Category: Customer Experience Operations

Customer service is full of surprises. Sometimes, no matter how well we plan customer service strategies, something goes awry.  Usually, the customer is the first to know and the associate may be taken by surprise.   How does your team handle service recovery? Is your team prepared to respond in the best way possible when service recovery is needed?

Last month, Confero posed an interesting question to mystery shoppers:

Mystery shoppers observe and report on customer service every day.  What is the one thing an employee or business can do to turn a negative customer service experience into a positive one?

We received many insightful comments, including these:

“It’s the willing spirit that makes the difference; showing that they are listening, and that they want to make things right. “

Good service can break down more easily during the busy holiday season, making it even more important to know how to say “I'm sorry” to customers. Inc. Magazine’s article, “How do you say I’m sorry?” highlights the importance of handling customer issues smoothly in the worst possible scenario.  Diners at the upscale restaurant, Jean Georges in New York, encountered a roach on their table. The restaurant manager quickly relocated them to another table and their meal was on the house.   What does your company do when faced with tough customer situations?  Do you train staff on how to appease customers when they are dissatisfied?

Many organizations train employees to use a step-by-step method for problem resolution. This is an effective way to ensure that employees handle customer issues according to company standards and prevent customers from leaving.  

As I unloaded my cart on a recent visit to the grocery store, I heard the cashier tell his fellow employee, “I’m so tired of working this line. I can’t wait to be out of here!” Hearing this, I considered how the store manager would react if he heard this from his employee. To be sure, the manager would consider the comment a poor reflection on his store and on the company brand. Employees who talk about being bored on the job – in front of customers – are adversaries for a brand rather than advocates, a situation every company wants to avoid.