How to be a Customer
post # 438 — September 26, 2007 — a Client Relations post
In the latest online issue of Harvard Business School’s Working Knowledge professor John Quelch (an old friend of mine) argues that, as a customer, it is possible to get preferential (or at least better) service from your vendors, suppliers, etc, if you know the right approach.
He lists the following as the keys:
- Be Demanding
- Be Respectful
- Be Reliable
- Be Surprising (eg reward a job well done)
- Be Engaging.
You can join John’s discussion, or we can start one here.
We’ve had discussions here before about what we providers seek in an ideal client, but would you agree with John’s starting list? Do you agree that these are the keys to eliciting better reactions from providers?
Duncan said:
How about:
Be understanding (about mistakes);
Be nice
Be polite
It never ceases to amaze me how amazed people are if you just be nice to them when you’re the customer. It’s actually rare.
posted on September 26, 2007