The tablet unearthed in the ancient Babylonian City of Ur is currently on display at British Museum. The customer got so riled when the merchant palmed off on him copper of poor quality that he went to the trouble to compose a complaint on a piece of stone. An image of the tablet as well as the translation of the complaint are given below.
The customer literally fulminates against the merchant, reeling off a long list of complaints!
“Give Ea-nasir this message from Nanni: This is what you told me when we met: “I pledge to give Gimil-Sin (when he comes) quality copper ingots.” Then you left and you did not do what you promised to do. You have shown the effrontery to lay before my messenger (Sit-Sin) substandard ingots despite our previous understanding and told him ‘’Take these if you want to;and just take your leave unless you are interested!’’
What do you take me for then, looking down on me like that so disdainfully? As messengers, I have chosen well-mannered, polite gentlemen to take back the pouch (entrusted to you) with my money inside; but you sent them away empty-handed and, as if that was not enough, made them pass through enemy territory. Is there anyone else among those trading with Telmun that deign to treat me with such disrespect? Only you treated my messenger with such abhorrent contempt! On account of that one (trifling) mina of silver which I owe (?) you, you feel free to speak in such a way, while I have given to the palace on your behalf 1,080 pounds of copper, and umi-abum has likewise given 1,080 pounds of copper, apart from what we both have had written on a sealed tablet to be kept in the temple of Samas.
How have you treated me for that copper? You have withheld my money bag from me in enemy territory; it is now up to you to restore (my money) to me in full.
Take cognizance that (from now on) I will not accept here any copper from you that is not of fine quality. I shall (from now on) select and take the ingots individually in my own yard, and I shall exercise against you my right of rejection because you have treated me with contempt.
(excerpt taken from arkeofili.com)
If people of the ancient Babylonian era had been using the Customer Experience Management software, we could have discovered another tablet enumerating the whole process from end to end. Who knows, the customer letter might have then ended with expressions of thanks and gratitude. On a more serious note, customers are now able to communicate their complaints a lot more easily and efficiently compared to 3750 years ago. What matters is listen carefully to the customers, understand their needs and take necessary action to please them; sustainable customer satisfaction, that is.
Gürkan Platin
Gürkan Platin, a graduate of Hacettepe University Management and Organization, worked as a manager in various positions at Mensan, Citibank, Garanti Bank and Credit Registration Bureau, respectively. Platin has been blogging since 1996 and his articles are published in various national and international publications.
