The Extra Mile...

[fireheart]

This could probably go in the Praising section, but just a question...

If you go the extra mile for customers who actually deserve it (i.e. not SCs), how do you do so?

My methods involve the following:

-Informing customers of our Parcel Pick-up/Home Delivery service.
-Recommending certain products or stating that this, this and this look nice.
-Lifting bags into the trolley and offering to call someone to help load them up into customers car. (I usually do this for the elderly, pregnant ladies and the physically disabled)
-Making little kiddies laugh.
-Writing down websites or phone numbers of services that help said customer, provided they don't turn SC about it.

[ralerin]

-Usually informing them of sale/coupon/discount on an item and if necessary, whipping out the coupon to cut out for them.

-Wishing them a happy birthday or a happy Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Easter, Thanksgiving or other alternative solstice holiday (made the day of one pagan customer before Christmas when I asked if she had a happy Solstice ^_^)

-Fetchings things/removing stickers off of items/bagging items/making change/removing the pole off their cart so it can go out if they're polite and ask up front about it.

[bainsidhe]

It's funny, the "Extra Mile" is different things to different people. Sometimes it's just smiling and being friendly. I'm not kidding.

One that comes to mind involved chasing a woman through the parking lot because she forgot her wallet at the register. She actually came all the way back inside to thank me for that one. Made me feel nice.

[Naaman]

I'd like to think I used to to it at the game store, if I knew what you sort of games they liked I'd hand them a copy as you walked in saying "This one".

I reckon, from their comments, I got a 90% hit rate

[fireheart]

One of the other things I'll do with the kids is that if the kid is about 4 or 5 or a bit older and wants to help with the shopping, I'll do a few light bags for them to lift into the trolley
They love it.

[Bella_Vixen]

To the first two posters:

That's what you do extra? That's *standard* for me.

[PuckishOne]

To the first two posters:

That's what you do extra? That's *standard* for me.

Awesome...your customers must love you, and that's always a good thing.

Of course, what "the extra mile" is to one may be "all in a day's work" to another, and that's part of why this site's so great (if I may flag-wave for a brief moment here). If we all did the same thing, the same way, every time, it'd be a helluva lot less interesting here, that's for sure!

For myself, I've spent more than a few lengthy phone calls here at Evil Insurance Co referring customers to other agencies or outside sources that can help them better than I, and that always seems to go over well (especially dealing with the complex PITA that is Medicare!). Sometimes a little thing goes a long way, too.

[fireheart]

To the first two posters:

That's what you do extra? That's *standard* for me.

AFAIK, I'm the only one that does most of what's in my original post, but one of the things that most of us do and we don't mind it is act as information desks.

Because our store is located in a very large mall and most of us have grown up around it, we tend to know the place inside out, so we're more than happy to give out information about where certain stores, ATMs, facilities, what have you, are located. (we don't have a public bathroom) I'll also direct customers to certain facilities if they mention something about it. (i.e. they want a Justice of the Peace, closest one is located in the council building nearby)

[AmethystSquirrel]

-I have a lot of customers grateful when i tell them to run over to the Chinese restaurant 2 doors down of the same plaza to grab a menu and look around it. I can't say directly there is a $23 off coupon for tax prep right there.

-Customers seem to love when I tell them which payment option is the cheapest (ha one woman today marvel at the fact I was pointing out the cheapest rather than the most expensive option)

-Treating a customer like they are the only person that matters at that moment.