Ocean Marketing's customer service catastrophe

[MrKirov]

Twat deserved everything he gets, Im glad that this kind of thing has been brought to light, don't care who by. With a bit of luck it'll show bad retailers that the customer can still hold some sway!

[averybluemonkey]

I'm confused, who's the one acting like a pussy?

I said the PA guys were acting like abuse victims who go through life over-compensating because they can't get over something that happened to them in the past. I think their reaction to this scenario was heavily over-reacting given the fact that it's only an issue of bad customer service for a low value item. But as usual gamers seem to get all moralistic about things relating to the hobby whilst not giving a damn about more serious issues.

You said I had no idea what it's like to be bullied, which I have and I don't use it as an excuse to behave badly. My point was that bad things happen in life and the people that fail to deal with those issues are weak because many others cope with far worse. Wallowing in self-pity is nothing but self-indulgent, some people just have a victim mentality.

[mekanor]

Is he an actual 'roid user or are people just assuming such based on his appearance?

If the prior, who told him that PR and marketing was a good field of employment to enter?

Yes, some internet detectives tracked him down using a hotmail address he used. There were a few forum posts, most of them written in the same style as his letters to Dave.

[Decider-VT]

'Unprofessional' is a not a term that means the same thing for all people. It means completely different things depending on what your profession is.

I think that's splitting hairs somewhat. We all know how (inexplicably) popular Penny Arcade is, and Krahulik cannot be unaware of the influence he had over his readership. He overstepped a boundary by publishing the correspondence in its entirety- he could have settled the matter privately if he'd wanted to, yet he saw fit to throw the man to the dogs in the name of internet justice. He knew exactly what sort of reaction the correspondence would provoke if published, and already knew that the amateur sleuthing of one person had tracked Paul down on Facebook. Given the subsequent death threats, etc., simply throwing the information out onto the Internet was irresponsible. He's abused the popularity of his site to cause Paul to lose his job in quite a spectacular fashion instead of dealing with the situation sensibly and discreetly. I'd certainly call that unprofessional behaviour.

[Dogg Thang]

Not splitting hairs at all. Having dirty sex in an alley with a client might be seen as unprofessional for a therapist. Not, however, for a hooker. Unprofessional only means something in the context of your profession.

For PA, talking ****, making jokes and being indiscreet IS their profession.

Not getting that is probably why you find their popularity inexplicable. In this case, Dave didn't act unprofessionally, unless he's an employed buyer. PA didn't act unprofessionally because this sort of thing is exactly what they do as their profession. Only one person in this equation should be expected to act better as part of their profession.

[averybluemonkey]

Actually that hooker example is unprofessional because it opens them up to an STD and is illegal, potentially resulting in them getting arrested, being violently abused or robbed. Professional would be to use protection and engage in business in a known indoor location, preferrably in an organised premises if possible.

Professional ethics apply to more than just your job, it's how you behave yourself in your life, dealing with the rest of society.

The Ocean guy was rude.
PA got their gang to bully him.

Which is worse?

[Dogg Thang]

It's not a 'which is worse' scenario. That's why the story is about Ocean Marketing's customer service failure and not just 'three blokes act like dickheads'. The 'three blokes' headline may well be true but it's not the story here.

And professional, by definition, is about your profession.

[Flabio]

Is gaming so dull that this is all we have to talk about now? Heh.

[Dogg Thang]

Maybe... I guess if it weren't to do with a gaming controller, we'd never have heard of this. I bet there are some flower pot retailers with godawful customer service.

[Jusatsushi]

I'm very surprised that there is even an argument about this dickhead deserving what came his way. Welcome to the internet bitch, that's how I roll.

Sheesh...

[Decider-VT]

For PA, talking ****, making jokes and being indiscreet IS their profession.

Not getting that is probably why you find their popularity inexplicable. In this case, Dave didn't act unprofessionally, unless he's an employed buyer. PA didn't act unprofessionally because this sort of thing is exactly what they do as their profession. Only one person in this equation should be expected to act better as part of their profession.

Not really... I find their popularity inexplicable because they're primarily known for writing humourous comic strips that I've never found funny and blog posts that are usually boring. (Apart from this one, obviously!) I made no comment about Dave being unprofessional (which doesn't apply) but I still think that PA acted irresponsibly- a point that has yet to be addressed by anybody except Kotaku, it seems.

[JSR]

http://www.gametrailers.com/episode/gametrailers-tv/143?ch=4