Customer Service - How Good Are You?
At 8.30 am a wealthy client (on his way to make a presentation to
the local council at 9 am) walked into a store that sells
photocopiers. They also provide a copy service. He wanted to make a
back-up copy of his lengthy presentation.
The shop appeared to be open - doors unlocked, lights on, etc but
the young lady who met him said she couldn't do photocopies until 9
am because that's when the copy centre opened for business.
He went two doors down the road to the Council Library and did them
himself at 10 cents per page, spending $11.00.
Guess where he won't look for his next copier?
Two men walked into a bakery / coffee shop at 4.45 pm and asked for
two coffees and two slices of cake. They were told they could only
have the cake to take-away as the shop closed at 5 and coffee took
too long to make and drink.
They left.
The point is that the two men were local council aldermen and the
Deputy Mayor owns the shop.
The owner of a local cafe went on holidays and hung a sign in the
window "Have taken 10 days holiday. We knew you'd understand". I
understood. I went around the corner, discovered a new cafe that has
given me a voucher for a free coffee for every four I buy. I'm going
there again.
How's this in contrast?
My lawnmower man was driving down my street on Sunday and saw me
pruning some bushes in the yard. He stopped, grabbed his chain saw
and started to help.
I asked him how much he wanted and he said, "Nothing mate. I was on
my way to the tip and the trailer isn't full". He knows the value of
a customer - he's cut my lawn on average 20 times a year for the
last five years.
I pay him $25 per mow - that's over $2,500 over five years so I
guess a free load to the tip wasn't that much to give away. He saved
me having to borrow a trailer and spend my afternoon going to the
tip. He's got a lot more $25 coming his way!
Such a little thing but what cost and what benefit?
Take a look at the silly things you do that cost you money and fix
them!
© James Yuille, Brisbane, Australia, 2004.
About the author:
James Yuille is a sales and marketing consultant and trainer with
over 32 years experience. He is based in Brisbane, Australia. His
free weekly sales and marketing newsletter provides
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