Bad experience with Maritime Management Services

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marineprojectgroup
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Bad experience with Maritime Management Services

Post by marineprojectgroup »

Quoting the dialogue I had as a candidate applying for a job through Maritime Management Services.

Feel free to weigh in here, especially if you believe I am the one being unreasonable...

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Dear Mr. XXX,
Thank you for applying with MMS. I have attached our required data sheet to this email. Please fill out and email back at your earliest convenience. We will add you to our database for any positions that will come open in the future that meet your qualifications.
Sincerely,
The Hiring Department Team
Maritime Management Services

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Good morning Maritime Management Services,
Fill out a form ?
That is the way Manning Agencies tell the candidate to get lost...
Thank you,
XXX

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Dear Mr. XXX,
We actually go over our crew data form, and this form is what we submit to our client for approval of the Candidate that applies. If your qualifications do not meet this particular clients’ needs, we try our best to get them a position that matches their qualifications.
Since you have shown that you do not want to be part of the process, we will make sure to add this email to our ‘do not contact’ list so you will not be bothered.
Sincerely,
Maritime Management Services

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Pls pass this to the Owner – Private.
Today your staff taught me a very valuable lesson – on how NOT to treat the Customer.

See the exchange below for your quick reference.

A bit of a backgrounder, two years ago I started a small business XXX. More about this at http:[link] Our market is predominantly the local fabricators, machine shops, manufacturers, etc.
This business is now self supporting and I really do not need to be here all the time.

As a small business owner, I am keenly aware of how vital the customer is. No customer means no income means no mortgage payment and no food on the table. An unhappy customer is even worse. A happy customer will tell 5 people he was happy with the service. An unhappy customer will tell 20 people how unhappy he was with the service. I do not advertise, all my customers come to me by word of mouth. I find it incredible that over the 2 years we have been in business I have not had any unhappy customers.

For example, to make the customer happy, for me this starts with a simple nod and a smile when the customer walks through the door. Even if I am busy with someone else, that quick acknowledgment of their existence means something. How many times have you walked into a business and been ignored ? How did being ignored make you feel ?

20 years ago there were dozens of manning agents in the UK. Almost all have disappeared because they refused to adapt and considered the customer to be something not important.
Perhaps I am completely wrong here, time will tell and the Customer will most assuredly decide which of us is still in business in 2 years, 5 years, etc.

After reading the exchange between your staff and myself, this is how I would have handled the situation had our roles been reversed:

This is what I would have said to the Candidate:
“Good morning Captain XXX,
We thank you for your resume in application for the OIM position on our clients FPSO.
We note that you have ample experience in similar roles, ample experience in command and your varied other skills are all very much valued.
Regret that the Client specifically states they want that DP cert and without it we cannot place you at the top of the list.
However, noted your offer to pay for your own courses to get that DP. We value someone who is willing to step up take responsibility and do whatever it takes.
We have many such vacancies often arise that would suit yourself, and we ask that you view the enclosed application form and correct any errors.
All our Customers are important to us and as such we have filled out most of the form on your behalf. Pls check to make sure we have not missed anything and feel free to add anything you consider to be relevant.
Once again, we here at MMS very much value you as our customer and client. Without you and your fellow seafarers we would not be in business.
Wishing you all the best and we look forward to placing you soonest.
Thank you,
MMS Staff”

Now go back and read how your staff handled this situation. Your staff very clearly does not give a damn and very clearly has no concept about Customer relations.

Which of us is more professional and which response mine or yours would covet a long and productive working relationship ?

Think about it.

But of course, how you choose to operate your business is totally up to you.
XXX

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Maritime Management Services did not bother to respond to my last message above.

Once again, feel free to weigh in here with your opinion especially if you feel me as candidate is wrong to expect to be treated with courtesy and respect.

Also, feel free to relate your experiences good or bad with Manning Agents.
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JK
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Re: Bad experience with Maritime Management Services

Post by JK »

I edited your web link in your post.
I am fairly confident you had no intention to send us all to a porno site.
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The Dieselduck
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Re: Bad experience with Maritime Management Services

Post by The Dieselduck »

Generally employees even those as skilled as seafarers, or maybe especially seafarers, have always been treated with disdain. There is a certain cheapness when talking about employees, I guess we just lack respect for each other as humans, i guess its why its easy to feed the war machine that way.

I find it interesting that many companies, like you mentioned, (the british manning ones were really bad - the many suggest a general attitude) that just treated people like crap now are faced with the reality that they've treated people like crap for long, that now there is nobody left. I generally wont even look at British manning co. they are general so full of themselves, all that, and crappy terms too - I wonder how British seafarers even put up with it? I guess the tax breaks is where they win.

I am not sure if it is true, but I believe they (the shipping world in general) is now realizing that there are less suckers to punch around. They will always try, as you provided the evidence.

In general I don't think you have to worry. They are a waste of your (our) time, but in the end, like you said, no customer, no business. Judging from their website, it wont be long either.
Martin Leduc
Certified Marine Engineer and Webmaster
Martin's Marine Engineering Page
http://www.dieselduck.net
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JollyJack
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Re: Bad experience with Maritime Management Services

Post by JollyJack »

I worked for these manning agencies for years, always got a berth, even after I had told the Super of one British shipping line his (British flag) ships were unsafe rustbuckets and shouldn't be at sea. (details available on request) Seafarers are, have always been and always will be disposable. The race to the bottom for cheaper and cheaper crews encourages that attitude. Unfortunately, the lowest toilet cleaner in the office has more clout with the office than the most senior Captain or Chief Engineer at sea. Manning agencies merely reflect that. Their "customer" is the shipowner, the seafarer is just a warm body to fill a slot on a Minimum Safe Manning document, and the cheaper he is, the better.
Discourage incest, ban country "music".
Chuck123
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Re: Bad experience with Maritime Management Services

Post by Chuck123 »

That's really a bad experience with Maritime Management Services you had, good to know about this type of situation.
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marineprojectgroup
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Re: Bad experience with Maritime Management Services

Post by marineprojectgroup »

Update:
Maritime Management Services is no longer in business. Are we surprised with their lousy attitude ?
But my little company is still thriving.
Being vindicated is always sweet.
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