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Customer Service, Dead on Arrival!

By
Real Estate Agent with Weichert Realtors, Precision

Is your Real Estate business equipped to manage missteps in customer service our is your customer service platform DEAD ON ARRIVAL?

The two and one half hour drive is complete we have arrived at our destination for our 2 day get-a-way at the water park.  Our party consists of my 16 year old daughter, her three friends, my wife, my 4 year old daughter and me. We stroll into the Wilderness lobby in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin filled with anticipation.  We are greeted by the clerk semi annoyed that we interrupted his conversation and complete the registration for our 3 bedroom 2 1/2  bath condo complete with cabana poolside. Time to hit the wave pool! We get our map of the massive complex and get our final directions from the clerk at the counter; he points at the map and says with a little bit of boredom in his voice "here is where you go to get your cabana assignment."  I thanked him as he turned his back and finished his conversation with his co-workers.   

We arrive at the official hut for cabana business and confidently ask for my cabana assignment, "1 cabana for the Keberlein's."  I instantly got a sinking feeling as my request is meet by the young lady's groan, WHO?  I repeat my name and the response I get is "you're not on the list."  I calmly explain that it has to be an error, I made the reservation two weeks ago and I have my confirmation number, we double checked our reservation by phone just two days ago and to top it off, the guy at the front desk just told us we had a cabana reserved!  It became obvious that this young lady was not going to be of much help so I asked for the general manager.  After about a 10 minute wait a young man approaches me and introduces himself as the M.O.D.  and asks me to repeat my story.   I  repeat my story and the M.O.D.  (Manager on Duty) says "that's not possible."  He had checked his computer and there is nothing in our history that says we reserved our cabana.  

He went on to say that you have to make two separate calls to two departments to reserve a Cabana.  I am not so calm now. We then take turns insisting we are right and then he says, "This conversation is over"!  I now ask to speak to whoever is his supervisor and I am informed that can only be done by correspondence.  I tell him to e-mail them and he says he can't it has to be written correspondence and the response time is measured in days.  He assures me he will do that and research my reservation and see what he can do for me.  I am promised a phone call to my cell phone.  That was four days ago and I am waiting for his call.  The service never really improved for the next two days and nothing was done to attempt to salvage my experience.  The net result, I formed my opinion of The Wilderness in Wisconsin Dells in my first 15 minutes of my 48 hour experience.  There was ample time to make a small gesture to my family and possibly turn a raging fan to a raving fan.  

I'll ask again.  Is your Real Estate business equipped to manage missteps in customer service our is your customer service platform DEAD ON ARRIVAL?

 

 

 

Comments(13)

Anonymous
Thomas Scruggs
I beleive that quality customer service is nearly dead.  Most people just don't care
Apr 14, 2007 02:21 PM
#1
Randal Keberlein
Weichert Realtors, Precision - Kenosha, WI

Thomas:

Quality service does exist, you might just be looking in the wrong places!

Apr 14, 2007 02:32 PM
Anonymous
Roger Terpinski
I have been to that resort and I'll stay at the GReat Wolf across the street next time!
Apr 14, 2007 02:49 PM
#3
Kristy Gitzlaff
RE/MAX Elite - Paddock Lake, WI
Kenosha & Racine Real Estate Specialist

I think that this is a great reminder of the impact of bad customer service. Sure, you could have mentioned the terrible way you and your family were treated to a couple people when you returned from your vacation, but thanks to the information super highway 24,000+ may think twice about picking the Wilderness over all of the other water-parks in the Dells.

Bad news travels fast. Consumers have a lot of agents to pick from when looking to have their real estate needs met. The last thing that you want is to be known for poor customer service. All it takes if for one dissatisfied customer to tell their sphere of influence, or post their dissatisfaction to the world.

A good reminder to strive to provide the best service possible to every customer!

Apr 14, 2007 02:50 PM
Randal Keberlein
Weichert Realtors, Precision - Kenosha, WI

Kristy:

I agree 100%.  People like to depend on word of mouth business but if you are not delivering quality service it will kill you.  Word of mouth is associated with referrals but customers that are treated shabilly are more passionate about telling their story.  And with the Internet it is amplified! 

Apr 14, 2007 03:02 PM
Randal Keberlein
Weichert Realtors, Precision - Kenosha, WI

Jon:

Absolutely, however even the best amongst us make mistakes and it is prudent to have a plan to right our wrongs when they happen.  I could have been turned around.  A small gesture, as small as buying my 4 year old an icecream cone or having our room done sooner so we could put our things away. 

Apr 14, 2007 03:12 PM
Kristy Gitzlaff
RE/MAX Elite - Paddock Lake, WI
Kenosha & Racine Real Estate Specialist

I think that the key is to remember the golden rule when dealing with customers (treat others how you would want to be treated). When a customer is dissatisfied I think that you should listen, keep your cool, be respectful, and ask them what you can do to make it right. Like you said Randy, a little gesture goes a long way.

One of the most frustrating things is to have the person "on the other side of the counter" not see your point that there even was a problem. When I was a store manager I learned quickly that just listening to the customers complaint, and remaining respectful, goes a long way. If you were truly wrong, admit your mistake, apologize, and find out what you can do to make it right.

Apr 15, 2007 12:57 AM
Anonymous
Kathleen Keberlein

I told you we should have gone to Great Wolf but no.. you wanted to save a few bucks!

Apr 15, 2007 12:18 PM
#9
Rick McCullough
Alert Home Services - Denver, CO
Customer service seems to be lost. I find if you let them explain their side and stay calm and listen,, REALLY LISTEN,, you can work together to resolve the matter,, in most cases it would be much easier to resovle peacefully than fight and argue and walk away with unhappy clients. Pleased customer tell 2 or 3,, displeased customers tell everyone.
Apr 15, 2007 08:11 PM
Ralph Nudi
Success Realtors brokered by eXp Realty - Kenosha, WI
"YOUR success IS our success"
I can't say that I am surprised. I find that most of the hospitality business is not so hospitable. Neither is any other service oriented industry. Great Service... Legendary Service is unfortunatley the exception and not the rule. Satisfactory service is probably at about 50%. I see the glass as half full, this creates a great opportunity, with a bar set very low.
Apr 16, 2007 07:08 AM
Andrew Campbell
ASAP Mortgage - Madison, WI
I would agree with Ralph, i'm not surprised either.  Sometimes I would even say 50% is high.
Apr 20, 2007 10:01 AM
Randal Keberlein
Weichert Realtors, Precision - Kenosha, WI

Andrew:

 It is sad but true!

Apr 20, 2007 12:14 PM