by Dawn Hawkins

Created on: June 02, 2009

Shopping should be a good experience but it isn't always. The employees are often rude and inattentive when you attempt to get their attention. You can be treated as though you are a second class citizen and "how dare you interrupt me" is the attitude we are often faced with. There is a way to throw a curve ball into the ever growing poor customer service attitude of many businesses. Knowing how to get the best customer service possible can save you a tremendous amount of time and energy.

Here are some tips on how to get the best customer service:

Shopping Experience

When you are looking for something and need some help in finding it, it can be difficult to find an employee. Chances are, you aren't going to find anyone if you just stand in the middle of the floor looking lost. Although there are businesses that have people available at all times, many businesses have cut back on their employees. If you really need help, whether it's finding a product or a question about a product, you will find it quicker and easier to walk to the front of the store.

Going to the customer service desk of the store to request help may sound like an awful lot of work. It will achieve two things though. It will get you the best customer service as now the employee feels a bit guilty that there wasn't anyone there to help you. The second thing it achieves is to let the store know that you didn't appreciate having to walk all the way to the front in order to find something in the back of the store. This can be great feedback for businesses that aren't taking customer service as seriously as they should be.

Be Friendly

Customer service people, including those on the sales floor, will be more responsive to your needs if you are friendly to them. Customer service is a difficult job. These people are often treated poorly by customers who have had a bad day. Putting a smile on your face and talking with a friendly voice will get you the best possible customer service with the smallest possible hassles. Treat employees as you would want to be treated. It works magic.

Returns

When returning a product, make sure that you have all the information that you will need for the least hassle. Have your receipt handy and your identification. Not every store will ask for identification but many now have this policy. Give an accurate description as to why you are returning the product.

Call Centers

If you are calling in to a customer service representative, it is important to have all the information available for them to be able to help you with your query. This includes your name, address, phone number, order number and the specific reason why you are calling. It is also helpful to have your customer ID number handy. Invoice numbers are an even bigger help. Have all of your paperwork available along with the product number.

When the customer service representative isn't right there with you, it is difficult for them to understand your needs if you can't be very specific. The more specific you can be, the better they will be able to help you with your problem.

Always keep in mind that customer service representatives are people. Treat them with as much respect as you would want to be treated, be accurate and have all of your paperwork and the product available. This will ensure that you get the best possible customer service that you can get.

Learn more about this author, Dawn Hawkins.
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