Who Cares

Good morning,

It's Friday – and that makes me smile. But something else is making me smile even more today, a recent encounter with great customer service. It prompted me to share this simple reminder.

When you care, it shows.

For great (or even just good) customer service, there's no substitute for caring – no matter what else is taught in a training manual.

Where did I find great customer service? The other day I went to Twelve Oaks Mall to replace my favorite watch. After presenting the watch at various jewelry stores to lukewarm responses, I walked into Helzberg Diamonds. The associate, Mida, who promptly greeted me - instead of just pointing out what they had on display – also looked closely at my watch, asked me questions about it and proceeded to research her catalogues and computer in search of exactly what I wanted. Her attitude and actions together showed that she genuinely cared.

But here's the twist. Despite Mida's efforts, she wasn't able to find what I wanted. I was on a specific mission, so off I went. I eventually found my new watch at Lord & Taylor, but they didn’t have an in-store jeweler to customize the links in the band to fit my little wrist. So now what? Mida at Helzberg had struck me as a caring person, so even though it was a little awkward to go back and tell her I found the watch somewhere else, I felt she might understand. Sure enough, she handled my odd request with total grace. That's when the Helzberg experience went from good to great. I walked out with a perfectly fitted watch and a new favorite jewelry store. She might not even realize it, but the next time I'm shopping for jewelry, I'm headed to Helzberg.

The bottom line – caring is the key to customer service. If we don't care, performing the right procedures won't be enough. If we do care, even situations that seem like problems become opportunities to create customers for life.

May you enjoy great customer service - and have a sunny day!

Clarity

P.S. “What seems nasty, painful, evil, can become a source of beauty, joy and strength, if faced with an open mind. Every moment is a golden one for him who has the vision to recognize it as such.” Henry Miller, with special thanks to the Forum Fitness Center in Garden City for sharing this quote.

P.P.S. Thank you for visiting www.MySunnyNotes.com. If you’re new to Sunny Notes and would like to receive my sunny email each Friday, visit www.JoinSunnyNotes.com.

Clarity Patton Newhouse
Metropolitan Lincoln Mercury
32000 Ford Road
Garden City, MI 48135
313-670-7505
www.metromichigan.com