Can you think of a good example?
“What’s your example of good customer service?” ….. Silence
“I can’t think of any” our PR course participant replied …
“Ok, I’ll come back to you later, you’ll surely think of one example”
As part of our PR courses for small business we always emphasise that PR is about “managing your reputation“.
Your PR firm can play a valuable part in that process but any efforts here are totally worthless if a business can’t create the right reputation building blocks by providing good customer service. We make this point on our courses and conduct a small exercise by asking the participants if they can give us examples of good customer service.
This exercise always surprises me as we often see some repetition with names of businesses that are mentioned – for example at two recent courses Apple were mentioned for their “no quibble” approach to problems. Nash19 always get a mention in courses that we run in Cork. The examples given are always intriguing and often they relate to how a problem or an issue was dealt with.
At a recent class we conducted this “good customer service” exercise and the first person to respond launched into a bad experience she had with a mobile broadband provider. I stopped her in her tracks and emphasised that it was examples of “good” customer service that we were actually looking for. She nodded politely as if she had grasped my point …. She then continued to tell the group in detail, blow by blow how lousy the service was! The whole group broke into laughter as we witnessed first hand how enthusiastic we are about sharing “bad” experiences.
In our most recent course I continued asking the other participants for their examples of good service and I was surprised to come to another person who again could not give me an example of good customer service … Not one!
“You’ll think of one in a minute, I’ll come back to you” I said , giving them an extra few moments to think of an example.
Once again I continued asking the others for their examples.
My own example that I shared with the group happened quite recently in West Cork.
At the Celtic Ross Hotel recently I was running a Social Media course early in the morning. As I arrived a hotel staff member looked after me, took me to the well equipped and very comfortable conference room and then asked me if I wanted a coffee ….godsend!
On this gorgeous morning I found myself with a few minutes to spare so I vey briefly walked outside to take in the fabulous view. When I came back , Michal from the hotel brought me a cup of coffee but there was one already on my presentation table. Confused I pointed out that he had already brought me a cup ..”Oh yeah, I spotted that you had gone outside and I guessed your coffee would have been cold!”
Wow ….that’s great service – I shared my story with the group.
To finish the customer service session I went back to the two ladies who earlier could not think of an example.
“Sorry, I can’t think of anything” said the first. I turned to the other – “I’m really sorry” she said apologetically “I can’t think of an example either”
This just amazed me ..
Is customer service so bad that some of us never have a good experience or is it that we just remember the bad?
PR starts with good customer service.
Can you think of an example?
Greg Canty is a partner of Fuzion
Tags: Apple, Celtic Ross Hotel, Fuzion PR, Greg Canty, PR Cork, PR Training, social media training
Greg Canty Fuzion Blog 
April 24, 2012 at 12:28 pm |
Very true. I am the lucky driver of a leased car, a Skoda. I had recent cause to visit the dealer (and I have no problem mentioning them), Tarrant’s, Banteer, Co. Cork. The simple courtesy was a delight. They fixed me up and sent me on my way, without them earning a penny from the transaction. A free car wash was given to me, also, a nice touch. Contrast this with many in the industry who will fleece you without question.
I did pass on my compliments to my Leasing Company (another great Cork Company, by the way, Johnson & Perrott) and SKODA Ireland. I try to take time out to compliment those who deserve it. Life and business is hard enough without getting praise when it is deserved.
April 25, 2012 at 10:48 am |
you are so right Peadar – celebrate the positive ! thanks for sharing the good story
April 24, 2012 at 1:48 pm |
That’s fascinating, but it makes total sense in terms of narrative theory. E. M. Forster sketched out some details on how stories work work, and he pointed out that a real plot generally involves
‘equilibrium, then disequilibrium, and then a state of equilibrium again (either via the restoration of the old status quo, or the assertion of a new one.)
It’s just harder to make a decent plot out of a situation which is about making the status quo a bit nicer.
It’s another version of the problem John Milton faced when he wrote Paradise Lost, and accidentally made Satan cooler than God. We love drama and villains, and that can make it tricky to get good news stories about businesses out there.
April 25, 2012 at 10:47 am |
so Satan is the cool guy !! It is interesting …
April 25, 2012 at 12:48 pm |
Hi Greg,
Completely agree with what you are saying here. In my line of work, customer service is absolutely paramount from start to finish, and the receiving of good customer service is appreciated, but ends there. The story only gets passed on if the service is great, excellent or exceptional…!
I heard a story recently of a staff member at another business running after a customer in Malahide who had forgotten their bag, and ended up on the train halfway to Portmarnock just to make sure the two were reunited – really going the extra mile (or a bit further in his case..!)
But the story got around, and as a result, people have been talking, and the business will probably see more customers in as a result.
People are looking for more than just the product and its pricing now, they are looking for that extra touch, and that wow factor.
July 23, 2012 at 2:55 pm |
I think if people go to a hotel or restaurant, vs. going to a hostel or supermarket, they are paying a good bit extra, and so people expect to be catered for and looked after.
So people are not surprised when they are looked after, and most people are happy with simply that, but yes there are always little things than can be done.
I’m always using the internet on my phone, and so I always appreciate when the staff at a hotel, pub or restaurant are happy to charge it for me if it goes dead. I also love free nibbles on arrival in a restaurant or pub, and offers to box up uneaten food for take-away.
Something I saw at a wedding venue too was a very well-stocked bathroom – a little basket in the ladies’ with everything from deodorant to paracetamol to hand cream. Nice touch.
July 23, 2012 at 8:23 pm |
thanks for reading and the great feedback Julia