Let's face it, without customers, the business doesn't exist. If you can't provide and practice great customer service, your current customers will no doubt find a company that does.
In a recent survey conducted by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), more than 60% of respondents said poor customer service was the number one reason customers terminated a deal with a particular business and chose a competitor, more than any other reason, such as relocation, bankruptcy, or priority changes. The survey drove home the importance of providing excellent customer service.
Here are some of the reasons the SBA survey found that customers stopped supporting a particular enterprise. These customers:
Death or disability: 1%
Move out of the trading area: 4%
Switching to competitors because of low prices: 15%
Stop buying if you are not satisfied with the product you bought: 15%
Termination of purchase due to poor service provided by employee or business: 65%
(Infographic about importance of customer service. Edit now.)