subject: Useful Customer Service Tips [print this page] Good customer service can make or break a business. Without it, even if you offer the best product or service in town, potential customers would choose your competitors over you. It won't be long before you close shop when that would happen and thus all your efforts and dreams will go down the drain with your business. If you do not want this to happen, here are a few useful tips about customer service you might want to consider.
1. Provide a better customer service than the rest. Everyone out there today who has gone into whatever business they are engage in knows the value of providing true customer service. This therefore means you have to out do them to win more customers. Think of creative ways to show that your business is better than the rest. But bear in mind that not all customers have the same customer service needs. Some prefer home delivery because of logistics, other like to window shop. Adjust to these preferences of your customers. For delivery services, you may want to do it free of charge as long as it is within reasonable distance and for those who prefer to come to your store, offer them an in-store discount coupon he could use the next time he or she visits. Again, you have to be creative and be able to adjust to the needs, wants or preferences of your customers.
2. Establish customer loyalty. If you have a steady base of customers, your business will stay in operation as long as you want it to. The best way of establishing a loyal customer base is to know your customers as best as you can. Whenever someone walks in your shop, get that person's full name and other personal or business information he or she would want to share with you. This way, you would know them the next time they walk into your shop and could have small talk with them. Many customers appreciate this because they would feel valued and would actually take pride that they know someone who is in this particular line of business. If in case they are asked by their friends or by their relatives about something which you sell or offer, expect them to refer that new customer to you and would even at times go as far as telling the latter that Mr. or Mrs. So and So sent them.
3. Be truthful with your customers all the time. All customers want to get the value of what they paid for. The moment they suspect that you are trying to pull a fast one on him, you will permanently lose that customer. And remember that the said customer have friends. They too have friends. Nothing can ruin a small business faster than a bad reputation. So when a customer seeks your advice on something, tell that person the truth instead of trying to sell him something off the bat
4. Remember the old cliche "The customer is always right" and stick to it as long as it is reasonable to do so. When a customer comes to see you about a complaint regarding your product or service, do not dismiss them or rebuke them. Instead, see what you can do to resolve the matter at once or in the soonest possible time if it could not be done today. Upset customers come to you for a solution, otherwise they would have not returned in the first place and sought your competitors instead- so be thankful for these complaints. If the customer is upset, or worse angry, calm him down first and then assure him you will do everything that you can to handle the situation. When the customer is ready to listen to you, deal with the problem immediately and accordingly. Do not tell the customer that you have noted his concern and will just be notified. You will lose them that way. When the matter has been resolved, do not forget to thank your customer for bringing the concern to your attention.
5. If you have people working for you, train them to be as equally accommodating and helpful as you are. You hired them because you cannot be with your business 24/7, so make sure they will not ruin whatever business relations you have worked hard to establish by training them properly. Always remind them that if they do not take care of their customers the way you do, your competitors will and THEY will be out of work before they know it. It would also help if you treat them as you would your customers even if they are your subordinates. Remember that employees treat customers the way you treat them. If you get mad at them easily, so will they with customers.
