Bad experience with 3 feathers pewter

[sydnie7]

As it was apparent that the customer calling failed to understand that "Three Feathers" was a native American name it is a pity that Mr. Jones did not offer some clarification for his potential customer such as "Sir, my name is David N. Three Feather Jones" I'm sure that Josh would have apologized and both gentlemen could have laughed it off and done business. Occasionally we have to accept that other people do not share our experiences and instead of making them come to us we need to come to them and offer information.

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

As a female named Sydnie I've suffered through variations of this business situation for many decades, exacerbated by my chosen career in a predominantly/traditionally male occupation. I've always tried to handle the inevitable misunderstandings with grace and humor, but nobody's perfect.

"Coming to them" does get tiresome when it happens time after time after time. . . I think if I were looking to do business with a company, I might have checked out their website a bit more carefully before picking up the phone. Yes, Mr. TFJones could have handled it better as well, but it doesn't seem he is the "first line" of customer contact and I would make allowances for the artistic temperment as well.

Bottom line, if you're keeping score, I'd mark this one heavily to one side and lightly on the other. BTW, rushing over here to post about it is a whole 'nother issue in my mind. Type -- reread -- think -- click.

[Lyle1]

"Coming to them" does get tiresome when it happens time after time after time.

If you are in business, and you want people to spend money with you, that's kind of what you need to do. Why would anyone support a business where they were not treated well?

I worked in a service industry for 35 years, and some of the clients worked my last nerve, but being rude wasn't an acceptable option.

[bigdad1]

Confucius say "He who jumps without looking often ends up in a cesspool."

[Pleater]

It seems that the guy did not make the connection that his caller was unaware of his name being that of the business.

If he had, and then taken the time to explain I am sure a few words would have sufficed to resolve the difficulty, rather than bawling 'Three Feathers' down the phone.

It surely can't be the first time confusion has resulted.

When I was first in an office and answering the phone to the public, I was actually instructed in the correct way to open the conversation. We had to make a note of the call and what was said - something I assumed was standard practise until I found otherwise.

It is a pity that Mister Three Feathers choses to assume callers are being obtuse whan they fail to recognise that he is giving his name - there is the old adage that you can catch more flies using jam than vinegar.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[NorCalPiper]

One thing I really get irritated with, are white men and/or woman who get "adopted" by indigenous tribes and then become pompous in this way.

[Riverkilt]

Wow! So much going on. So much around names, culture, beliefs.

Living in Indian Country would never have thought twice if someone said their name was Three Feathers.

Having the name Ronald Macdonald I put up with long years of stupidity from the invention of the Ronald McDonald clown in 1968 through the invention of call tracing in the 1980s. Had dozens of responses from humor to confrontation to explaining that Ronald Macdonald is a common name, is indicitive of an Islander, etc etc etc but it sure gets old and I've been known to get testy when yet another common stupid remark floats my way. Its my name and other's don't have the right to mock me about it.

As for adopting an indigenous name I have had the honor of being bestowed a "Navajo name" by Navajo people about eight years ago. It was the Navajo people who thought it out and granted the name in honor of a spiritual journey with a Navajo medicine man. While I don't use that name, I do treasure it and the honor in which it was bestowed. Not sure it would be pompous if I did use it - being legitimately bestowed and all.

Here in Arizona anyone can change their name to whatever they want for $15 as long as there's no malice or evasion involved in the name change. I'm all for adults being able to choose their own name instead of having to use the one someone else gave you. Maybe I'm prejudice since I'm a Jr. and never got a name of my own. Nice to know I can change it if I should choose to.

[NorCalPiper]

I have no problem with someone being bestowed a name by any tribe, I just get irritated if there is a pompous attitude that follows that honor.

[jordanjm]

He may be a tribal member by birth, and just happen to have a European surname. If some of the great chiefs of various nations can have names like MacGillivray, then today members of tribes can have the last name of Jones.

[Zardoz]

We need to remember that sometimes when we call a business, the people on the other end of the phone just might be having a bad day. Take my word for it, dealing with the phone in retail situations can have it's moments.

[Ozark Ridge Rider]

there is the old adage that you can catch more flies using jam than vinegar.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

True, but to really get 'em it takes a dead possum!