Part of running a business is the effective management of customers. As a business owner, you know the importance of satisfying customer experiences. Providing excellent customer service can help in making your customers happy and satisfied. As a result, your business may continue to grow and succeed.
However, some customers can be difficult to handle or please. So, you need to be aware of the different types of difficult customers and how you can effectively handle each type.
In this post, you will learn the different types of clients and how to deal with them. Let’s start!
The Indecisive
This type of client cannot simply make a decision on his or her own. So, don’t be surprised if they ask you questions after questions. However, they still cannot make a purchase regardless of how much information you provided.
An indecisive customer wants to be more than a 100% sure that he or she will get the best features, price, quality, and deal before buying. Since they are afraid of making mistakes when shopping, they keep asking questions, investigating, and comparing.
This type of customer will waste your time, exhaust your energy, and still will not buy anything. While they are often very polite and harmless, they still can lower your productivity level.
How To Deal With Indecisive Customers:
If you want to deal with difficult customers like an indecisive one, you need to know what exactly they are most concerned about. Ask them if it’s about the features, quantity, or quality. After identifying their hot button, you can force them to make a decision more easily.
The Habitual Complainer
It’s common for businesses to have customer complaints, and it’s not a bad thing. Through complaints, you can get a great source of constructive feedback that can improve your overall business operation.
However, if customers complain habitually, the problem may not be on your end. The habitual complainers complain about anything and everything. They complain about the layout of your store, your products and prices, and even the color of your clothing.
How To Deal With Habitual Complainers:
The complaints of these customers tend to be harmless, but their attitude can stress you out and exhaust you. The best thing you can do is accept that you cannot satisfy everybody regardless of how much effort you exert. No matter what they say, you need to stay calm and respond nicely. It’s a good idea to take note of everything they ask for and serve them at once. So, no need for you to deal with them multiple times.
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The Know-It-All Customer
For sure, small businesses already met this kind of customer. These customers seem to know everything, including your products or services or your business itself. They can be rude and highly critical as they want to display their knowledge and expertise. They usually want to dominate your conversation.
It would be hard for you to tell me what I really want. These customers love to be the center of attention and have an ego problem.
How To Deal with Know-It-All Customers:
Make sure to compliment their knowledge and provide them good attention as much as you can. However, be careful not to sound like you are patronizing them. Instead, ensure that your compliments are sincere. Don’t try arguing with them as it will hurt their ego.
The Skeptic
The skeptics are those types of client who questions everything. They tend not to trust your skills not until you prove them. Even if an entry-level person can handle their concerns, they still look for top experts.
Skeptic customers usually doubt everything you suggest unless you support it with detailed explanations and proof. If they find your service dissatisfying, they will go somewhere else.
How to Deal with the Skeptics:
Don’t attempt to sugar coat your words. Instead, provide these customers with straight to the point data and systematized information. You can show your previous success results. That way, you can earn their respect and trust.
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The Aggressive
Another type of difficult customer to deal with is those who are aggressive. They easily get angry and are rude, arrogant, highly critical, and verbally abusive.
They think their demands and needs are superior to other customers. They do not want to wait as they want to be served the soonest time possible. They even use intimidation tactics just to get what they want. They complain, abuse, scream, and get physical to get the attention they want.
How To Deal With Aggressive Customers:
Since they do not care about your explanations, the best thing you can do is apologize confidently and calmly. Tell them that you are more than willing to solve their issues. Maintain eye contact to show them you are not buying their antics.
Final Thoughts
Identifying which type of customer you are dealing with will help you use the best possible solution to deliver excellent service. Stay calm, navigate any situation, and respond politely and accordingly. Dealing with difficult customers can be challenging. However, as long as you know what to do, you can handle each of them effectively.
