The Fine Art of Complaining
Well, I finally turned off the YouTube version of the film, "Secret Window." You know you've watched it one too many times when you can rhyme the lines off word for word, and you start wearing the same disheveled hairstyle and ratty type clothes as the lead character. Take special note of Johnny Depp's housecoat, hats and glasses; they're my favourites.
Anyhow, I turned on the TV to catch up with some relevant, real world news, instead of mind altering, fantasy movies, and guess what film was on? You guessed it, "Secret Window." How bizarre is that? Needless to say, I couldn't resist and watched it up to the point where Shooter demanded proof that Mort actually is the author of the story in dispute, before telling myself this is ridiculous - bordering on OCD. I then turned back to the news.
One of the segments aired was about how to complain effectively. I don't like to complain, conflict or whatever you want to call it, but when I engage in it, I don't think my method is very effective. A case in point occurred when I was vacationing in Greece at a small, family run hotel. The swimming pool was overrun with the owner's son's friends.
After a few days of this irritation, I thought it was enough, so I used my usual tried and true technique. I idled at a mousy, "Golly gee willikers..It would be nice maybe, if sometime, you didn't invite all of your friends to the pool because there's no room for the patrons to swim." Only to find that the next day, the entire group of havoc wreakers are back doing cannonballs and jackknives in the pool.
So, at that point it escalates from me being as sweet as pie, to near hysterics. "If we don't get what we want, we'll report you here, there and everywhere..blablabla.." The owner's son then responded to me by saying, "By the way, If you talk to that sheriff of yours again, or if you don't show up at 4:00 o'clock, I will burn your life and every person in it like a cain field in a high wind...."
Now, he didn't say that at all, but it sounds much more dramatic than what he did say, which was "okay." I was just yanking your chain of course, and repeating a finely executed, but not recommended line, for use in a dispute. You can catch that line in the movie "Secret Window."(at 5:26 part 7 of 10)
Anyhoo, here are some tips on how to complain effectively without resorting to threats and violence. Some of the tips are:
Keep a record of events.
Keep the evidence.
Stay Calm.
Write clearly and concisely. Be clear about what you think would resolve your complaint.
You should know your rights
Praise what they've done correctly.
Never give up. (I once waited five years for a $10.00 pair of jeans. Granted, they were about as flattering as a sack of potatoes but I got them!)
