Customer service calls can be incredibly tedious and boring. You'll often waste a lot of time on the phone to reach a simple conclusion, and sometimes no conclusion at all. Here are some customer service shortcuts you can employ to save you time and the headache often associated with those annoying support calls.

Skip the Queue and Talk to a Human

These days there are plenty of ways to avoid waiting on the phone and get to a human without a bunch of waiting around. LucyPhone is one of our favorite options for completely skipping the queue altogether. Basically, you dial a customer service line, go through the message tree (which can sometimes be skipped for you as well), and hang up. When a human is available LucyPhone will call you right back. Skipping that service tree is also pretty simple with services like GetHuman and ContactHelp. Both will provide you with numbers and the fastest route to the person you want to talk to. You may also want to do a quick web search for special customer hotlines. For example, Sprint has set up a customer call number with the Consumerist to get you to a human—and a resolution—faster.

Get Your Issue Escalated Faster

Some issues are more complex and need to be escalated for anything to get done, so there's no sense in wasting your time explaining the issue to a lower-level agent when you're just going to have to explain it again to one or more people up the chain. The easiest way to hop up the customer service ranks is to know who to ask for. Generally those people are the ones you end up with when the company is worried you're going to cancel your service. They may be called Executive Care, Retention Specialists, or something else, but a quick web search for the company you're calling and bad customer experiences is likely to turn up department you want to reach.

If it comes down to it, remember that threatening to cancel your service can net you some serious discounts. It's not a trick you necessarily want to employ often, but if you're getting screwed over then it may be the quickest way to get what you want.

Get Online

UPS, Charter Communications, Comcast, Southwest Airlines, Verizon Wireless, Delta Airlines, and many other companies have Twitter accounts created specifically to respond to customer complaints. Sometimes they'll track you down when they find a public message targeted at their company, but you can also contact them directly for help. Charter is my internet service provider and, although their phone support is always very kind and helpful, using Twitter is a lot faster and more convenient. Contacting support via Twitter makes getting a problem solved an afterthought. All you need is a short message, and any required responses are not only also brief but you can respond on your own time. Also, because Twitter is public, it's a good reason for everyone to be kind and not turn a simple complaint into a shouting match.

Another option is to use ComplainApp, which provides you with a forum to voice a specific complaint and rally support around it. Chances are that you are not the only person having a certain type of problem. ComplainApp helps common complaints rise up and get seen more easily so you don't have to waste time trying to be heard.

For more tips on getting better customer support, read our step-by-step guide.

Photo by Sideways Design (Shutterstock).

While the majority of the restaurant waitstaff you encounter will probably not spit or pee in your food if you send it back, it's a common joke or paranoid concern that enters the conversation the moment someone decides to send their plate back to the kitchen. We asked food-service professionals how they prefer customers like you and me handle this awkward situation. Here's what they said.

The Problem

When you order a meal and what you receive isn't what you expected, you can either suffer through it or send it back. Either way, the situation isn't ideal because eating something you don't really want is, well, bad, and sending it back can lead to an awkward confrontation. This often happens because 1) you're afraid of upsetting the server and paranoid about getting something extra when your meal returns (read: saliva, or worse) or 2) you come across as jerky and a little entitled, in which case you may truly be at risk of some sort of retaliation. In general, if there's a problem you do have the right to say something and, in many cases, should. The goal is to do so politely so nobody leaves the table with hurt feelings and that requires a specific solution.

The Solution

After watching my dad send back a hamburger for being undercooked and wondering how the waiter felt about how he made his request, I decided it was time to learn. Fortunately the food service citizens of the internet came to my aid to offer their two cents. Here's what I learned.

Who's At Fault Can Vary, So Don't Assume You Didn't Make the Error

Sydney notes that respect is key, but situations will vary and you should keep in mind that you may be the one who actually made the mistake:

Explain the problem and ask for a solution. If the mistake was your fault (not reading the menu or misreading the menu), apologize and ask for a new dish. If it's the waiter's or kitchen's fault, be nice. It helps to say something like, "I know this isn't your fault, but this is undercooked."

I've waited tables for a few years and most of the send-backs are because people can't read the menu. There were some legitimate complaints about bad food, but they were few and far between. I consider myself a pretty good waiter because I always double check the food before I take it out. If the kitchen messed up and used the wrong cheese or something else that is noticeable, I tell them to fix it before letting the customer know.

If the waiter can't or won't fix the problem, ask for a manager. Any restaurant that cares about its customers will try to make things right, including comping your food. But if you're being ridiculous or rude (or both) you might get nothing. It all depends on the type of restaurant. High end places will bend over backward for you, but smaller places like the bar/restaurant where I worked will tell you to get out if you're out of line.

Along with most things in life, showing respect for your fellow humans will get you what you want.

Just last night I ordered a couple of pizzas for some friends and expected to get a takeout special but was charged much more. It turned out I ordered the wrong kind of pizza because I'd forgotten the specifics of the deal. Having read Sydney's advice just an hour earlier, I made sure not to assume the man who took my order was wrong. I instead asked if the takeout deal had ended and he explained it was for a different kind of pizza. I apologized for my mistake and asked if I could switch. He had no problem changing my order even though I'd already paid. Everything worked out very well!

Be Specific About What You Want to Avoid Potential Mistakes

Scott notes that not all waitstaff is perfect, and when they forget to ask for clarification it leads to problems they'll have to deal with later:

As a former waiter but now just a lowly patron, some waitstaff makes it difficult on themselves when they don't care enough to pay attention or ask for clarification. If the kitchen messes up, that's one thing, but if the waitstaff does not take the necessary steps to make sure that everyone receives what they order, it makes it "tense" to have to say something. The waitstaff are on the front lines of the success of someone's business - including their own.

One way you can help everybody is to be very specific about what you want and ask any questions before the order is taken to the kitchen. If you communicate sufficiently, your chances of a problem will be far smaller.

Just Be Nice

The rest of advice I received all discussed the importance of respect, kindness, and understanding. Like Sydney said earlier, "with most things in life, showing respect for your fellow humans will get you what you want." While these tips should help reduce your chances of a running into a problem when sending your food back, if your intentions are good and you're a nice person you shouldn't have to worry too much at all.

Social GPS is a regular post about navigating the awkward and uncomfortable moments in life. If you've got a difficult social issue you'd like us to address, let us know!

Illustrations by Leremy (Shutterstock).

The second you walk into a restaurant the waitstaff starts sizing you up to see what type of service you're expecting and how they should approach you. The Wall Street Journal has put together a list of some of the most notable cues you give off that define your service. If you know what you're doing, you can work the system for a better experience.

Whether you realize it or not, you send signals when you're at the table and a good waiter can play off those signals. Here's a few the Wall Street Journal points out that can get you better service:

If you act moody... You may get better service. Several waiters said they are more careful to get every detail right when they believe a table is already in a bad mood (a couple fighting or a tense business meal perhaps).

If you say 'It's OK'... To attentive waiters, saying food is 'OK' is a red flag that you aren't happy with your meal. The waiter or manager might dig for more information to fix the problem.

If you're early and fancy... Diners who are dressed up and have an early dinner reservation may lead waiters to suspect they have another event that night and serve them at a fast clip.

If you're wearing a suit at lunch... Diners who look like they just stepped away from their cubicle, whether in a suit or business casual, are bound to get speedier service. The exception: If the waiter realizes the boss or valued client wants to set a slower pace by asking for more time before ordering or pulling out papers for a sales pitch.

You probably rarely notice any of this, but knowing what cues you're giving off can help you understand why you're getting a particular type of service. Hit up the post on the Wall Street Journal for the full list and a few more tips.

How Waiters Read Your Table | Wall Street Journal

Photo by Quinn Dombrowski.

Despite the best efforts of your family and friends, some gifts just aren't a good fit. Rather than resign yourself to a present you can't use or don't like, here's a look at everything you can do to turn an unwanted gift back into cash—or at least something you want—even if returning it to the store doesn't seem like a viable option.

Return the Gift (Even When You Think You Can't)

In an ideal world, you'll want into the store where the unwanted gift was purchased, hand it over, and they'll provide you with a nice wad of cash. Most of the time, however, that's not going to happen. If you don't have a receipt (or gift receipt), it makes the return process a bit harder—but not impossible. That said, if you feel comfortable asking the gift giver for a return receipt you should do that first. It may be temporarily awkward to tell someone you didn't like what they got you, but it'll make your return a whole lot easier. For the times when a receipt is just not an option, here's what you can do.

Step One: Locate the Origin of the Unwanted Gift

In order to return the gift, you need to know where it came from. Sometimes you can find out simply by searching the packaging, as people often forget to remove identifying stickers. Failing that, if you can't ask the overly-sensitive person who gave you the gift then you can probably can ask another relative/parent/friend who might know. If you are unable to find out where the item came from, just guess. In my first job, at a grocery store, a woman once tried to return a gallon of milk that was clearly the store brand of a competing store. Although there was some argument, the store let her return it nonetheless in the name of good customer service. Although you don't want to take advantage of any store's kindness, if it is an item they actually stock and can sell you might not meet that much resistance when trying to make the return without a receipt. Stores can be very lenient with returns during the holidays.

Step Two: Make Your Return Look Legitimate

Before you make your return, you want to give yourself as much of an advantage as possible. When you simply bring in the item (even if it's still in its original packaging), your chances of a simple return is less likely. See if you can locate a shopping bag from the store where the gift was purchase so you can bring it to the store in that bag. Just the presence of store branding along with your gift can legitimize the possibility that it was purchased there, whether it actually was or not.

Additionally, if you happen to have an unrelated gift receipt for that store, take it along too. When you try to make the return with the wrong receipt it obviously won't work, but you can make the claim that you must've been given the wrong one. You can then ask the store employee if you can return it anyway so you don't have to go back and locate the correct receipt and go through the entire process again. This will play on their sympathies and give you an advantage. Of course, this is a deceptive trick and should be used as a last resort if a store isn't accepting what you know is a legitimate return. Don't do this to trick a store into accepting an item they didn't sell.

Step Three: Attempt the Return Nicely

The holidays are a frustrating time for retail employees. In most cases the hours are longer and they're working on days many people have off. When you go in to return your item, being a jerk is about the worst thing you can do. By default, even if you get the best employee of the bunch handling your return, chances are that part of them doesn't want to be there. They're likely wishing they had a paid day off like you do. Making their day worse could mean the difference between a successful return and leaving the store disappointed.

To improve your chances, go to the store early (right when they open) or after a shift change (either do some mental math based on when they open, or just ask an employee). You don't want to encounter an employee at the end of their shift who has been dealing with frustrating returns all day. Be the first person, check any frustration at the door, and don't get angry if the employee shows any resistance with the return. Getting mad can get you kicked out. Your goal is to make them want to help you, and if they like you and sympathize that's far more likely to happen.

Step Four: Don't Give Up Right Away

If you weren't able to make the return on your first attempt, don't give up. Items purchased from retail chains provide you with a large number of chances to successfully make that return because if one store won't allow it, another might. Additionally, if there's only one store, just come back when someone else is on shift. You may have run into a particularly unsympathetic, tired, and frustrated employee (which is bound to happen with all the craziness post-holidays) so try again later with somebody else. You may find success where you didn't before.

Sell the Gift (Even If It's a Gift Card)

When returning your gift just isn't going to work, you can always turn to the internet to help you sell it. Unless you've got an item in very high demand it's unlikely you'll be able to get its full worth, but if you haven't opened the packaging you should be able to come close. Whether you received an actual item or a gift card, there are plenty of ways you can turn it into actual money with one of a variety of options. Here's what they are.

Let Amazon Sell Your Unwanted Gifts For You

When you've got a bunch of stuff to sell, the idea of selling it all online can be a little unappealing thanks to the time commitment involved. One way around that is using the Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) service. All you have to do is sign up for an Amazon Seller account (which doesn't take long—and even less if you've got a regular account) and then add FBA to your account. Once you're done, you'll be able to start adding your product inventory (meaning your crappy gifts) to a "box." That box is a literal box you're going to send to Amazon so they can take your items, sell them on Amazon.com, ship them for you, and provide any necessary customer service. FBA comes with a few small fees, but they're pretty reasonable. FBA also comes with the advantage of Amazon's cheaper shipping prices and support for Amazon Prime shipping discounts. Nonetheless, if you'd rather avoid those additional fees, however, you can always just sell the items on Amazon and ship them yourself (if you're willing to do a little extra work).

If Amazon isn't your thing, check out our online selling guide for a few more tips on getting rid of your unwanted stuff.

Liquidate Your Gift Cards on Gift Card Marketplaces or Auction Sites

Gift cards and certificates, under most circumstances, are not returnable, but if you get a gift card you don't want or can't use you're not out of luck. You can always try to sell it to someone you know who will use it, but if you don't have anyone in your life willing to purchase your unwanted gift card you can usually locate a buyer online.

Sites like Plastic Jungle provide a marketplace for buying and selling gift cards. The downside is that you'll have to list the card for less than it's worth, but doing so will make the sale a bit easier. Alternatively, you can try an auction site like eBay, or a gift card-specific auction site like Cardnap, to take your chances and potentially end up with more. Either way, if you'd rather have cash you can easily sell your cards.

Donate Your Unwanted Gift

Just because you didn't like what you got this holiday doesn't mean that someone else won't appreciate it. If you feel like getting into the giving spirit of the holidays, there are plenty of charities that will be happy to acquire your unwanted gift. Here are a handful of options:

• Toys for Tots is probably the most well-known gift donation organization. If you somehow ended up with an unwanted gift that's suitable for a child, you can send it their way.
• Children's Aid Society is another organization that accepts gift donations for young people.
• Goodwill accepts clothing, electronics, appliances, and more at any of their locations.
• The Salvation Army will take clothing and household items to help the less fortunate get back on their feet. You may also be able to donate other items to their thrift stores.

You may also want to look locally. Schools, hospitals, religious institutions, and non-profits often have gift drops and may accept gift donations even after the holidays have passed. You can even ask your human resources (HR) department at the office if your company is participating in any holiday charities or knows of any ways you can donate gifts. JustGive.org offers a local charity search to help you find a place to give.