Part 0800.0005

[Janty]

I am looking for the F1 steering wheel that goes with the F! 2009 game for the Wii.

 

I understand that it usually only comes as a package with the game but we have the game already. My son loves his steering wheel but unfortunately he left it at a so called friend's house and the friend (and his Mother may I add) are claiming that my son hasn't left his wheel there. However, that's another story.

 

I called Codemasters, the company that make the game, etc. and explained the situation and asked if it would be possible to buy just a steering wheel from them. A very monotone customer services operator told me that the steering wheel was only ever designed to be part of a set. I said that I understood this and that is why I was calling customer services to ask if I could buy one direct as I had tried the shops. He told me again that the steering wheel was only ever designed to be part of a set.

 

Now don't get me wrong, if they can't do it, they can't do it but is a bit of friendly chat and a 'I'm sorry but...' too much to ask for?

[Cinnamon]

You tried eBay?

You may just pick one up on there...

[clootie]

Is this it Janty?

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WII-Formula-1-2009-Steering-Wheel-Attachment-BNIB_W0QQitemZ300416145153QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_PC_Video_Games_Video_Games_JS?hash=item45f2329701#ht_2895wt_1115

 

 

ooops, gr8 minds Cinnamon!

Edited April 12, 2010 by Guest

[Couperwife]

cant you contact them and say that you have broken the one you have and need a new one to enable you to enjoy the game to the level it should be enjoyed

 

if they refuse ask them if the Daily Mail / Mirror / Sun newspapers would be interested in their comments??

 

good grief - looks like customer services need a bit of training doesnt it

 

cathy

x

[Guest]

it's no excuse of course but doing that sort of job is soul destroying, he should look for another job

[Janty]

That ebay link is the right steering wheel but it is the package with the game.

As we already have the game, it seemed daft buying another one.

I just couldn't believe the lack of interaction.

 

[clootie]

There is a wheel on there but it's second hand with 2 bids at the mo. It's on at just over £10. I didn't check for any others, sorry Janty.

[Janty]

Thanks for looking...I'm going to check ebay out now.

 

[Janty]

Thanks...I've put a couple of bids on.

 

[chickencam]

Good old ebay

 

I bought the game for OH at Christmas and there were 2 versions out then one game only and one with the wheel. I bought the one with the wheel, but would have assumed that the wheel could be purchased seperately as most of the Wii bits can be

[Redwing]

Having worked as a Customer Service Manager I do know that many of thse call centres work to a script only, anything outside that script results in a 'do not compute' type of answer and any apology is counted as an admission of guilt They'll have a drop down of options that leads them to the answer eg: console, Accessories, Driving game, steering wheel, purchase of - taking that path will give them the answer - its basically the same as when you use on line help

 

the person probably has X number of calls to answer in a day/hour and so taking your details, making enquiries for you and calling you back isnt an option for him, it would seem that customer service has gone out of fashion!

 

Most places do have a 'i've tried all other options' person who if you persist you will get put through to and because very few calls get through the 'barrier' they can spend more time helping

 

Not much consolation I know but i wanted to point out how it probably works as its probably not that chaps fault that he was forced to be unhelpful - rubbish I know and a terrible way to operate a business BUT they probably get 90% of queries resolved just fine that way so quite possibly arent that interested in the other 10%

 

Calling again will result in the same answer but keep pushing and eventually demand to speak to someone who can help

 

The company I work for doesnt use scripts or operate this way thankfully so my staff were a lot happier!

 

One option that isnt that great would be to trade in the game you have for a discount off of the set, unless you buy second hand chances are that the wheel wont be available separately and there wont be the demand for them to create an inventory item for it

[Guest]

it always astounds me that customer service staff are monitored and targeted on their stats; stats being the amount of time they're on the phone, how many calls they take and how much time they spend off the phone doing admin type stuff.

 

To help some customers they must spend time 'unavailable' to incoming calls so that they can investigate problems and yet, they are penalised for that. It's crazy!? That's why you get the mentality of trying to get someone off the phone as quick as possible.

 

I've worked for 3 major telecoms companies in customer services and they're all largely the same.

 

not a good way to operate IMO

[Redwing]

Youre right its not, its terrible to be treated as simply a call to be palmed off as quickly as possible

[Charlottechicken]

it always astounds me that customer service staff are monitored and targeted on their stats; stats being the amount of time they're on the phone, how many calls they take and how much time they spend off the phone doing admin type stuff.

 

To help some customers they must spend time 'unavailable' to incoming calls so that they can investigate problems and yet, they are penalised for that. It's crazy!? That's why you get the mentality of trying to get someone off the phone as quick as possible.

 

 

Poet, you are spot on!

[Happy chickens!]

I heard once of a customer service department who were monitored for the number of calls they got through per hour - so it was in their interest to hang up on any difficult queries!!

 

Sorry that doesn't help, hope you find your part.

[BarbaraJ]

Grrrr don't get me started , i made the terrible mistake of contacting Virgin Media on a Sunday evening. I have 3 virgin boxes. A V+ and 2 ordinary ones (one samsung and an old NTL box). The non English person on the phone informed me after I told him the old NTL box wasn't working, that he couldn't help me as on the computer it said I had 1 V+ and 2 Samsungs. I replied that i was sat in front of it and it definitely wasn't a Samsung but he said on my account it said it was and he couldn't fix it as it wasn't theirs after a few minutes of him repeating over and over that the box was a Samsung and not putting me on to anyone else, i hung up!!!!

This afternoon took me about 2 minutes to get someone to come look at it on Monday!!

[Lewis]

I had the same with the bank last week - have charged me £75 for going overdrawn £2.39 once (I put money back into account next day)... over 3 months.

They refunded the second £25 charge, then re-charged it and its happened 3 times.

Phoned up and he said he can't do it again because it was only a "good will gesture" from them to refund it the 1st time

 

Went into the branch and she said it was a problem on their computers and she sorted it in 30 seconds!

[Geoid]

Not as bad as some of the experiences on here, but when the Sky remote broke, we were told that we had to buy a new one (for £20+!) So, I opened up the remote, cleaned all the contacts, works fine! (so far so good!)

[C&T]

Grrrr don't get me started , i made the terrible mistake of contacting Virgin Media on a Sunday evening. I have 3 virgin boxes. A V+ and 2 ordinary ones (one samsung and an old NTL box). The non English person on the phone informed me after I told him the old NTL box wasn't working, that he couldn't help me as on the computer it said I had 1 V+ and 2 Samsungs. I replied that i was sat in front of it and it definitely wasn't a Samsung but he said on my account it said it was and he couldn't fix it as it wasn't theirs after a few minutes of him repeating over and over that the box was a Samsung and not putting me on to anyone else, i hung up!!!!

This afternoon took me about 2 minutes to get someone to come look at it on Monday!!

 

I hate ringing these people - so unhelpful! But I have found that rather than following the correct telephone steps for your particular query, select the option for wanting to cancel the service. The cancellations department seem to all be in the UK, and are quite capable of a) making their own decisions and not following the scripts and b) actually resolving your problems. Takes half the time, and a lot less stress!

[BarbaraJ]

Grrrr don't get me started , i made the terrible mistake of contacting Virgin Media on a Sunday evening. I have 3 virgin boxes. A V+ and 2 ordinary ones (one samsung and an old NTL box). The non English person on the phone informed me after I told him the old NTL box wasn't working, that he couldn't help me as on the computer it said I had 1 V+ and 2 Samsungs. I replied that i was sat in front of it and it definitely wasn't a Samsung but he said on my account it said it was and he couldn't fix it as it wasn't theirs after a few minutes of him repeating over and over that the box was a Samsung and not putting me on to anyone else, i hung up!!!!

This afternoon took me about 2 minutes to get someone to come look at it on Monday!!

 

I hate ringing these people - so unhelpful! But I have found that rather than following the correct telephone steps for your particular query, select the option for wanting to cancel the service. The cancellations department seem to all be in the UK, and are quite capable of a) making their own decisions and not following the scripts and b) actually resolving your problems. Takes half the time, and a lot less stress!

 

Thanks for the tip, funny enough i was getting that annoyed i did consider using that option to show my displeasure