DannyG2006 wrote:
Bob, I have a suggestion for you, hire someone else to handle customer service that has the temperament to do so and stick to what you do best, the coding. That way you can have the best of both worlds.
I'd love nothing more. Unfortunately, it's not a full time job or anything worth paying someone for. Besides, I only get a couple emails or messages a day. Fortunately, the large majority of customers have zero problems, which is part of the reason I get frustrated with that one person out of a hundred who can't figure out what the previous 99 could. I tend to look at them as that little duckling who can't quite keep up with the rest and needs a little kick to keep them caught up. Then I get those who always assume that if something isn't working on their computer, it surely must be the fault of the software company that made the app they're using, and for them, I need to straighten their attitude out a little, but other than that, it's not a difficult job. The customers that I don't like go elsewhere, which is actually better. I've learned it makes far more sense to let go of a high maintenance customer than to let them eat up all of your time. I've also learned that most people don't care what is being said on internet forums or bad reviews about my lack of a$$ kissing. They just want something that works and is easy to use and is something they'd be proud to use. Those are the people I want. If I have to kiss someone's a$$ to convince them to use any of my apps or services, then I failed as an engineer, and that is the only title I care about. Anyone can tell you what you want to hear, but proud engineers who take their work seriously are hard to find. It all depends what's important to you.