What is good customer service?

walk in, have a few people not busy but looking busy who, when i go up to them, can answer my question without just looking at the label. i could read the label by myself. what i really needed is advice on which screwdriver to buy. also, be honest with your answer. if i ask “which pair of sunglasses looks better?”, dont say the one thats more expensive just because it costs more. if you really do like the one that costs more, we can tell when youre lying or not.

Personally, I get extremely uncomfortable and want to flee the bldg when a salesperson hovers. My sister ran a small business in a small town. She welcomed all well-behaved dogs, for example, and had water bowls for them. She also went the extra mile to get merchandise she didn’t have in stock; took returns graciously, no matter WHAT the circumstances, and acted as therapist for some lonely people (this is a very tiny communty where everyone does “know your name.”)

She sold jewelry, imported pottery and dinnerware, art supplies and offered a framing service.

Customer is always right. Or at least they are made to feel as if they are right.

I like to shop around myself, undisturbed. Sometimes, I am just really tired and don’t want to hear about how I can get “50% off on the second pair of pants, if i buy the first pant for 100$” etc. If I have a question, I’ll come to you. I agree with zack, employees should not be hovering, but still should be in the area so if you have a question, they can help you out!

If I get treated as Beadholder said in the question details, I’m happy.

Your question reminds me how much I like Trader Joe’s service. The whole store environment is cheerful, and many of the employees actually seem genuinely happy to be there. That’s pretty rare. I don’t usually ask too many questions, but my basic ones get answered. And they’re not pushy or trying to sell me anything. I like shopping there.

PNL and Trustinglife…I completely agree. I went to a new store the other day and a woman asked if she could help me. Initially, I was just looking and said so. She went into the back room for at least 10–15 minutes and by this time I had questions. I am not the type to flag her down, so I left even though I was going to buy quite a few things. I feel she should have checked back in with me esp. since the store is new. I will, however, give it one more try. No service, no business.

I think this depends depends on the business model, but overall people like being left alone and will ask questions when they feel like it. However there are some people who are afraid to ask questions for the fact of feeling stupid, or embarrassed overall. These people can usually be easily read. The key thing that a customer support employee can offer me is the truthful answer, in a mannerly way, without being intrusive and over pushy. Also I am impressed with people who actually learn about what they are around supporting deeper than just being able to answer basic questions, such as offering insight or history to the product.