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Customer Service Information |
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11 Ways to Get What You Want - Be a Clever Customer!
We all want great service, whether we are buying our weekly groceries from a store, or want a billing hitch resolved at our local utilities provider. Whether it's getting our car fixed, or a great meal in a restaurant. So we can holler and complain about how poor customer service and satisfaction has become - or we can do something about it ourselves, when we have those one-to-one opportunities with a real person. Busy sales staff are under pressure and they like to deal with people who are clear and know what they want - then they can get on with their next customer! So perk up, do your homework and have everything ready and clear. By adopting a positive demeanour, making eye contact and being friendly, you will be one in twenty who is. Don't try it too much, or that will irritate too, but just nice, friendly and a little smiley will work wonders! This will vary culturally. In the UK, sales people don't like to be called by their name at all. So be careful - if you know it fits wherever you live and shop, then fine - but observe and notice what is going to work and stick to it. Use the words 'I wonder if you can help me' and then be clear about what you want. This links in with their emotions - ('someone needs me'!) - which is very powerful relationship-building for you As you give clear information about what you need from them, make positive and supportive movements and sounds that encourage them onwards. This builds rapport and makes a relationship much more likely to happen. Because people like to help, the feedback indicates that is what they are doing and...they will like you - one more step forwards in getting what you want. When they are answering your questions, ask them, once or twice, a little more about what they have told you. This shows that you have been listening and value their information. This powerfully builds the bond even more between you! By asking some open (what, how, why, where, when, which) and some closed questions (those which only need a 'yes' or a 'no'), you will vary the pressure they feel under. Being able to say 'yes' or 'no', as well as giving you lots of information, means that they get a few breaks and don't feel quite so 'interrogated'. At the end of their answers, whether you have reached a satisfactory conclusion or not, thank them for their help - make them feel valued. It's great to invest time in spending a little time in 'chat' mode with your sales person. If they have time - you have to judge from their manner, whether they are in the mood to spend time with you. It varies from person to person, time of day and location. But it's worth being aware of. At the very end of the transaction, make sure that you add a smiley 'thank you' to the mix. Selling stuff all day is tough in itself, without all the extra clutter that sales people have to do for their organisation. So by 'making their day' you will be creating a relationship which will be valuable to you for years to come. Make sure that you are aware of their name, and write and tell their boss - better, their head office. This may or may not do you any financial benefit, but hey, it sure will make you feel great that you have 'made someone's day' by telling the rest of their organisation about them!Being smart as a customer can get you benefits that you never expected. Being an awkward, 'clever' or downright obnoxious customer will never help you. By using these tips, you will receive more than you might expect, not every time maybe, but sometimes - and that has got to be a win. Martin Haworth, for a long time was a retailer and now is a Business and Management Coach. He works worldwide, mainly by phone, with small business owners, managers and corporate leaders. He has hundreds of hints, tips and ideas at his website, http://www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com. For the advice Martin shares with businesses on Customer Service, checkout the 'Customer' pages. (Note to editors. Feel free to use this article, wherever you think it might be of value - it would be good if you could include a live link)
MORE RESOURCES: NBAA Unveils Customer Service Training Certification Program Aviation International News Hassan and Marshall legislation to improve government customer service signed into law Nashua Telegraph AT&T Unveils Industry-First Service Guarantee with Automatic Bill Credits for Network Outages StockTitan How ACI Worldwide is deploying AI Payments Dive Infographic: How Simon Roofing Improved Its Customer Service with Microsoft Dynamics 365 MSDynamicsWorld CSPI & Nutrition Action Customer Service CSPI Newsroom What Keeps Healthcare CIOs Up at Night: Balancing Technology Investments with Consumer Expectations MedCity News SIGNED INTO LAW: Senators Hassan and Marshall’s Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Government Customer Service Maggie Hassan Oracle and NVIDIA Join Forces to Drive AI Innovation in Bank FinTech Magazine AT&T Unveils First & Only Customer-First Promise Across Both Wireless & Fiber Networks; Plus, Customer Care & Deals Canada NewsWire Valvoline Ranked Among Best in Customer Service AftermarketNews.com (AMN) What’s the future for customer service and hospitality in coffee? Perfect Daily Grind Cents Launches Cents Assist, the First AI-Powered Call Center Built for Laundry Businesses PR Newswire Arrest of AT&T rep highlights why it's important to always double-check what you agree to Android Authority SailPoint Recognized as a 2024 Gartner Peer Insights™ Customers’ Choice for Identity Governance and Administration Business Wire Banglalink launches AI-based customer service chatbot Telecompaper EN NorthStar Moving Ranked #1 Moving Company for Customer Service in Newsweek's 2025 List The Manila Times Vontier’s Driivz extends its offering to provide Call Center and Network Operation Center (NOC) Services GlobeNewswire Is a hybrid AI-human model the key to superior customer service? Interesting Engineering As the cost of living bites, good customer service becomes priceless Region Illawarra My experience as a Customer Service and Sales Intern Toby Shapiro's Experience at A.D. Sutton and Sons Chapman University Customer Service & Support Hillsborough County (.gov) Sprout Social launches 2025 index Marketing Beat Fulton County Recognizes National Customer Service Week Fulton County Government My Utilities Account City of Santa Clara America's Best Customer Service 2025 Newsweek Celebrate Customer Service Week City of Riverside, California (.gov) Fulton County Recognized as a 2024 National Customer Service All Star Fulton County Government Welcome to Riverside Public Utilities City of Riverside, California (.gov) Customer Assistance Programs DC Water 8 strategies for using AI for customer service in 2024 Sprout Social Sysdig earns top accolade in Gartner customer choice 2024 SecurityBrief Australia Shep Hyken, HPU Customer Service Expert, Mentors Students and Staff High Point University 11 key elements of excellent customer service Business.com Department of Transportation | Department of Transportation Governor Tom Wolf Can artificial intelligence rescue customer service? The Economist I CARE VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs SUN Bucks: Pennsylvania’s Summer EBT program Governor Tom Wolf Opinion: If it’s not dead already, customer service is certainly on life support Asheville Watchdog Updated Customer Service Hours - Several Departments Downtown Riley County Official Website What Your Business Can Learn From Southwest Airlines Business.com Conway Corp employees win MACTA Customer Service awards Log Cabin Democrat Office of Developmental Programs Governor Tom Wolf One Stop PGH Pittsburgh PA.gov Contact Us - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service) National Park Service BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE Forbes bizfile California Secretary of State IRS Should Ensure Customer Service Enhancements Are Accessible for Taxpayers with Disabilities National Taxpayer Advocate Banglalink launches AI chatbot for customer service newagebd.net View/Pay Your Utility Bill City of Tucson Social Security Is Improving Our National 800 Number and Reducing Call Wait Times Social Security Matters TMF invests $30M in SSA IT upgrades for improved customer service Federal News Network Fare-Free Service for Customer Appreciation and Try Transit Week charlottenc.gov Video Quick Take: Intercom’s Brian Donahue on How AI Customer Service Agents Are Delivering Massive Value HBR.org Daily Top 6 social media customer service tools for your brand Sprout Social 8 customer service trends to know in 2025 Sprout Social |
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