It pays to be nice!

Seraphim

I think this might be on totally the wrong board, so sorry if it is!

I work in a customer facing environment and I usually just get yelled at. A single positive comment can really make your day if you're having a bad one!

I find customer service has declined recently, so when I've had fantastic customer service recently, I've been trying to write letters and emails to say thank you. I think we all get used to writing complaint letters when something goes wrong, but we rarely write anything back when we receive outstanding service.

It pays to be nice! In some instances, I have had correspondence back - sometimes to my benefit. I've had quite a few vouchers back to say thank you for being nice (although vouchers were never my intention!). Sometimes, it's to other's benefit - an example is I wrote to London Underground to let them know that we got stuck on a train for ages and the driver was excellent and everyone on the carriage really appreciated his efforts. Two weeks later, I got an email back from his manager to say they had given him £50 of vouchers as a reward and it would go on his permanent record.

As an ex-manager of a large retailer, any good or bad letters would always go onto an employees file and promotions and pay raises would take into account what sort of feedback the customers had given.

So, have you had excellent customer service lately? Spend 5 minutes and let them know! Not only does it give you good karma points, but it might get you a freebie, or help make someone else's day just that little bit better

LookingAhead

I totally agree with you.

I wrote to M & S earlier this year as the lady who did my bra fittings was completely brilliant.

I got a letter back from M & S saying she would get a reward or commendation or something for it. I also got a letter back personally from her a few days later thanking me and it seemed it really made her day.

I like to think it helped her continue her excellent work.

Interestingly I read somewhere today that someone tried to get this thing going where people do random acts of kindness on Fridays to help make the world a better place. I know it should be every day where we take time to be nice and all that but what a lovely idea!

I will have to do something today now I have read that! Actually I think I did, I bought 2 colleagues a drink at lunchtime.......kind, but not very DFW eh? lol

Bestthingsinlifearefree

Absolutely, great post.

It is easy to complain over bad service but we should make an effort to recognise good service.

On my wifes birthday I sent her some flowers ordered over the phone from a local flower shop (first time I had used this particular shop).

They were fantastic the bouquet had clearly been put together with great care, attention and skill.

My wife was well chuffed.

Next day I phoned the shop and asked could I speak to the person who had prepared that order......

I think she was surprised to hear my gushing thanks but she deserved it.

Seraphim

LookingAhead wrote:

Interestingly I read somewhere today that someone tried to get this thing going where people do random acts of kindness on Fridays to help make the world a better place. I know it should be every day where we take time to be nice and all that but what a lovely idea!

I think the 'cult leader' is Danny Wallace and he started it a few years back
Linky --> http://www.join-me.co.uk/story.html
I love this idea (although I never got around to joining, lol)

Edimew

Seraphim wrote:

them know that we got stuck on a train for ages and the driver was excellent and everyone on the carriage really appreciated his efforts. Two weeks later, I got an email back from his manager to say they had given him £50 of vouchers as a reward and it would go on his permanent record.

Lovely idea. I'm just wondering how you manage to identify a particular driver on the underground. Occasionally I get a really chirpy upbeat driver. Some people may find it a little cheesy, but judging by the smiles of my fellow passengers it does brighten the journey up. It would be nice to be able to thank them

ti1980

People are far to quick to complain which is a shame but seems to be the way society is these days.
It really can make someone's day when they are praised or genuinely thanked for giving good service and encourages them to continue.
It very rarely happens that someone writes in to say good things, but if you have had excellent service, tell them and if you are writing in and have had excellent service, if you can, name names. The boost that someone can get for it is almost priceless and could help someone when it comes to a possible pay review etc.

I honestly believe that what goes around comes around so take that little bit of time to be nice and give credit where it is due and you will be rewarded yourself for it.

LookingAhead

If you said which train you were on and what time, there would be a rota I think?

Bestthingsinlifearefree

One of my favorite films is with the "pass it on " concept about the little boy who does a favour then says pass it on and the good will multiplies and spreads.

Not sure what the title of the film is, I think it has Kevin Spacey in it.

I know it's a bit cheesy but the concept and the ending of that film always brings me a small lump in the throat and a tear to the eye. ( and I am a 33 old, big, bloke )

Seraphim

Yeah - I get off at the last stop on the line. I took down the time I got in, the platform we came in on and the ID number on the front of the train and I guess that was enough to ID who was driving at the time

LookingAhead

To give someone praise for a good job serves to boost them and give them an incentive to continue to do the job well, I think.

If we are never praised or only hear bad stuff we just think "what's the point?"

On a similar note, if you are ever doing a review or something similar, it is good to end on a positive. So even if there is a lot of negative stuff, all is not lost if there is at least something positive to take away!

piglet6

Bestthingsinlifearefree wrote:

One of my favorite films is with the "pass it on " concept about the little boy who does a favour then says pass it on.

Not sure what the title of the film is, I think it has Kevin Spacey in it.

I know it's a bit cheesy but the concept and the ending of that film always brings me a small lump in the throat and a tear to the eye. ( and I am a 33 old, big, bloke )

Think its called "Pay It Forward", and yep, its a great film!!:D

Agree with OP by the way, people these days are very quick to complain:o, but not nearly as many put the same effort into praising good service...and we should!:cool:

Piglet