customer complaints

From http://www.50secrets.com/
When I first ventured into the working world I landed a job that required a great deal of customer service.
There were some valuable lessons I learned on the job that I now use at home.
Those who work in customer service are taught that when customers have complaints, that we should first listen to them. We are often tempted to try to solve their "problem" before we even hear them finish telling us why they are upset. If we listen to their whole story, sometimes that in itself satisfies them. They just needed to let off a little steam.
The second step in good customer service is to acknowledge the problem and to be genuinely sorry that everything did not go as they expected.
A simple, yet sincere apology satisfies many situations.
Only after we have fully heard the complaint and have acknowledged their suffering can we truly offer them some sort of compensation. In many cases if you ask a customer how they would like the situation remedied, they will offer a solution that is both very fair and will have them very satisfied.
The next time your mate comes to you with a complaint, don't butt in, but fully listen to them. Understand and express sympathy for their hurt feelings. Ask them what you can do for them to make them feel better. If you want your beloved to keep coming back, treat them like they are your number one customer.
Something to think about...