Do something great

We all know what happens when your expectations outperform reality. Enjoy the opposite: 7 cases when reality knocks down the expectations. 

via GIPHY

Gary Vaynerchuk in his book “The Thank You Economy” shared a win-win strategy:

“You need to shock and awe your best customers”

Let's see how it can be put into practice. 

Case #1: breaking your product

A man breaks a part of the pocket clip of his Kershaw knife.

via GIPHY

Expectations:

He reports of the problem without any hope for feedback.

Reality:

They amaze him with a replacement within one week free of charge:

“Best knife I’ve ever carried is a Kershaw. Great customer service too. Broke my pocket clip and had another at my door within a week, free of charge. Proud to carry a Kershaw”

Outcome:

One more happy customer sharing an amazing story among his friends and in social media. Needless to say, since then he's become their repeat customer. 

Case #2: regular shopping

via GIPHY

A woman enters the store to buy a pair of shoes for her baby. 

Expectations:

She is sure it’s just a routine shopping, nothing special.

Reality:

A shop assistant pays attention that the child’s feet are wet during trying on so she asks a mother what kind of socks he usually wears.

The customer replies and the shop assistant offers her those which would to her mind fit best and help to solve this problem. The mother leaves with 3 pairs of socks grateful for advice. Her admiration increases when she finds out that the seller was right and the problem is solved now.

Outcome: 

The client has not only bought what he wanted, her extra-problem was solved. She was up-sold without noticing it and became a passionate follower of the brand instead. 

Case #3: buying a new product

A man has to shift to another type of shampoo, the one for a dry hair. 

via GIPHY

Expectations: 

He knows nothing of the product so he's shuddering in advance as he's afraid to be urged by a seller into buying something he won't need. 

Reality:

The shop assistant surprises him. No overloading with extra-purchases, just a professional consultation disclosing all the nuances of dry shampoos. Moreover, as a client has never used it, he offers him a mini traveller’s package instead, just for him to try and see whether it’s Ok. The client is so impressed that in a couple of days comes back for a standard version of shampoo.

Outcome:

The client got a most pleasant experience of buying a new product after a professional consultation. And though it seems that the consultant sold less, yet it was like a trial period after which the satisfied customer comes to make a standard purchase and maybe even more, who knows.  

Case #4: asking for a change  

A little girl just couldn’t get it why the bread looking like giraffe was called “tiger bread”. She wrote a letter to the owner of the company with this question asking to rename it.

via GIPHY

Expectations:

Who would listen if I ask to change something? I’m too small and insignificant.

Reality:

They agree. They find this idea smart, reply to her and officially change the name of this type of the bread.

Outcome:

The client feels the top of the world and this story is virally spread all around. The company makes an ad on the bread about it which states that its title was changed according to the customer's request. The importance of it is hard to overestimate.

Case #5: losing something

A boy loses a figure of his Ninjago Jay ZX while going shopping with his father. He writes a letter to Lego company asking if they can send him one more. He promises that this time he’ll take care of it and will never take it to a shop with him.

via GIPHY

Expectations:

Nothing’s going to happen. The letter won’t reach them, it will be lost. Even if it’s not lost they will pay no attention to it.

Reality:

They don’t send him 1 Ninjago Jay ZX. They send him 2 instead. One more figure is just in case he’ll lose it again. Moreover, they compiled a letter as if it has been written by the Master Sensei Wu. Imagine his delight! Then double it and you might get the pale idea of how it really was! 

Outcome:

The story is a perfect example of "word-of-mouth marketing" as it demonstrated the personalized approach which raised their brand to a new higher level of commitment.

Case #6: a fan missing the release of your product

The boy is about to stay at the hospital on holidays and miss a release of his favourite game Halo by Bungie Studios. The disappointed father writes to Bungie Studios just to please his son. 

via GIPHY

Expectations:

He doesn't expect much taking into account the circumstances. It is more like a letter to Santa. 

Reality:

Still, the Santa appears! The whole studio writes and signs "get well card" for a boy. More than that, they design a custom helmet based off the main character for a boy and sends it along with toys, shirts and other gifts from the designers of the game. If happiness exists, that's when it was the brightest!

Outcome:

The company displays the compassion and care in a hard situation which is appreciated so much by the people. This case increases their customers' loyalty and now even if the company screws up anything it will be perceived much easier.

Case #7: a client can't get hold of your product

The famous speaker and founder of HARO and 5-time authour made a light-hearted tweet sitting on a plane. He was hungry and asked Morton's Steakhouse if they can deliver him a steak upon his arrival.

via GIPHY

Expectations:

It was rather a joke so he didn't give it a second thought in half an hour.

Reality:

He was shocked though seeing Morton's representative in tuxedo meeting him at the terminal with a full meal including a steak.

Outcome:

The story which was meant to be a joke converted into one of the most spread stories of top-notch cases of customer service. 

Takeaways:

  • Make a customer service your top priority
  • Never stop finding out about your customer's preferences to make your offers personalized
  • Don’t be afraid to step aside from traditional customer-seller relations and offer some extra-bonuses
  • Be human and sympathetic
  • Compile surveys asking your customers about their needs
  • Ask your clients what improvements they’d like to offer
  • Monitor any arising complaints as your dissatisfied clients can be turned into your admirers any time
  • Always thank your customers for their feedback
  • Train your staff to think out-of-the-box
  • Always ask your staff to offer your clients something which would increase their customer satisfaction
  • Make sure all your employees know all the nuances of your products

The last point is especially important for smooth customer experience of your clients. This is one of the reasons we created AcademyOcean. We want to help companies educate their staff, users, clients and anyone interested in their product or service. 

We strongly believe that with interesting and properly structured Academy any company can boost their marketing and customer experience to new levels.

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