Assuming there are no waiting lines, would you opt to use a self-service kiosk at the airport to check-in or would you prefer to interact with an airline agent? It could be our own obsession with electronics and “click click” we are so used to doing, or it could be our conscious or even unconscious desire to avoid business relationships. Many of us prefer to use the ATM machine instead of a bank teller because some simple banking tasks are quicker and less hassle than dealing with humans. We don’t even have to be pleasant to a machine.
Amazon and Netflix are just more examples of consumers using self-service. Instead of going to the video store, we make our selections online; no one to ask us for our driver’s license because we forgot our membership card, and no hassle even trying to find a parking space. The same holds true for a trip to Wal-Mart, K-mart, or many other retail stores where self-service is offered. Do consumers get tired of hearing, “Would you like to open up a Wal-Mart charge and get 10% off your total bill today?” or “Would you like to donate a dollar to a certain charitable fund?”
According to a recent article from the Harvard Business Review, customers ultimately don’t want a relationship and prefer the use of machines, but doesn’t the relationship depend on whether a customer has a good or bad result with a machine? If an ATM accidentally eats up one’s $20 bill, and the customer is forced to speak with a bank representative, has that machine been an effective tool? What about the unfair check charge on a customer’s account? Will an automated service be able to cancel the charge because the customer has never stopped payment on a check and they are a solid depositor?
When I go to a store, whether it be Wal-Mart, Publix, or even the bank, I look for the fastest and most efficient way to be done with my purchase. If I am having a problem with merchandise I want to find someone who can help me. I think we have all been the victims of poor customer service; those agents who hate their jobs, have no solutions, and should never have picked up the phone that day. So do those bad experiences rationalize the interpretation that consumers don’t want to talk to businesses? Personally, I think it validates even more the need for exceptional training of only the best customer service representatives a company can afford. It’s definitely a smart investment!
photo credit: @davestone
