Go ahead. Make their day.
I decided to call my wireless provider after a recent radio interview. The host of the show, Paula Granquist, and I discussed just how stressful it is to work as a service rep in a call center. She observed, "When customers call, you can bet they aren't calling to tell you how great you are."
After the show Paula and I stopped in the lobby to visit. She mentioned that our conversation got her thinking. She decided to place a call to her wireless provider, Verizon. Paula planned to tell the agent who answered, that as a long-time customer she thought it was about time she called to let them know how happy she was with Verizon's service.
Inspired by Paula, I placed my call to AT&T and got an agent by the name of Curtis. As he verified my phone number and the name on the account, I detected a slight Texas drawl in his voice. "Hello," I said, "You are probably going to think this is odd, but I thought I'd call you up and let you know how happy I am with AT&T's service. I signed up when I got my iPhone a year or so ago. I've had very few dropped calls and have been very happy with the service. So, I thought I'd call and tell you how much I appreciate that."
Hearing nothing on the other end of the phone, I wondered if he thought I was a crank caller and hung up. Finally, he replied, "Why ... thank ... you." I could hear the smile in his voice. "We try to do our best. I really do appreciate you calling to tell me. I very much appreciate it." As I was about to say good-bye, he said, "I do appreciate it." three more times.
Consider the karmic effect if we all called the services we take for granted (phone, cable, internet, energy...) for the sole purpose of complimenting them on a job well-done. Karma works by returning to you what you give to others. There's nothing particularly mystical about this. It is a matter of cause and effect. If you're friendly to others, you receive friendship. If you're generous, people are more inclined to be generous to you.
This week pay it forward and see what happens. You'll not only rack up some additional karma points, you'll be sure to make the day of the person who receives your compliment.