It seems some businesses need training in customer service. Some of these have been in business for quite a while so you would think they would know better, but that is apparently not the case.
Or perhaps the manager, etc., is not aware that the employees are giving the wrong impression. It even happens here locally unfortunately.
Customer service is something you have to stay on top of all the time. It affects your business more than you probably realize it because bad service spreads like wild fire by word of mouth.
You can have all kinds of specials, coupons and deals but nothing will pay off more than good customer service. You want to shop with those businesses who treat you well and make you feel like they appreciate your shopping with them. That goes for restaurants or any other business. If we own a business we need to remember that customer service never goes out of style.
I know you don’t always get it right, none of us do but you have to keep trying and making sure that the customer is taken care of in the right manner. That includes complaints which none of us like but are a part of running any business. Don’t gloss over a complaint, listen, apologize and try to get it resolved so it won’t happen again. A customer really doesn’t care about the reason something happened so don’t focus on offering excuses. Be truthful and be very apologetic.
Remember without customers your business would cease to exist. Doesn’t that say everything you need to know about how important customer service really is to your business?
A satisfied customer helps spreads the word which in turn is helping you grow your business. Therefore, it could be said that your customers actually pay your salary.
While we have heard the phrase that the customer is always right, that might not necessarily be so, but they must feel they are and that at least they win so go out of your way to try and appease them when something goes awry.
Your employees need to be taught the importance of customer service. But chances are if you treat your employees right, they will treat your customers right as well, but don’t take that for granted. Employees need to be trained to be pleasant, courteous, polite, helpful and knowledgeable.
Always, always give more than is expected when it comes to customer service. And thank them for doing business with you.
There are some places I really just do not like to shop but I do because of customer service and they make you feel as if they appreciate your business. The opposite is also true: there are places I would like to shop but don’t, because of bad customer service. It is just not worth it to me and I want to spend my money where it is appreciated.
Have you thought about your customer service lately? If not, maybe it is time you did. Your business is at stake and it does make a difference. If you aren’t sure how you stand, you can always ask customers for feedback. Most are happy to provide it and even if it is not positive, it gives you a chance to make changes for the better.
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Can someone tell me when Americans became so touchy, whiney and outraged at every little thing that’s said these days? It seems people are just waiting for the chance to jump on some bandwagon or the other or to come to someone’s defense who really doesn’t need it or jump at the chance to criticize.
I don’t get it. If we work on ourselves and worry about our own front porch, we don’t have time to worry about someone else’s.
It’s one thing to have an opinion about something, it’s another to scream and constantly complain about something, especially if you weren’t involved or it has nothing to do with you personally. But we tend to spout off before we even know fact from fiction about every little thing.
Too bad we don’t put all of that effort into something really worthwhile or to try and get something done about the ills of government. If we did, you would see a drastic change in how things are done and might even see a positive outcome instead of all the negative.
I recently held a women’s conference dealing with talk being cheap and the fact that our words have life. What we speak we eventually come to believe and we act that out in our lives. Therefore, we need to speak words of encouragement to people and positive words to ourselves on a regular basis. All of this impacts your attitude and you will be surprised what affect your attitude has on those around you.
While one bad apple doesn’t spoil the whole basket if you remove it right away, if you allow it to sit and continue to rot, the rot will spread to the other apples in the basket. Such it is with our words. Bad words bring bad attitudes and affect everyone around you. So choose your words wisely and let your actions line up with them.
VICTORIA SIMMONS is a columnist, motivational speaker/ minister and publisher/gm of The Post/Byron Buzz. Reach her by email at vsimmons54@gmail.com