Don't Make Fun of Your Customers

A letter from a little girl who decided to run away because her parents were teasing her is taking Facebook by storm. The writers at Cafemom have wisely pointed out that we have to be careful when we make fun of our kids - they are sensitive and things that seem trivial to us can be big deals to them. Maybe it's time to give our kids a bit of a  break.

Hug a customer today, but only if they want to.
Photo: Kevin Dooley, from Flickr

How about you stop making fun of your customers too?

What, you say? I love my customers!

It's time to look in the mirror, and ask some hard questions.

When a customer has trouble using your product, do you assume that they are doing it wrong?

Do you secretly think that some (or most) of your customers are stupid?

Do you secretly (or maybe not so secretly) think that your customers can't take care of themselves in basic ways?

Do you think that people are a bit silly to pay your prices?

When someone has a problem with your email marketing content, do you offer to take them off the list, rather than discuss the issue?

Do you think you don't owe your customers an answer as to why you price the way you do, why your terms and conditions are the way they are, or why they receive so much marketing material?

If your answer to any of these questions is yes, let's re-evaluate your relationship with your customers.

Your customers are your lifeblood. They're the reason you exist. Without them,  you'd be broke and your staff would have to find other jobs.

So stop making fun of your customers. Respect them, take good care of them, and respond to their questions graciously, no matter how silly they might seem.

How are you showing your customers some respect these days? Please comment on this post.