Matthew Kenney

Small Business | Workplace Law

  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Small Business Law
  • Community Service
  • Non-Profit Law

Customer Service vs. Consumer Service

Posted on: 11.03.16 | by Matthew Kenney

ppbh-imagesThe word customer derives from “customs”, which derives from the Latin word “custumarius“. Historically, a customer was one who had been authorized — often by Royal Authority — to bring goods into a country via a Custom House. For the last 500 years or so, the meaning of the word customer has been generalized to mean a person with whom you do business.

Using this contemporary definition, we should ask: Who are the people we’re doing business with daily? We do business with buyers, of course. But we also deal with vendors, colleagues, prospects, community members, and government agencies etc. Therefore, every person we do business with is a customer.

The logical inference: We should provide customer service to all people (because they are all customers), not just the small percentage of people who exchange money for our products or services.

Practical Tip: See Yourself as the Customer’s Customer

Think of it: If “every person we do business with is a customer”, then you are your customer’s customer. As a customer, do you expect to be provided with excellent service? Do you want to be treated with dignity and respect? Do you want the type of opportunities that have been afforded to others in the past?

To get those things, you have to give those things. Begin by treating everyone the same way. “Customer service” is not synonymous with “consumer service”. Customer service is about treating others the way you want to be treated. Customer service is essentially professionalism-in-action.

As professionals, we need not take a narrow view of customer service (i.e. only satisfying buyers). Growth occurs when everyone is seen as a customer, and collective talents are focused on satisfying all of the company’s customers…both internal and external.

(c) Copyright 2016. All Rights Reserved.

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Categories: Management and Leadership

Leave a Comment Cancel

Subscribe to the Blog

Recent Posts

  • Create Energy & Exit a Rut
  • The CARES ACT & Your Small Business
  • Coronavirus and Contracts: Must You Perform?
  • Employees, Texting & Driving: What’s Your Policy?
  • Is an English-Speaking Only Workplace Legal?

Categories

  • Communication
  • Innovation
  • Management and Leadership
  • Marketing
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • April 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016

Social Media

Linkedin

© Copyright 2019 Matthew G. Kenney
All Rights Reserved

Policies and Legal Statements

Like to See a 38% Increase in Employee Productivity? Let Us Show You How.
Our Gift to You: Five Entrepreneurship Insights. Sign-Up Today to Receive Your Valuable Gift.
______________________
YOUR NAME:
YOUR EMAIL: