Low Cost Rewards for Problem Customers

"In this section we're going to discuss some methods you can use in dealing with tough customers. I'm Pamela Unruh on behalf of Expert Village. As we talk about rewarding great customer service, a lot of companies already have in place incentive or reward programs. Perhaps you work for a smaller business or perhaps you work for an employer who doesn't have any such incentive programs in place right now. You ask a customer service provider, can feel free to ask for such a program. Maybe it's just not something that your employer has considered in the past. But here is the trick when you approach any employer about anything that you want them to put into place, research the cost. Now anything that cost very little or is free is going to be much more appealing to your employer. Don't go to your employer and say hey, how about the person who sounds the best on the phone gets a cruise to the Bahamas? No one is going to go for that, you have to be realistic. Start small, there are things that you can ask for that will cost your employer really next to nothing. Go to your employer with suggestions that perhaps you can have an extra hour for lunch one day a week. Maybe you can get half a day off with pay or maybe you can get an extra day that you can use as an unexcused absence. There are lots of things like that that employers would be willing to go along with but the key again, you have to focus on cost, you have to focus on the positive aspect of the incentive program and just let your employer know why you think it would be helpful not only to you, but to the company as a whole."