How May I Help You.
“How may I help you , mam? ” came a very pleasant voice from the other end of the phone. I was irritated with the service or rather the lack of service from this particular service provider. I had all the data about the previous calls made, the vague reasons that the previous customer care executives had given, the complaint number etc at my fingertips. I was all prepared to tell them why their service was bad and that I just wanted to stop their services.
But strangely something about the way this executive spoke, calmed me down. I ran her through all my concerns and issues and asked her to give me a solution. She did not intervene or try to give reasons for lack of service. Instead, she listened to me patiently and gave me a plan that could work the best for my requirements. She asked me to think through it and get back to her. The best part was that she gave me a landline number at which I could get connected to her directly. ( Which meant I did not have to go through the entire process again by getting connected to a new executive) . Before ending the call I actually thanked her for patiently listening and talking to me.
While in the call , I was making note of the information I was collecting from her . She gave me time to understand the product and clarify all my doubts regarding that product. When I looked at my notes, I realised that I had learnt a lot about the product and I could use it while talking to any other service provider for that product. And that is exactly what I did. I used this information to bargain a deal with the other service providers I spoke to. I even considered continuing services from the same company. But since I got a much better deal with another company I went ahead with it.
I eventually called her back and told her that I have gone ahead with another service provider because of some extra benefits that they provided. She did not sound any different even after I told her that. She wished me a good day and ended the conversation on a very happy note. I thanked called her for helping me in understanding the product.
We have read a lot of blogs and articles about the bad experiences that people have with customer care executives. I have had my fair share of those too. But there have been instances when I have encountered such good people at the other end of the phone. Some of them have a knack to speak , to genuinely understand your concerns, to calm you down and to help you. And some of them just lack all of it.
So, the next time you call up a toll free number , May you get those who fall in category 1. 🙂
Comments
So refreshing when you can talk to people who are polite and well-mannered and sound genuinely caring. We need more of that.
Yes Anneli. And who has knowledge about the product or service they represent.
Exactly. And if they don’t, they’ll find someone who does.
Wow. It’s refreshing to read you had a positive customer service experience. Most of the time, I don’t. Sometimes the service person is kind, but has no idea what he/she is talking about. Those people frustrate me the most.
That I agree. They keep repeating the same thing over and over again – but politely!! 🙂 🙂
I agree. Understanding of the product is the basic qualification that is required.
Yes Deepa. Hope we all get onto the First kind of service!
Absolutely Radhika.
It’s amazing how basic manners can turn a situation around. I had a bad situation with our cable provider many years ago and actually got tired of dealing with the service people so I look up the phone number of their administrative offices and called that. I have no idea who I was actually talking to, but the woman did the same thing your executive did. Even better, she solved the problem. To this day, I have a much higher opinion of that company than I ever would otherwise. And her calm and polite manner meant I was also calm and polite, which is exactly how conversations, business or otherwise, should be. Great post!
Absolutely Ann. All that is required is a good understanding of the product and should follow the basic protocol of any conversation.
Glad that you had a similar good experience too.
Great that you had a good experience and I bet the executive concerned really appreciated your follow up call
Thank you ..
Hmm, on call not so much but I like services on flights mostly. Once I ordered a 3 inch Cello tape and it did not get delivered. The supplier apologized asked if my work is impacted and resent it. And added a 2 inch tape free too. It was a small order yet he took time to call me on my complaint and then give a bonus. So good people are there.
Hi Deepa, I’ve nominated you for The Liebster Award. 🙂
Thanks much Radhika. I will take some time to put my thoughts together and respond to it.
Take your time Deepa. 🙂