I agree with the last few posts that it is getting both tedious and uncomfortable to be in chat sometimes, often in the evenings. Some people seem oblivious that chat is public, often expressing surprise at the idea that what they are talking about is unsuitable and even against chat rules/etiquette. Over the weekend was a particularly bad spell. On Saturday, in amongst the 'yuk, don't like this' type of rude comments, was an ebayer asking people to look at her wares (jewellery from a rival co.), an enquiry about psychic readings, a beautician trying to get sales of nail polish by offering discounts and posting her website address. After she was asked to refrain from this by a member of the help team, she then made lots of sarcastic comments about 'big brother' and how rude, and what had she done? etc. It was clear she had not read any rules or if so, was not letting them apply to her. Again, at the weekend, someone posted their email address in an arrangement with another person to borrow a dvd, this person had to be informed by a polite chatter that it was not a safe thing to do.
I really don't know what the answer is, if people arrive in chat in a great big influx of new customers, there are bound to be many who have problems settling in and understanding the etiquette, even with all the kind help and advice which is offered.
It seems to me that they need a company/customer agreement before becoming a member of chat, just like the home/school agreement, where each party agrees a few rules. i.e not promoting your own or others businesses whilst in chat etc addressing complaints with cs or live help rather than shouting and grumbling to other users in the chat room. At least with this approach you can have a level playing field with everyones interests protected and sanctions in the unlikely event that someone couldn't co-operate.
