The only service I have an active sound notification on is for phone calls. My phone is kept in my pocket, not in my hand, and I only deal with texts/whatsapps/emails on an ad hoc basis whenever I choose to look.
Great Article
I’m with you all the way, Bridget. As far as I’m concerned, you’re making all the right moves for the right reasons.
Thank you, Jane. I often listen to my gut instead of my brain now, which is also an indication that I am older now, because I don’t have to worry about my business anymore. 🙂 It’s a nice place to be.
Are you able to add “no texting” by your contact information? I’m sorry you’ve had rude/impolite individuals seeking your services.
I have added it to my website now but it doesn’t make a difference. I also have added “By appointment only” and people still come by. It seems most of them don’t even bother to read it all through.
As for impolite people, they can only succeed if we let them. 🙂
I found nothing that displeased me in this post. Nothing. You did well.
Some people!
Bless you my friend.
Thank you, Selma. Sometimes I do wonder if I am coocoo 🙂