TenantMagic makes the rental application and background screening process quick and easy for agents/landlords, as well as applicants by using technology. As we all know, things can go wrong with even the best designed programs. It is important that rental applications are processed quickly, as any delay can result in an applicant losing out on a desired property, so at TenantMagic we need to address any issue promptly.
This is where customer service comes in and where businesses can really make a name for themselves, for better or for worse.
I manage the customer service for TenantMagic and look to consumer companies that I interact with for ideas on what to do and what not to do. After all, our expectations in the business world are shaped by what we experience as consumers.
Recently I had issues with two different product/service providers that required me to contact their customer service departments and had two distinct experiences.
The first was Amazon. The phone accessory I purchased using Amazon stopped working a few days after receiving it. I was unable to find the contact information for the company, so I called the Amazon customer service number.
I told them what had happened and they immediately took care of it by crediting my account. I then purchased a similar item from another provider. Amazon came through, the product manufacturer did not. I will continue to use Amazon, but will think twice about going back to the company that supplied the product.
The second experience was with my cell phone carrier which I have been with for 17 years! I was able to easily contact them about my issue regarding a phone upgrade, but the promises that were made were not kept, requiring me to call back multiple times. I will spare you the details, but in the past 2 weeks I have spent easily close to 20 hours on the phone with their customer service reps and all my problem is still not resolved – and it is not that complicated.
When things go awry in a business transaction it is vital to handle the issues quickly.
The way I look at it is, that is comes down to time. First, don’t make it next to impossible for your customers to find company’s contact information. The when you do interact with a customer that has a problem, try to resolve it immediately if possible. Your customer’s time (and yours) is too valuable to waste. Delays lead to irritated customers.
At TenantMagic we make every attempt to have a person answer the phone for customer services calls and try to get any issue resolved as quickly as possible. There are times when we cannot address a customer’s problem to their satisfaction. When that happens, we explain the situation, tell them we are sorry but there is nothing more that we can do. We might lose that customer, but have not wasted their time by stringing them along with excuses and promises that cannot be kept. And, we are not wasting our time.