Monday 9 August 2010

What is good customer service?


This week’s list got me thinking, what does good customer service mean for you?  It’s obviously different things to different people and I’m curious to know what your expectations are?

To me it’s something over and above, or at least I think it should be, but now I’m wondering whether in some instances we’ve got so used to poor service, that when something just comes up to scratch we’re so surprised that we think it’s more than that. 

Let me give you an example  concerning a well known restaurant chain that’s been around on the high street for years (you know the one – modelled on something from across the Channel!).  It’s been my experience over the years, that whichever one of them I use the service has been pretty poor – not coming back after serving you your meal to see if it’s ok, or if you need anything else etc.  I’ve lost count of the times in those establishments that I’ve had to leave the table and go to look for someone to ask for salt/pepper, a glass of water or even the bill! 

So when I last visited and had an attentive server I was initially impressed with the ‘good customer service’.  Later, upon reflection, I realised that it was only normal service that anyone should expect to receive when they go out and pay for a meal. I started to wonder whether my expectations have dropped so much that I think normal service is ‘good or outstanding’?

My question to you – What is good customer service?

Friday 6 August 2010

Friday 'shout up' for businesses highlighted for their good customer service – 06 August 2010





Sorry for the lack of ‘shout up’ last week, but I guess a lot of people were on holiday because recommendations were thin on the ground.

Our sincere thanks to everyone who has told us about the businesses they have had good customer service from. On their behalf we would like to put the spotlight on the following:


ü  VodafoneUK  - for responding quickly and professionally to any question. Recommended by @dogsbodyorg
 ü  Harrison Cameras OnLine - gave good service, delivered on time and the camera worked immediately. Recommended by @michaeloon
 ü  HillHouseNursery.co.uk - ordered plants online and can’t fault them in anyway. The plants were lovely and in good condition, the delivery was on time. All round excellent – thank you. Recommended by @hazelmclellan
  
We know that there are lots of other great businesses out there so if you've had a great customer experience please let us know. 

Wishing you a great weekend.
Lyn and Hazel

Come and join us on our Findgoodcustomerservice Facebook page, or find us on Twitter @findgoodservice

Friday 23 July 2010

Friday 'shout up' for businesses giving great customer service – 23 July 2010


Once again we’d like to thank those who took the time this week to tell us about the businesses they would like to recommend for customer service. On their behalf we would like to put the spotlight on the following:

ü  Alison the Gardener, Twyford, Berkshire. Alison offers excellent garden maintenance, weeding to tidying, advice, planting, big clear-ups. She does whatever is needed, doesn't try to upsell to pricey garden design and is properly customer-focused. Recommendation courtesy of @charliehobson 
ü RumseyShort, Camberley, Surrey a great graphic design agency, who really have the ‘personal touch’. Recommended by @lyncfrench   
ü  Ascot Cars, Berkshire is a great taxi service especially for the way they look after customers! Passwords for single women to ensure their safety – great customer service. Recommended by @LaCapelle
ü  Accounting-etc.co.uk, Twyford, Berkshire. Big thumbs up to accountant Graham Kemp, Accounting Etc for his endless patience, expertise, and always being at end of the phone.  Recommendation courtesy of @charliehobson 

We know that there are lots of other great businesses out there so if you've had a great customer experience please do let us know. 

Wishing you a great weekend.
Lyn and Hazel

Come and join us on our Findgoodcustomerservice Facebook page, or find us on Twitter @findgoodservice

Friday 16 July 2010

Friday 'shout up' for businesses giving great customer service




Thank you to those business members, readers and followers on Twitter who’ve again taken the time to let us know about the businesses they’d recommend for customer service. We’re delighted to give a virtual ‘round of applause’ for the following great businesses this week:
Thai 9 Restaurant in Reading, Berkshire. Great experience, £15 all you  can eat including sushi, karaoke booths upstairs and very easygoing staff! Recommendation courtesy of @charliehobson
Ocado for their delivery on time and great length of shelf life on the items they delivered, and free first delivery. Recommendation courtesy of @hazelmclellan
Numberstore.com  and Anna Whitworth in particular for consistent customer service, never forgetting about me and contacting me at regular intervals to update me on a particular situation that’s been outside their control, I continue to be very impressed. Recommendation by @lyncfrench
Cotswold Water Park Hotel for great service and staff who genuinely care! Recommendation courtesy of @adlstewart
HSBC Taunton, Somerset. They provided a great customer experience and made opening an additional account very quick and easy. Recommendation courtesy of @Adrianintheuk
Crowthorne Enterprise Centre, Berkshire. Recommended for their flexible, professional offices and range of business services designed to support companies during vital early years of operation all supported by their really friendly and helpful staff.  They also generously host BerkshireJelly every month. Recommended by @lyncfrench and @hazelmclellan
First Direct for providing constant and great customer service over the years that excels every time. Recommendation courtesy of @maturedatinguk1
Lakeland for always delivering fantastic customer service. Recomendation courtesy of @fairywishes

We know that there are lots of other great businesses out there so if you've had a great customer experience that you'd like to share please do let us know. 
Wishing you a great weekend.
 Lyn and Hazel

Come and join us on our Findgoodcustomerservice Facebook page, or find us on Twitter @findgoodservice

Friday 9 July 2010

Friday 'shout up' for some recommended businesses

Our thanks to those business members, readers and followers on Twitter who’ve taken the time to let us know about the businesses they’d recommend and why. There’s always so much said and written about businesses that don’t give good service, and rightly so.  But for those trying hard and putting the customers first, they don't always get the recognition they deserve so it’s not always easy to find out who they are.  So, this is our weekly mission – to find out who the businesses are and recognise their efforts by giving them a Friday ‘shout up’.  This week’s runners and riders are:

Little Dudley House restaurant in Dorking, Surrey recommended for their wonderful food, excellent discreet service, subtle background music and fabulous building that created the perfect experience. Recommendation by @lyncfrench
The Hilton Tower Bridge recommended for lovely staff, a great night’s sleep, fabulous executive floor lounge and terrace all adding up to a terrific experience. Recommendation courtesy of @charliehobson
BMW Rochdale recommended for the fact that they communicate, have decent facilities including washrooms, drinkable coffee and wifi so that you can work while waiting for your car. Recommendation courtesy of @adlstewart
Hand Picked Hotels recommended for their great customer service. I’ve had afternoon tea at the Woodlands Park hotel (HPH) and it was excellent and came with very good service which made it a great experience. Recommendation by @lyncfrench  also recommended by @adlstewart  
John Lewis online recommended for their excellent response to a late delivery and broken product which they replaced and refunded without hesitation – excellent. Recommendation courtesy of @ChrisCloggs

A big round of applause for those who’ve made it into this week’s ‘shout up’, they deserve your support.
We know that there are lots of other great businesses out there so if you've had a great customer experience that you'd like to share please let us know. 

Have a fantastic weekend, it's going to be a hot one!
Lyn and Hazel

Come and join us on our Findgoodcustomerservice Facebook page, or find us on Twitter @findgoodservice

Friday 2 July 2010

First Friday 'shout up' - recommended businesses


Over the last couple of weeks we've heard some great things from one of our business members about some businesses that she's used recently.  We're going to share the news here, but got to wondering whether we should make this a regular Friday blog?  A kind of consolidated 'shout up' about the good things we're told by you, our members and readers about businesses you use. So here's the first one:

naked wines recommended for their next day delivery and personalised recommendations.

Jamie's Italian in Reading recommended for their fantastic, knowledgeable, efficient and charming staff who, on the occasion that they were visited by our business member, were never idle!

Brabantia praised for their online, or by phone, replacement part service apparently even with or without a receipt!
So there you have it, 3 great companies all putting the customer at the top of their agenda.  If you've had a great customer experience that you'd like to share please let us know. 
Come and join us on our Facebook page, or find us on Twitter @findgoodservice
Have a fantastic weekend!
Lyn and Hazel

Wednesday 21 April 2010

It's all systems go for findgoodcustomerservice.com !



We’re absolutely delighted that launch day has finally arrived for findgoodcustomerservice. We’ve been yearning to shout about businesses that consistently offer good customer service (whether they’re online or on the high street) and now, at last, we can… and so can you!


We all know businesses that go the extra mile and how valued that makes us feel as customers. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a cup of coffee you’re buying or a new house, we all want someone to listen, connect with us, and understand what it is we’re looking for. And if there’s a problem, we just want to sort it out quickly and with the least amount of hassle for us.


We’re all about celebrating good customer service, so if you’re looking for a business or service provider, have a quick search on the site now -– we think it’s simply THE best place to find businesses that value your custom. You can read other customers’s reviews to see what they think and how they scored the business to help you make your decision. We’re not about bashing businesses that don’t do a good job. You won’t find them here. It’s about sharing our experiences of good service, so businesses doing a great job are rewarded with more work , and customers like you and us can feel reassured about choosing a well-recommended business.


Go on, join in – search for a business, or review a business. We’re small at the moment but with your help we’ll get bigger. Tell us about a business you know that really makes a difference: and if they join findgoodcustomerservice then we’ll reward you for telling us about them with a lovely gift voucher..
Also, each time you leave a review of a business member you’ve used then we’ll enter you into our regular prize draw. We’re making findgoodcustomerservice a nice place where there’s something in it for everyone!


If you’re reading this and you run or own a business that knows what it means to provide good customer service – please take a look around to see what we’re all about. – We’d love to hear from you.


We’ll be back to blog some more soon about great service and good people soon.


Lyn and Hazel
www.findgoodcustomerservice.com