What Should You Expect from a Business as a Customer?

Whether you are going into a salon to get your haircut, a restaurant to eat a meal, a shop to buy groceries or clothes, or any other place of business, there are certain standards you should expect as a customer. While you can always write a bad review or never return to that place of business if you are not satisfied, other circumstances might require more extreme action, such as being injured or being conned out of money. These circumstances may not happen often, but it’s good to know what to expect from a business as a customer to make sure that you’re not being taken advantage of and to hold parties accountable if you do find yourself in a situation like this. Below are some of the key things all customers should expect from a good business.

Excellent Customer Service

When you walk into a place of business, and the staff treats you with respect and even kindness, it can make a world of difference. You might have even noticed that it puts a spring in your step and makes your day a little brighter after a pleasant exchange with someone from behind the tills or desk. It’s even better when you want to make a complaint or inquiry and have found that the staff has been truly helpful, rather than leaving you more confused and frustrated than when you started. While some places of business might offer better customer service than others, you should always expect to be treated with respect and return this to the staff as well. 

A Safe Environment

You also want to have peace of mind that when you are on the premises of the said business, your health and safety are a priority. All businesses have a legal obligation to make sure that their place of work is safe for employees and anyone else who is on their sites. Whether that is making sure that hazards are signposted, no dangerous chemicals or substances are lying around, and even providing the necessary safety clothing and equipment should a customer require it. If you are injured on the premises of a business because they have failed to follow these guidelines, then you could be entitled to some compensation. If you’re not sure, contact a premise liability lawyer to find out whether you can make a claim.

Data Protection

If you are going to put personal data into the hands of a business, you want to know that this data will be safe. This includes any financial, medical, or other private information that, if leaked, could result in a loss of finances or even identity theft. Data protection is another legal obligation that businesses have. If you feel that a company has mishandled your data, then you should report them for this, and again, you might be able to take legal action against them for this.

Quality Products

When you are spending money as a business, you want to have peace of mind that you’re getting your money’s worth. This can sometimes be difficult when making purchases online, as sometimes the images used can be misleading. The pricing of a product can also give you some indication of what you can expect from the quality, but this isn’t always true. Nonetheless, you should expect quality products from the business that you are purchasing them from, and you are within your rights to make a complaint and ask for a refund if you think the quality is poor. 

To Not Be Harassed

No one wants to be harassed in any way by anybody, this is very stressful and upsetting. As a customer, you should certainly not feel harassed by staff at a business, and there is a fine line between a sales push and this. If you are being hounded by cold calls or feel that you are not allowed to leave the store until you make a purchase or sign up for a membership/contract with that business, stand your ground. You might also want to report them to the trading standards authorities as if they are behaving this way with you, they are likely doing this with other customers.

Transparency

Finally, as a customer, you want to trust the business you are dealing with. It is reasonable to expect the business to be transparent with you about what they can deliver as not to raise your expectations and leave you feeling disappointed or ripped off. It doesn’t matter whether you are signing up for a service or buying a product. You need to know what you are getting for your money.

It is important to make sure that you are satisfied as a customer, which doesn’t make you a diva. The points listed above are all things that you should expect as standard from businesses as a customer, and keep this in mind before you complete any transactions that you could potentially regret.