How to Take Care of Upset Customers

by Keith Lee

Here is our LEAR System.

Listen and dont interrupt. When people are upset they practice what they are going to say. And they practice it from the beginning. If you interrupt, they are going to start all over again. So... dont interrupt. Obviously, if the customer is getting loud and unruly you may need to quietly interrupt. But, in almost all cases, DONT INTERRUPT!

Empathize with something like, 'I can understand why youre upset. I would be upset too.' or, 'Im really sorry that happened to you.'

Ask. 'What can I do to make you happy?' It doesnt get much easier than that.

Resolve - Unless the customers request is absolutely ridiculous, DO IT! But what if the customer asks for something ridiculous? What if what the customer wants is totally out of line? The clerk should then be trained to refer the situation to a manager with something like, 'Let me see what I can do. Ill be right back.' And then find an empowered manager (more on that in future issues). In order to use the LEAR System effectively you need to empower your front line people with your 'Make You Happy Guarantee'. I believe 'Make You Happy' is the best and least costly guarantee for your business.

Heres our Make You Happy Guarantee. 'When a customer has a problem, TMSrs are trained to ask What can I do to make you happy? In 31 years we have never refused a customers request to make it right.'

Does this mean well do anything? Just about, but my guess is that some day someone will ask for something so outrageous that we dont do it. Then we wont be able to say 'in 31 years weve never refused a customers request to make it right.'

Ive given my seminar, How To Compete With The Mass Merchandisers, to a few different organizations. Each time I ask retailers if any have a guarantee similar to ours. In each seminar a few people raise their hands. Then I ask them how the guarantee works. Every person, every time answers, 'Great!'.

Then I ask each of these retailers with the What Can I Do To Make You Happy Guarantee, 'How often do people ask for more than what you would be willing to give them?' The answer is 'almost never' or 'never'!

If people never, or almost never ask for more than you would be willing to give them, why ask them to jump through hoops, or talk to a manager to give them what they want?

Keith Lee is the creator of the 'Make-You-Happy Management System.' Keith developed the system in 1991 when he was burnt out from all of the stresses and time issues involved with running his business. system creates happy customers, happy employees, but most of all gives you back you life. For more information and other articles on management, employees and customer Service visit: www.top-performance-teams.com

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