Customer Service - A Sweet Essence

First let us specifically define customer service. It is the performance of a duty or responsibility due to a customer as a result of selling them a product or service.

We must distinguish between customer sales and service versus customer service. Whereas customer sales and service is largely concerned with selling an additional item or an additional service subsequent to an initial sale, customer service is mainly concerned with customer care.

True customer service is synonymous with "ACCOMMODATION". When we sell a product or a service we accept the responsibility and the obligation to potentially provide our customers with a broad range of possible actions. These actions we define as customer service and may include necessary "ACCOMMODATIONS" to make the initial product or service reasonably useful in the way it was intended and in the way that it was marketed.

"Due to unusually heavy call volume our customer service agents are busy helping other customers. Your call is important to us. Please continue to hold? Please continue to hold? Please continue to hold?" No article on customer service would be complete without addressing automated telephone systems. We are all consumers. It does not matter what else we do, whether we are manufacturers or clerks or customer service agents. We should make ourselves available so that our customers can speak with us. Nothing beats face to face contact but the next best thing is a person's voice. Overall, I believe that automated phone systems may be the worst single tool ever invented for all of us as consumers.

There are a very few select companies whose systems serve us well by pointedly and quickly getting us fast service. But the vast majority of these automated telephone systems are nothing more than roadblocks to consumers. We have all been there and have been frustrated all too often. You might as well try to call the president of the United States.

WE, ALL OF US, ARE PUTTING EACH OTHER ON HOLD ON THE TELEPHONE LINE... !!!

Why not hire a live breathing caring human being who knows their job depends on their customer. This is not rocket science!

When was the last time that you received outstanding customer service? Did you feel like you wanted to do more business with that company? Did you like the people who were helping you? Right there is one of the most powerful forces in customer service - customer loyalty and retention. What else is there in business with such a sweet essence.

Biography: Since 1979 Jim Hoyle has owned and operated Lamp Manufacturer Factory Outlet. The company designs and manufactures truly unique lamps and acquires genuine antique vintage lamps through very special situations. They drop ship lamps worldwide for catalog companies, stores, designers, individual decorators and internet based companies of all kinds. Contact Jim at: junguljim@peoplepc.com or his company's website at http://www.hoylelamps.com

---

Google News Updated : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:49:19 GMT Nobel Prize awarded for AIDS, cervical cancer research - Los Angeles Times Times Online Nobel Prize awarded for AIDS, cervical cancer research Los Angeles Times - 1 hour ago Luc Montagnier dedicated his award to AIDS sufferers and predicted results on a "therapeutic vaccine" for the pandemic within four years. 2 AIDS researchers receive Nobel Prize Chicago Tribune Work tied to HIV, cancer earns scientists Nobel Prize Detroit Free Press People's Daily Online - International Herald Tribune - Philadelphia Inquirer - Hartford Courant all 1,117 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:01:27 GMT UPDATE 1-Qantas jet hits turbulence from Singapore; 30 hurt - Reuters ITV.com UPDATE 1-Qantas jet hits turbulence from Singapore; 30 hurt Reuters - 1 hour ago SYDNEY, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Over 30 people were injured, some with broken bones and lacerations, when a Qantas passenger jet flying from Singapore to Perth struck turbulence on Tuesday and had to make an emergency landing at a remote Australian airport, ... Mid-air incident forces Qantas flight to land just after takeoff guardian.co.uk 40 hurt in mid-air jet 'incident' in Australia CNN International Bloomberg - The Press Association - BBC News - Flight International all 153 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:46:41 GMT Scores homeless after Tibet quakes - CNN Xinhua Scores homeless after Tibet quakes CNN - 44 minutes ago (CNN) -- Nine people were killed in the pair of earthquakes that struck Tibet, China's Ministry of Civil Affairs reported on Tuesday, lowering the toll of 30 that had initially been reported. Government officials head to quake site in Tibet Xinhua Schools closed for safety after Tibet quake Reuters UK Aljazeera.net - United Press International - The Associated Press all 732 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:04:47 GMT New prenatal test may be less risky than amniocentesis - San Jose Mercury News ITV.com New prenatal test may be less risky than amniocentesis San Jose Mercury News - 6 hours ago By Lisa M. Krieger Building on the latest developments in DNA science, Stanford University researchers have designed a prenatal genetic test that appears to be just as accurate - but much safer than current methods like amniocentesis - by using a ... Safer prenatal Down's syndrome test found in US Reuters Blood Tests Ease Search for Down Syndrome New York Times Bloomberg - WebMD - Telegraph.co.uk - The Missoulian all 175 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:10:40 GMT Supreme Court opens term with cigarette marketing case - Los Angeles Times Canada.com Supreme Court opens term with cigarette marketing case Los Angeles Times - 1 hour ago The public lines up outside the Supreme Court on the first Monday in October, the traditional start of the court’s term, when justices hear oral arguments. Supreme Court Opens Term With a Tobacco Fraud Case New York Times Suit on Tobacco Ads Sparks Feisty Debate Washington Post USA Today - CNN - The Associated Press - Daily Press all 467 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:01:27 GMT Red Sox squeeze past Angels, advance to ALCS - Washington Post Red Sox squeeze past Angels, advance to ALCS Washington Post - 1 hour ago BOSTON (Reuters) - The Boston Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-2 on Monday at Fenway Park to advance to the American League Championship Series for the fourth time in six years. Rays, Red Sox will play for pennant Detroit Free Press Relentless Rays dominate ALDS MLB.com New York Times - FOXSports.com - Sports Network - Newsday all 2,394 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:48:05 GMT 'Saturday Night Live' is buzzworthy again, thanks to Tina Fey as ... - New York Daily News Sydney Morning Herald 'Saturday Night Live' is buzzworthy again, thanks to Tina Fey as ... New York Daily News - 31 minutes ago Once upon a time, TV viewers would have had to stay up late to watch Tina Fey do her Sarah Palin routines on "Saturday Night Live. Alive from New York, Fey's Palin Paces SNL E! Online Palin may appear on ‘SNL MSNBC Boston Herald - Reuters - Washington Post - New York Times all 402 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:17:55 GMT Rss Feed Reader Web Site Traffic

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

RETAIL GREETERS: Sales Builders or Customer Turnoff?

Do you need greeters or should you avoid them? That... Read More

Say It With Humor

When you own a business, you may find yourself in... Read More

Should I Have My Company Mystery Shopped?

I wish I had a nickel for every time someone... Read More

Add Value - And Kill Mediocrity in Customer Service

There are two kinds of customer service we all experience... Read More

Dissatisfied or Rude Customers Can Be Satisfied Customers

On a recent airline flight I was an upset... Read More

What You Need to Know About CRM

1. It's all about the customer. Some companies focus too... Read More

Your Actions Tell Your Clients How You Expect To Be Treated

There is a widely accepted principle of human behavior that... Read More

Customer Service For Huge Profits

Customer service is the most vital asset for Business either... Read More

How To Build a Profitable Business

It's never too soon to start saying thanks to your... Read More

Customers - What They Really Want - 6 Secrets of Customer Service

What customers really want can be divided into two areas.Firstly... Read More

Hit The Jackpot With Customer Complaints

Our most powerful instinct is to avoid customer complaints, but... Read More

4 Tips Toward Overcoming Bad Customer Service

Customer service is the pits, you say. You are not... Read More

Get Customers to Stop Calling You--12 Easy Ways to Save Money with Online Customer Support

Despite rumors to the contrary, the Web is not dead.... Read More

How to Deliver Exceptional Customer Service

Having been in business a number of years, I'm amazed... Read More

Develop Loyal Customers for a Lifetime ? part 2 (11 ? 20)

Traditional marketing strategies encourage business owners to continually grow their... Read More

What Every Employee Should Know About Putting Positive Phrases Into Customer Service

If you were a customer on the telephone with a... Read More

Making the Connection: Customer Relationships That Build Your Business

Have you ever wondered why you often find a coupon... Read More

From Disgruntled to Champion - How to Turn an Unhappy Client Into Your Best Customer

It's a salesperson's worst nightmare- the phone call that comes... Read More

Whats For Lunch?

As an entrepreneur, I'm always intrigued by small businesses, home-based... Read More

Whats Love Got To Do With It?

Customer Loyalty, we all want it. Don't we?Some people say... Read More

Treating the Customer Dissatisfaction Epidemic: How to Go Beyond Simply Masking the Symptoms

Corporations in every sector are spending more than ever before... Read More

Finding Out Why a Potential Customer is Calling On You

Our challenge as the business owner/sales person answering the telephone,... Read More

5 Ways Customer Service Managers are Implementing to Increase Customer Focus

According to a Forum Corporation survey of commercial customers lost... Read More

Create a Positive, Upbeat, Can-Do Workforce and Dazzle the Customer with Your Caring!

Given the choice of dealing with a positive, upbeat employee... Read More

Setting Up a Customer of the Week Program for a Mobile Car Wash

In a mobile detail or mobile car wash business you... Read More