Delivering Knock Your Socks Off Service

"As far as customers are concerned you are the company. This is not a burden, but the core of your job. You hold in your hands the power to keep customers coming back -- perhaps even to make or break the company."

With a mix of inspiration and concrete techniques readers can put to use the very day they get it, the book shows how to:

** use the power of listening to help customers
** use words effectively -- to soothe, reassure, and communicate
** personalize service without getting emotionally involved
** master the Art of Calm
** make service more than just "being nice" and really deliver tangible benefits to the customer

The second edition is completely updated and includes new information on: e-mail, telephone tact, voice mail, chronic complainers, service recovery, problem solving, and managing the "customer from hell"!

Book Description

"The best-selling front-line customer service book ever published is now better than ever. More than a decade after the debut of Delivering Knock Your Socks Off Service, this newly revised edition introduces readers to the next generation of first-class service strategy. Applying the winning Knock Your Socks Off formula to the new demands of 21st-century business, the third edition features all-new chapters on Delivering Knock Your Socks Off E-Service, Creating Trust with Your Customer, and Service Recovery Expectations, plus new and updated stories, real-world examples, and new illustrations by cartoonist John Bush. And as always, Delivering Knock Your Socks Off Service reveals how to:

* See things from the customer’s point of view

* Become a fantastic fixer and a powerful problem solver

* Cope with ""customers from hell""

* And avoid The 10 Deadly Sins of Customer Service

Today’s customer is smarter, more demanding, and more mobile than ever. Once again, Delivering Knock Your Socks Off Service delivers the strategies, techniques, and tips that will keep those customers coming back."

The book is organized in Four Parts:

1. The Fundamental Principles of Knock Your Socks Off Service - includes the RATER factors: Reliability, Assurance, Tangibles, Empathy, Responsiveness.
2. The How To's of Knock Your Socks Off Service - honesty, rules, doing the right thing, listening, asking questions, winning words and soothing phrases, telephone tips, writing skills, details, thank-yous.
3. The Problem-Solving Side of Knock Your Socks Off Service - how to fix problems, fix the person, apologize, and handling nasty customers.
4. Knock Your Socks Off Service Fitness - Taking Care of You - how to stay calm, professional, and competent and how to have fun doing it

Whether you're new to the business of providing customer service or a seasoned pro, this book will give lots of great advice and a positive perspective on the challenges of providing good customer service. I plan on using the book to help set goals and establish metrics for improving service at my company.


Great for those joining the service line for the first time   June 17, 2001
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

After two weeks of joining the service business I was eagerly looking for a book that discusses about delivering good--if not exceptional--service. My conclusion is that this book will meet your expectations if you are new to the business--just like me.

The authors provided many suggestions and recommendations in ways of delivering quality service. I read this book in the span of two-three months, and by the time I finished reading, I realized that I have been doing pretty much most of the things that the authors are suggesting. And based on my customer service feedback, the authors are pretty correct. So, I walked away knowing that I have been doing the right things and a few more ideas of how to improve my service level.

I would have given a five-star if I can find some of the chapters being elaborated further, such as those towards the end of the book. For example, I would like the chapter (Chapter 20) on Exceptional Servic Is in the Details being further elaborated as I found I need some suggesstions for carrying my service level to another level. Nevertheless, the book does give me some hints on areas to look into.

In conclusion, I would recommend this book to those who join the service industry for the first time and want to get some ideas on providing quality service. And for those who are searching for more, you will be refreshed and walk away with some good suggestions and pointers.