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Chapter 15. YOUR EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL CUSTOMERS. What do Customers Really Want. Satisfied and happy customers are the scarcest and most crucial resource. Customers buy two things: good feelings and solutions to problems. What do Customers Really Want.
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Chapter 15 YOUR EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL CUSTOMERS
What do Customers Really Want • Satisfied and happy customers are the scarcest and most crucial resource. • Customers buy two things: good feelings and solutions to problems.
What do Customers Really Want • High-quality customer service is important for three reasons: • Greater competition. • The growth of services in the U.S. over the past few decades. • Keeping customers happy and loyal simply makes good economic sense. • *Customer service is NOT mandatory
Customer Service: A Definition • Customer service is part of successful selling; satisfied customers come back as customers. • Cost of finding a new customer is greater than keeping an existing one. • Unhappy customers have a high cost – They share unpleasant experiences with others.
Customer Service: A Definition • Working on improving customer relations is good for self-development. • Customer relations is a challenging aspect of human relations skill development.
The Internal Customer • * Internal customer • *The person who depends on other people in the company to provide services and products to the external customer. • Usually does not walk away when the service is bad. • Treating them right is crucial to the overall success of the business.
The Two Simplest Principles of Customer Service • *Two principles while dealing with customers: • Find out what the customer needs. • Do whatever is necessary to satisfy those needs. • Besides immediate purchase needs, customers have basic human needs.
Issues in Customer Service • Your customers and your attitude • Many business people have the attitude that customers exist only for their benefit. • Customers should always be treated the same way as they are treated the first time. • *They should not be taken for granted.
Issues in Customer Service • Delivering bad news • *Bad news skills is necessary to deliver bad news to customers but still retain their business and goodwill. • Most customers do not prefer hearing the word ‘policy’ - one of the weakest refusals.
Issues in Customer Service • Encouraging complaints • In some way, every customer has a problem. • Learn to focus on the problem. • Don’t rely on being told what the problem is. • Most customers are “nice” customers who don’t complain, but respond by taking their business elsewhere. • Customer complaints are necessary and should be encouraged. • *Don’t take customer complaints personally.
Issues in Customer Service • *A complaint is an opportunity to improve that may not be noticed otherwise. • * Emphasis on listening implies that it’s a customer-focused business. • Make complaining easy for the customer. • Reward customers who complain. • Most importantly, the complaints should be taken care of.
Handling the Difficult Customer • Though customers may be wrong, they may have to be treated as though they are correct. • This requires self-discipline and courage. • Two things to remember: • *Stay focused – The success of the company depends on satisfying customers, no matter how unreasonable they might seem. • * Avoid the self-esteem trap – Do not take a customer’s attack personally, letting it affect your self-esteem.
Going the Extra Mile • A company gives customers small extra products or services as a way of showing appreciation for their business. • It nearly always pays for itself.
Using Strong Ethics • Acting ethically is essential in dealings with customers and would-be customers. • Employees and managers must bear in mind the ethical issues when considering overall needs of their company.
Who is Running the Business • Limits should be set on the extent to which a customer is allowed to run the business. • Regardless of how important the customer is, he or she must never be allowed to undermine company decisions.
Strategies for Success • Establish a bond with the customer: • Understand the customer’s real needs. • If your customer is another business, learn about that business. • Provide exceptional service. • Avoid taking your special relationship for granted.
Strategies for Success • * Support the customer’s self-esteem: • Put the customer at ease. • Put yourself in the customer’s place. • Make the customer feel understood. • Make the customer feel important. • Praise the customer appropriately.
Strategies for Success • Handle the difficult customer professionally: • Let the customer vent. • Get the facts. • Be sure you understand the customer’s feelings. • Suggest a solution. • End positively. • Don’t expect to win them all.