Keeping Customers when Things Go Wrong

Five keys to turning upset customers into fans

Copyright © JC Mowatt Seminars Inc.
Used with permission of the author:
Author: Jeff Mowatt
From the series Influence with Ease ®
http://www.jeffmowatt.com
23 March 2007

When it comes to dealing with dissatisfied customers, most business owners and managers believe that money back guarantees and/or exchange policies will fix the problem. Lousy strategy. Money back guarantees and exchanges may fix the problem, but they do nothing to fix the relationship. Policies don’t fix relationships - people do.

When I speak at conventions and meetings on how to boost customer retention, I often find that there is little attention paid to how employees can fix the damaged relationship when the customer has been let down. The consequences of this are staggering.

Inadequately trained front line employees chase away repeat customers and referrals, spread damaging word-of-mouth advertising, and become frustrated and de-motivated because they’re constantly dealing with upset customers.

On the other hand, by applying just a few critical people skills, front line employees can create such positive feelings - for both themselves and their customers, that an upset customer will become even more loyal. They’ll be transformed from being a critic of your organization to becoming an advocate. Here are 5 key strategies:

1.  Focus on concerns  vs. complaints

No one likes to hear customers complain. Employees become impatient and defensive when faced with these “trouble-makers.” One of my seminar participants equated listening to customer complaints to undergoing amateur eyeball surgery. (That can’t be good). 

To prevent this defensive mindset, employees need to be trained to treat customer complaints as concerns. Employees should be made aware of the fact that customers who express concerns are helping you to stay sharp, competitive and successful. Focusing on a customer concerns vs. complaints will immediately shift a potentially negative situation into one that is positive, helpful, and productive.

2.   Empower front line employees

For their 43rd wedding anniversary, my father called a florist to order 43 roses for my mother. When Dad asked for the price, the clerk quoted the single rose price times 43. She offered no quantity discount despite the fact that they’re usually cheaper by the dozen. She admitted that this didn’t make sense, adding that her boss wasn’t in and the policy was to issue no discounts without the manager’s approval. Result - a competitor got the order and Dad will never go back to the first florist.

The lesson is that you can often prevent customers from becoming upset if you empower your front line employees to make reasonable on-the-spot decisions. This type of delegation require two important factors: training and trust. The irony is that a lot of managers say they can’t afford to train employees, when in fact they can’t afford not to. You don’t get customers for free. You earn customers by investing in front line training.

3.   Prove that you’re listening

When a customer is voicing their dissatisfaction,  stop whatever you’re doing, turn towards them and give them an expression of total concern. Listen without interrupting. 

Then prove that you’ve heard them. That means repeating and paraphrasing. IMPORTANT: make sure you tell them why you’re repeating what they’ve said. For example, you might say, “I want to make sure I’ve got this straight...” (then you paraphrase and repeat). That ensures that the customer knows that you truly understand the problem.  

4.   Express sincere empathy

Virtually every upset customer feels frustrated because they didn’t get what they expected. It’s that simple. Whether or not they have a valid reason for feeling frustrated is completely irrelevant. Upset customers need to know that you care - not just about their problem - but about their frustration. So, empathize. That’s something that no refund or exchange will ever do. Use phrases like, “Gosh, that sounds frustrating.” Or,  “I’d feel the same way if I were you.” Empathizing will diffuse an angry customer faster than any thing else you can do.

5.   Apologize and provide extras

Tell the customer, “I’m sorry.” Even if it wasn’t your fault, but your co-worker’s, you represent your organization to that customer, so apologize on behalf of the entire company. Even when you suspect the customer may have erred, it’s better to give the customer the benefit of the doubt, than to be “right” and loose a lifetime of repeat and spin-off business.

If your product or service really did fall short of the mark, then to retain the customer, of course you’d give them a refund or exchange. But that’s not enough. On top of the exchange or refund, give them something for their inconvenience. Any small gesture or token of appreciation (that doesn’t force them to spend more money) will be greatly appreciated and will transform that upset customer into one of your greatest advocates.

The Training Solution

Every business has occasions where things go wrong and customers are disappointed. When that happens, your customer base won’t be preserved by money back guarantees or exchanges. Rather, your business will be saved by properly trained front line employees.   

This article is based on the critically acclaimed book, Becoming a Service Icon in 90 Minutes a Month by business strategist, consultant, and international speaker Jeff Mowatt. To obtain your own copy of his book or to inquire about engaging Jeff for your team, visit http://www.jeffmowatt.com or call 1-800-JMowatt (566-9288)

Jeff Mowatt B.Comm. CSP, is a customer service strategist who consults, lectures, and writes on the topic Influence with Ease®. He is the author the critically acclaimed book Becoming a Service Icon in 90 Minutes a Month. Jeff's insights are the culmination of over 25 years of experience and consulting with dozens of corporations. An award winning communicator, his first series of "Influence with Ease®" articles has been featured in over 200 business journals. For an overview of these publications and more information about Jeff's work as a business advisor click http://www.jeffmowatt.com.

Short summary
Empowering front line staff and training them to deal effectively and courteously with irate customers and clients would increase customer and employee loyalty for the organisation.

Keywords and relevant phrases
Advertising, apology, complaints, concerns, customer services, empathy, empowerment, front line people, investment, motivation, people skills, policy, relationship, retention, soft skills, strategy, training, trust, value-added service.