|
Subscribe to the AFSD ...
|
 |
|
|
|
Marketing Tips You Can Use Right Now ...
Phone Complaints ...
Suggested instructions for staff handling telephone complaints from customers.
- Give both your Christian and Surname. Staff who only give Christian names receive more abuse from customers. Those
who only give Surnames can create the impression they consider the customer as unimportant. Giving both names overcomes
both problems.
- Avoid having customers wait on the phone for assistance. If they must wait, tell them that you are helping another
customer. That will help make them less angry at the delay. After the delay, be sure to apologise for not being immediately
available. That often leads the customer to say "that's all right" - and helps put them in a more positive frame of mind.
- If you personally can't help, don't make excuses. Instead of saying "that's not my responsibility", say "that's a specialised
question. John Brown will have your answer. I'll transfer you to him".
- Never tell a customer they must do something. They get upset over words like "must", "should" and "have to". Instead,
make it a request. Rather than, "you'll have to ring the manager about that", try "would you like to ring the manager about that?"
- Do not ask customers to call you back. It creates a better impression to say you will call them. (It makes them think you
are actually doing something about their problem). In fact, it's probably easier for you to ring them because you can chose a
time most convenient for you. When you volunteer to call back, suggest a specific time you will call. The customer is more
likely to be there. But better yet, it gives the impression you mean what you say when you claim you will help.
- Avoid blaming anyone else in your organisation for the customers problem. Never say "the salesman should have told you",
instead, work out a tactful way of telling them what the salesman should have told them. If you can't think up a tactful way of
answering, tell them you will check the details and call them back in exactly ten minutes. That gives you time to work out
what to say in the most tactful manner.
|