Are You Losing Customers at the Last Hurdle? »GetSocialGuide – Grow and Monetize Your WordPress Blog with Social Media
Are You Losing Customers at the Last Hurdle?
Winning customers is a multi-step process. First, you need to let them know about your company. Then you need to win their trust. Once you overcome these two challenges, most customers are ready to hand over their money. However, there are still a few final hurdles that could cause you to lose these loyal customers. Below are a few common ways that businesses lose customers to the last problem, and what you can do to remove this obstacle.
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Limited payment options
Have you ever made a purchase with your card only to find that the merchant does not accept card payments? Such limited payment options can often put off customers – especially if there’s no cash withdrawal nearby.
Most people these days use a card rather than cash, so it’s important for every business to have a card reader. The development of mobile card readers has meant that such payments can now be made anywhere. This must be a payment facility that accepts debit and credit cards.
Some companies only accept debit cards and not credit cards due to the additional cost of accepting a credit card. However, if customers often make large purchases, you should consider the fact that accepting a credit card can make these purchases more affordable by allowing customers to pay for purchases in installments. Payment plans and financing schemes alike can help make large purchases more affordable and may be worth offering if you’re selling big-ticket items.
Most customers will have a tight budget. Surprising customers with extra fees right before they check out can not only stretch their budget, but also lose their trust by making them feel cheated. In fact, it is one of the most common causes of online shopping cart abandonment.
Make sure all fees are clearly stated from the start. For example, when it comes to listing products on a website, provide shipping/delivery fee information next to each product. – don’t wait until they check to add these fees.
Long wait times
If the product takes a long time to be shipped or there is a long wait in the restaurant kitchen, you will find that you will lose many customers who are impatient or have a tight schedule. Finding ways to speed up service/delivery can ultimately help you convert more customers.
Many online stores are now starting to accept options like dropshipping, which can speed up the delivery of products overseas by keeping fewer products in local warehouses. Restaurants can speed up service by hiring adequate kitchen staff and adequate preparation in advance. A structured menu can also speed up service by reducing the number of separate food preparation tasks and reducing the need for extensive customer training.
Lack of availability
Lack of availability may also force you to turn away potential customers who are willing to use your product or service. This includes allowing popular products to run out of stock or not providing enough appointment slots at your dental office due to understaffing.
If you are busy and making enough money, turning away customers may not always be a problem. However, if you can make that extra money, you may need to find ways to improve the availability of your products/services.
