Customer service, or lack thereof, can certainly make or break a business and can cause a customer to either return or to never set foot in an establishment again. As a business owner, what kind of customer service are you offering your customers?
I was thinking about this subject last night as I was eating in one of my favorite restaurants. I experienced some of the most awful service I have ever received. Regardless of menu price, I believe a server should always provide great service, but especially when you’re dining in a place that is known to be higher end, I would expect service should be exceptional.
I won’t bore you with all the errors our server made but in general it consisted of her being crabby, slow, inattentive, and unsanitary. She was also obviously bothered that the guests would want to be waited on or receive the items they ordered. I kept trying to allow for the possibility that she had a horrific day or was battling some traumatic personal problems. Yet her pathetic service just continued to compound itself until finally we put on our coats and sat there bundled up until she eventually came back to give us the check so that we could leave.
I usually only go to this restaurant on special occasions and now won’t have another reason to return again for quite some time. Because I do enjoy the food, and realize that this one person does not represent the entire company, I may return next year at some point to try it again. I may. But it’s not the only restaurant in town, that’s for sure. If they don’t take care of their customers, someone else will.
If you are a direct sales consultant you already know competition is keen. Not just competition from other companies that sell a similar product but also from other consultants within the same company who are not in your downline. If your customers enjoy your products, they can and will get it anywhere. If you give them a reason to go elsewhere, they will. If you give them a reason to stay and to be loyal to you, they likely will – although there is no guarantee of that either.
Do you handle each sale knowing it could be the very last one this customer will place with you? Or do you take for granted that you have a great product so you just assume they’ll be back for more? If you’re having a bad day or are irritated by something in your personal life, check it at the door before you deal with your customers. Your problems do not need to become their problems.
About the Author: Laurie Ayers is a Michigan work from home mom and a Superstar Director with Scentsy Wickless Candles. She enjoys helping men and women start and maintain a home based business in the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Germany, Ireland, France, Spain and the UK. To download a FREE Start Up Guide which provides more details about how to start a home business as well as to learn about our compensation plan go to www.thrivingcandlebusiness.com/how-to-start-a-candle-business/ or for updates on Facebook LIKE www.facebook.com/LaurieAyersWax and twitter @directsalesblog
You know how I feel about poor inattentive customer service both online and off.
I’ll gladly take my biz elsewhere…where I’m appreciated and treated properly.
Yes, I have a long boycott list! lol