Customer Service and Christmas Love

Dear Business Owners,

It's Christmas, and at this time of year, I frequently patronize stores that are new to me, and I'm sure other people do the same thing. HERE"S YOUR CHANCE to wow customers and woo new ones. I have had countless non-wow experiences and these days they mostly involve someone talking on a cell phone while they check me out. That's not devastating to me as a customer, but the thing is, you've missed an opportunity to charm me and be appreciative of my business. Because let's be honest, there's a lot of people right now who will APPRECIATE business, right? So take a moment and be nice, say "Merry Christmas", thank me for coming in, (notice I came in!), and help me find what I need. It is one of the MANY reasons that I strive to buy local!! But I digress. I wanted to share with you a small moment I had this morning that will forever change my perception of a particular company.

I was on hold for an order (for maybe two minutes), but during that time, there was a message. "Your call may be monitored for our purposes--not yours--you are perfect just the way you are." A silly little tongue-in-cheek comment on a Christmas music-enhanced message, but I fell right in love with that company. Yes, it was that simple. I'm perfect just the way I am. Now, of course, I know they don't know me, and I'm NOT perfect just the way I am but still...it's a lovely sentiment to send out into the world.

So my point is this, dear Business Owners, it's not hard. Be sweet. Be personal. Be creative. Have a sense of humor! Share the love at Christmas, and you may find us coming around at other times of the year, as well.

Sincerely, A Potential Customer