Is the customer always right?
Are there customers who are really better with another business?
Any one who has been in business for a while will know that every now and then a customer comes into your business who can best be described as ‘the customer from hell.’
These people may be ideal customers for someone else however and how well you help them find the right alternative supplier can affect your business.
The wonderful news is that as soon as you recognize this you’re more than half way to moving them on to someone else. Before you recognise this you spend heaps of time trying to work with them, mostly costing you money more than earning your normal margin.
The best way I have found of moving a customer out of the business is to ensure that:
- You make sure you’re not reliant on the customer
- You make sure any accounts receivable are paid up
- You find a viable alternative supplier which you can suggest
- You have alternative customers for any excess inventory
- You are warm and friendly in the process
