Last month, a Fast Company article on customer service grabbed my attention. According to the Forrester Research customer research index, only three percent of brands were ranked as “excellent” when it comes to serving customers. Brands like Nordstrom and Zappos are synonymous with great customer experiences, but what about the others?
A few weeks ago, I did something most of us dread: I took my car to the shop (Midas). I had been having some issues with my exhaust and was tired of hearing my car erupt every time I pressed the gas. I could no longer mask my car’s loud noise by blasting the car stereo. I had been putting my visit off for a while, but now it was time.
Upon arriving, I was greeted by the store manager and I explained the issue with him. I sensed the shop was beginning to get busy and was told that they would take a look within the half hour. During this time, I had a chance to talk to the manager while I was sitting in the waiting area. It was a good conversation because I had a chance to understand the complexities of repairing the exhaust system and how they charge for these repairs. The manager showed me a diagram and his explanation began to make more sense to me. I was beginning to understand that the cost of my repair would depend on the location of the problem. We also talked about cars in general and he told me about some of the cars he worked on in his spare time.
Minutes later, I was told that a small connector pipe was rusted out and need to be repaired. The manager described in detail how this connector pipe works and how they would fix it. He said he needed to order a part and that my car would be ready in a couple hours. Fortunately, the repair would cost just under $100. I walked to a nearby coffee shop and got some work done. When my car was ready, they gave me a call to pick it up.
I left the shop happy that my repair was held to under $100. But I also felt good about my overall customer service and I attribute this to several things:
The store manager had a very service-oriented approach and took the time and had the patience to explain everything in great detail. I could tell he wanted to make sure he answered my questions and that I understood everything. Had my repair bill been higher, I have a strong feeling he’d explain to me the costs involved in the repair. A more expensive repair would not have made me happy, but understanding these costs would at least make me feel more informed.
About a week later, I mentioned my positive experience to a friend. The following week, I found out she took her car into that same shop and had a good experience. She, too, liked the manager and found her experience to be positive. It made me realize, once again, the importance of word of mouth to a business…and that good customer service is no accident. There’s no doubt in my mind the Midas manager was trained to provide great service…he mentioned this somewhere in our conversation.
As customers, we’re usually hyper-aware of our own experiences when we’re shopping or on the phone. But how about other moments? At a time when we create our personal brand every day with every action we take, it might be worth it to explore how we serve our own clients, friends and colleagues.
How about you…do you own or work in a service-oriented business? How do you provide great customer service to your clients or customers? What’s your secret? What are some of your favorite customer service experiences?
Creative commons photo courtesy of AdamL212
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I love this article! And that’s because I find it so rewarding / heartening to meet individuals who care about their work. The manager of this shop is setting such a positive tone in his business and providing education to the customer. Fabulous!
And you are taking the next step by spreading the good word. Excellent!
Hi Linda: It is really nice to have a positive customer service experience…and run into employees who care. I firmly believe it’s no accident when it does happen. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!
Hi Tim…you did indeed write a post about good customer service…and an excellent post it is! Your experience is a perfect example of how good customer service can be your very best marketing tool! The fact that your friend trusted your opinion and took her car to the same business is proof of that old “I told two people and they told two people and so on and so on” theory. Word of mouth due to excellent customer service is unbeatable. When I experience great customer service in person or on the phone, I try to make it a point to tell them just how wonderful that person has been to work with…invariably, they are surprised, touched and appreciative. Maybe we should all reward positive behavior more often! Great post Tim!
Claudia recently posted..A Hat Tip to Over the Top Customer Service
Hi Claudia:
Well said. Yes, word of mouth is very important to local (and not so local) businesses. One thing I also did not mention in the article…Midas called me up to get my opinion about my service which tells me they are very interested in improving and working on their level of service. You are right…we need to reward this positive behavior. Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!