Basic Rules of Customer Service

Treat your customers well at all times.

Any company that does business with the public must apply common customer service rules in situations every day. Repeat business is the key to any company growing and customers will never come back if they don't feel as if they were treated well. Most customer service rules look like common sense but the best practitioners know that much of it takes practice to do well. Teach your team excellent customer service skills and you may see a rise in the company bottom line.

See the Customer Point of View

Look at your business in the eyes of a customer. See the actual environment, observe your team members interacting with customers, time how long they have to wait to be served or to walk out the door. You may feel as if you are doing a good job with service but looking from the other side may point out flaws that you may otherwise overlook.

Treat Every Customer Special

Give over-the-top service to everyone who walks in your door. Add little touches that will add up to big impressions for your customers. Carry bags to customers' cars, provide dog treats at a drive-thru window or decorate your lobby in a new style every month. Every small touch, from cleanliness to a smile, adds up to extraordinary customer service.

Know Your Regulars

Many businesses gain regular customers who come in every week or even every day. Take a minute out of your day to ask these customers small questions about their lives. Find out about their children and spouses, their workplace or their hobbies. Comment on these details the next time that you see them. Every time that you do this you are reinforcing the feeling that this customer belongs, causing her to want to return.

Deal With Complaints Correctly

Every business will have unhappy customers sometimes, but dealing with them correctly can mean the difference between sending them away and bringing them back for life. Always treat the customer as if you believe her, no matter how outrageous her claims. Apologize sincerely and ask the customer what you could do to remedy the situation. Do whatever you can to satisfy this person, then thank them for the opportunity for making it right.

References

• Customer Service Manager: The Unbeatable Laws of Customer Service