Have you ever tried to make a customer complaint, but couldn't?
That happened to me one time when I was speaking in Boston. I woke up to find a 4" cockroach swimming in my bathroom toilet. I stopped by the front desk to let them know on the way out of the hotel.
Before I could finish, the woman asked, "Do you want a discount?"
"No, I thought you'd want to let housekeeping know."
"Well, we can give you a free breakfast."
"No, that's OK, I would have thought..."
"It's no bother..."
I didn't even care if it was a bother!
Having worked in hospitality, I know the rooms manager would have wanted to know about a cockroach doing the backstroke in a guest room toilet - It wasn't about getting a free breakfast.
And what is this obsession with free as the only way to deal with a problem?
That isn't where you start, even if it might be where you finish.
1. Shut up. I know that might sound gruff, but when you are angry as a , the last thing you want is someone to jump in and offer a hasty solution. You need to get it off your chest for whatever reason; something ruined your day, you as the buyer are frustrated, something didn't work as expected - you name it. To diffuse your unhappy customer's anger and possible continuation of their frustration on , or when they meet a friend and tell the story, or in a letter to a supervisor, let the get all of their out.
2. Don't second guess. Part of my SalesRX.com retail sales training is to be in the moment. You don't want to offer your opinion of their complaint until you fully understand what they are complaining about. If you're unsure whether they are done, ask the purchaser if they have any other concerns. Then, keep listening while looking directly into their eyes.
3. Apologize, then ask what they want. It starts with a simple apology. No one likes having to return to a retail store for a return. Your apology at this point can go a long way, whether it's a simple return for another size or as complex as a replacement for an item purchased a year or more ago without a receipt. Whatever it is, before you jump in with both feet, stay an interested observer and discover what it is they want from you.
4. Tell them what you can do. While they might want the moon - most people are reasonable. Now is your time to shine. Know your boundaries. If you can easily give a refund - do it. If they paid with a credit card, they probably know they can simply contact their issuer. Don't ruin your day just because you have a sign behind the counter. Be the good person.
However, don't roll over if they don't have a receipt, which could be theft - give them store credit with proper ID. Be clear and say what you can do, not what you can't. Customer service training is crucially important for anyone who might handle a return. If they happen to say, I'm not authorized to do a refund, that would be the store manager, that as much as tells the shopper they will get a refund. If that's the case, why must the customer go through the hoops? Trust and train those who will deal with complaints so the only has to deal with one and only once.
5. Ask if they were satisfied. When the situation has been resolved, at the end of the transaction, simply ask the shopper if they are satisfied. It may seem unnecessary, but it allows them to eliminate any leftover resentment or issue, ask a question, or offer a compliment. As a retailer, you end up a winner no matter what they say, as they've given you one more chance to create an exceptional customer experience or service that they can tell their friends about - and it isn't just they got their way.
6. Share with your crew how you handled it. Training on how to deal with complaints isn't a learn once, and it's done type of learning. Every interaction is different, so use the nuances, the exceptions, and the positive outcomes to train at your next store meeting or store huddle before you open.
Also: The Ritz-Carlton Review: My Personal Customer Service Horror Story
In Sum
Only a handful of retail customers enjoy threatening, swearing, and throwing tantrums to get their way. Most buyers don't want to complain or create a scene. They want satisfaction, and coming back to your retail establishment to get that satisfaction is indeed satisfying.