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Satisfaction guaranteed


Customer satisfaction, what does it mean? Well we know what it should mean but with such importance placed on customer satisfaction surveys implemented by car manufacturers and the financial rewards bestowed upon the dealer network for achieving the targets, have they now lost sight of what customer satisfaction really means?
Most car makers will set a benchmark of say, 80% positive reaction in customer satisfaction surveys – covering before, during and after the sales process – in order for the dealer to achieve a financial reward in the form of a bonus. In addition this bonus will rise incrementally from the benchmark so a dealer achieving 100% could be in line for thousands of pounds more from the manufacturers as reward for maximum performance.

We know of all manner of incentives offered by the dealers themselves to their customers. This ranges from boxes of chocolates or bunches of flowers to the rather less subtle “give us a five on the satisfaction survey and we’ll throw in a set of mats”.

In showrooms you may see subliminal messages relating to the customer satisfaction survey designed to make the customer ask questions that enable the salesperson to directly encourage positive responses to the questions in the survey.

Effectively these actions by the dealer, amounting to little more than bribery, are sending the message to their manufacturer masters that all is well in their business where in reality their customer satisfaction survey results are skewed at best.

Once financial incentives are introduced the whole system becomes flawed. As dealers try to game the system in their favour the reality of just how satisfied their customers actually are becomes distorted.

We even know of cases where information on certain customers is either invented or altered. Take for example a manufacturer who stipulates that a qualifying survey must be of a certain size. Dealers and their employees have been known to make up respondents and give telephone numbers of friends and relatives who will be primed for a call from the manufacturer should it come. Others have changed the contact details of customers they know will give them a negative response to the survey so the manufacturer’s agents will be unable to get hold of them and move on the next name on their list.

The whole system of car retailing customer satisfaction surveys appears to be built on sand. How did we get to the situation where something as simple and old fashioned as good customer service has become so complicated? One reason, money.

So can we really believe the dealers or manufacturers when they say they are committed to customer satisfaction? The mantra’s sound impressive when you read the mission statements but when you realize that money changes hands on the strength of survey results then maybe they should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Genuine good service means repeat, incremental business, surely if a car dealership is truly committed to customer service it shouldn’t have to be paid directly when it gets things right.

Jun 22, 2009In51der
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    Comments: 2
    1. nigel
      11 years ago

      Where ever there’s a system there’s always a method of beating it! I got offered discount to give a shiny report on some goods I bought (not a car) it seemed fair to me at the time though upon reflection it does the consumer no favours. But hey just because I’m a consumer doesn’t mean I want to do other consumers any favours right? At the moment it seems every buyers out for a deal, its now derigeur to ask for as much discount as possible. I’m one of the few people that do feel sorry for car dealers at the moment-it must be a nightmare dealing negotiation methods that belong at the carboot sale not the car showroom.

    2. deborah
      11 years ago

      WARNING about the TOYOTA Co.

      My husband and I bought a certified used Toyota Sienna LE and in 4 years, the brakes have needed to be replaced, the front door has begun to detach, the automatic sliding door is working intermittantly, and, the biggest problem, the air conditioner compressor and clutch are failing. Because the Toyota warranty only covers the power train, they have told me that they will either “Help out” with $800.00 towards a new system at the dealership (Total job being $4,000) or will help out with nothing towards a private mechanic willing to do the whole thing for only $1500. I am disgusted with Toyota, and will never buy another vehicle from them. My suggestion to everyone is BUY AMERICAN!

    In51der

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