Have you ever been to the store, be it a grocery store, retail store or auto shop and had a totally frustrating, exhausting experience that made you angry? Most likely all of us have had at least one of these.

This is the result of Poor Customer Service. We all can agree that customer service is at an all time low. There are many instances in which you as the customer have been treated so poorly or not acknowledged at all that you will not return to that business again.

Many companies and businesses talk a great deal about the necessity and benefits of providing good service to their customers, but unfortunately, many of these same companies fall far short of actually delivering such service.

Good customer service comes down to putting yourself (the company/business) in the shoes of the customer and treating them the same way you would like to be treated. We, as the consumer, want to deal with people who are thoroughly knowledgeable about the company’s products and services, but, in the process, want to be treated with courtesy, respect, understanding, and tolerance and, yes, sometimes, even empathy.

So, what can we do as a consumer? Unfortunately, only four percent of the population does anything to respond to poor customer service. A lot of us just don’t bother to take action or are too upset to take the time and energy to deal with the issue. But there are ways in which we can take control and come out as winners.

• Become a Consumer Advocate- This is very hard for people to do. We tend to believe that our words will not be taken seriously or that nothing will be done if we speak up. But that is exactly what being a consumer advocate is about- standing up for our rights as a consumer and resolving a situation in our favor. If you have never taken action, the first time you do will be the first step towards taking control.
  
  
• Write Letters- Most of us probably have no idea who to send the letter to, what to say, when to send it and how to resolve the issue calmly. When we are treated poorly our judgments can be affected and we may lean towards being angry and negative. Writing a letter allows us to express our feelings and desires on how to become a satisfied customer without the shouting, foot stomping, red face and all-out blow up.
  
  
• Talk to the Manager- This option is one of the best ways to communicate and hopefully resolve your issue quickly. If the company or business has a good manager, they will want to find out what the problem is and make you a happy customer as soon as possible. Unfortunately, managers can be as bad to deal with as their subordinates. It takes a little finesse and knowing what to say when dealing with managers.

Every day we come across issues that need to be resolved from things that could be as important as medical bills to something “On Sale” that did not ring up as such. It has gotten to the point that we have to read between the lines and double check to make sure we have not been cheated, ripped off, scammed or overcharged.

I hope that starting today you seize the opportunity to realize that as a consumer you have rights, and no one can take those rights away. With your own ability to take charge and make a difference you CAN be in control to resolve any issue that is not to your satisfaction. Many businesses stress Satisfaction Guaranteed and you can pursue any matter until this is fulfilled.

Websites that can be helpful or of interest:
www.privacyrights.org
www.consumerlaw.org
www.soundoff.com
www.bbb.org (Better Business Bureau)
www.ftc.gov (Federal Trade Commission)
www.consumerworld.org

Next time you feel frustrated or angry about your customer service experience, remember:
You Can Do Something About It!