“Good customer service can really build a store’s reputation,” says Johnny Katz on RapNet.com, “87% of customers share good experiences with others and 88% are influenced by online customer service reviews when making buying decisions.” The statistics revealed by Katz come courtesy of InsightSquared. It’s a survey, he notes, that proves that excellent customer service can make or break your reputation as a diamond retailer.
And while excellent customer service can help any retailer to grow its reputation, it’s important to note that there are some specific policies that should be put in place to help your jewelry store stand out from the all rest.
Your ring sizing policy.
As a jeweler, you’ve likely had countless requests to have rings sized correctly. Naturally, rings are popular sellers, especially for those who are preparing for the married life. Of course, rings come in all shapes and sizes and often need to be adjusted to match the fingers of the buyers and/or recipients. Having a specific ring sizing policy in place is paramount to the sterling reputation of your brand.
“When a customer orders a ring in the wrong size, how are you going to handle pricing on the piece?” asks Marlene Richey on RioGrandeBlog.com, “Charge a one-time sizing fee? Let the first sizing on a ring be free? You will cover the sizing costs if it only goes up one size? What happens if the ring can’t be sized?”
Your damaged jewelry policy.
It’s important to come up with a policy that can create a happy medium between satisfied customer and your company’s bottom line. Richey admits that there are many instances when customers return damaged jewelry claiming that it was defective, when really the damage occurred due to their own actions. What is your store’s policy on handling damaged items?
“I have heard so many stories about people who say the stone in their ring fell out because of the designer’s setting, but once the designer gets the ring back, she can immediately see the ring has been sized or worked on by someone else and that is the reason the stone fell out,” Richey shares, “How will you handle this situation?”
Your customer service policy.
As previously mentioned, customer service is integral to business success. In most cases, it’s a customer’s experience that will determine whether or not he/she returns to a store. It’s important to make customers feel welcome in your jewelry store, but it’s just as important to not make them feel like they are being hounded. Katz advises store owners not to ignore customers who appear to be browsing, but not to bombard them when they enter your store either.
He lists a few others Do’s and Don’ts that include “Do focus on the customer before you, but make sure that anyone waiting for your attention knows you will be with them shortly” and “Don’t push a customer to purchase beyond what they truly can afford (you risk them resenting the purchase afterwards, and losing their trust).”
The TK Enterprises Inc. team knows a thing or two about providing excellent customer service. Contact us today to learn about how our Event Marketing services can help to significantly boost your jewelry store’s reputation, helping it to stand out from all the rest. Please don’t hesitate to call us toll-free at 1-877-622-0195. You may also email us at heidi.tke@tomkaufmann.com or fill out the form on our Contact Us page and have someone contact you!