I believe I have found a way for you to beat your competitors in a guaranteed way.  This is just by delivering what you promise to do.  Simples!!

I never cease to be amazed by the appalling service that so many companies still think is acceptable.

Just this past week I have encountered the following:

Laura Ashley promising delivery within 3 working days and yet 10 days later still no order received.  Their customer service is non-existent with emails being ignored and a wholly incompetent customer service representative on the other end of the phone when I eventually got through.

I have booked flights with British Airways and encountered numerous problems on their site when trying to enter Advanced Passenger Information and reserve seats.  Again, emails ignored until I took to social media.  I then get an email telling me to follow the links on the website.  But they don’t work!  This was followed by no less than 8 failed attempts to speak to them by phone as after following the automated service it either went to a constantly engaged tone or cut off altogether.

I went to enquire about a new car from Nissan only for the salesperson to say he would email what they had and the prices.  Why?  I was there in the showroom potentially ready to buy.  Was it because I was a lone woman and he didn’t believe I was serious without a man by my side?  I emailed Nissan to complain about his attitude, got an automated response saying someone would be in touch within 48 hours and never heard from them again.  Appalling!

Finally, a dodgy estate agent who is lazy beyond belief waits until the last minute to negotiate with the vendor on items he promised to do on day one.  He then uses the cop out line that the vendors have changed their mind.  I have reason to believe he lied through his teeth to get the sale and was just too incompetent to do his job properly.  Suffice to say, when I come to sell in the future, this agent will be last on my list.

All of these instances I wish I could say were rare but are unfortunately all too common.  Tradesmen who don’t return calls, or who come and give an estimate never to be seen again.  If they don’t want the work, just say so.  Cleaners who come to the office full of promises of how good they are only to leave a half done job that has to be redone.  Financial advisors who promise information to be sent only for them to have to be chased continuously.

So if you want to beat your competitors hands down, try focusing on customer service.  At the very least do what you say you will.  And if you can go the extra mile, I bet those customers will be so impressed they will come back to you time and time again.

 

I am now going to start noting good and bad customer service and writing about examples of these.  If you have any of your own that you would like to share, please pop over and add them on the Facebook page.