Honey vs. Vinegar: A Better Approach for Customers

What happened to the old adage, “You get more flies with honey than vinegar?” Postie firmly believes in being kind when you need assistance.

Human beings want to assist someone who is kind. We want to work with others when they are pleasant. Then, why are people being rude immediately when they have an issue?  It’s important to recognize our initial emotions, but then take a breath, and consciously make an effort towards kindness.

The Problem with Being a Combative Customer

Think back to a time when you had to work with someone unpleasant, or full of vinegar. Did you want to help them? Did you want to do your very best to give them what they wanted? No, you just wanted to do whatever you could to make the interaction end. 

This is exactly what happens when you are combative with Customer Service workers. You do not get your way. You simply push that person to make them get the interaction between you as short as possible. 

Postie’s quick tips to be a kind customer:

• Start with a polite approach. “How is your day going today?” Ask the agent if people have been kind today. Harness the honey side. If you treat someone with kindness you most often get kindness in return. 
• Clearly and calmly explain your issue, but put the frustration aside.
• Stay patient while the issue is being looked into. It can take time to dive deeper, or pull in other staff members to help.
• Treat employees as your teammates. They are not the enemy. Remember, they are the ones that can ultimately solve your problem.
• After a great experience, ask them to rate you as a client. You could raise your own street credit 😉

So, the next time you have a problem and need customer service assistance, try being kind. Being rude to customer service people gets you nowhere. It just makes them frazzled and dislike you. Make sure you aren’t falling into the Combative Type of client. Now, get out there and make someone’s day easier.