When one hears the words “customer service,” the first thought that often comes to one’s mind is an employee helping an individual. According to Study.com, the definition of customer service is, “The act of taking care of the customer’s needs by providing and delivering professional, helpful, high-quality service and assistance before, during, and after the customer’s requirements are met. Customer service is meeting the needs and desires of any customer.” But does every company follow that?
When someone walks into a store or restaurant, they are known to be greeted. Stores like Walmart, Ulta, and Dicks Sporting Goods, are always on top of having a set greeter there when one walks through the door. The first thing they ask is either, “How are you?” or “Hi, what can I help you with?” In fast food chains, like Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, and Crumbl Cookies, employees greet their customers before taking their orders. Some places are not as on top of that as they should be, and why is that? Sometimes if employees are overwhelmed or frustrated, they may take it out on their guests. They can easily get distracted and forget that they are supposed to have a smile on their face and greet people who come by.
Customer service isn’t just for customers; it also helps employees within the companies. When guests are happy, so are employees. It directly impacts customer satisfaction and loyalty. When guests have positive experiences, they are more likely to return. The three keys to customer service are patience, professionalism, and a “people first” attitude. Consumer issues should be handled promptly. This is so that the guest does not become more frustrated by being forced to wait. Handling this efficiently can stop negative reviews and harm within a business’ image.
When my friends and I are trying to decide where to go out to eat, we go to Chick-fil-A. Despite how tasty the chicken and waffle fries are, we are always amazed by the customer service we receive. The workers are always so full of manners and kindness when talking to us, which is a bonus on top of the great food. Even if one goes through the drive-through rather than dining in, they never fail to make a guest feel welcome. Having great customer service is good for the company’s feedback and their consumer’s feedback. Receiving great customer service makes people want to come back and recommend it to others.
Employees’ professionalism ensures that customers are treated with respect and that the company is represented to the customer in a good form. Having compassion shows understanding of the guests’ concerns. Obtaining outstanding customer service allows a company to retain and create loyal customers. Consumer service isn’t just important in the work environment, but it is also important in everyday life. It can help one’s social life by building communication skills, teaching one how to handle different personalities, and help people in all types of life situations.
