My House Was Recently Flooded! This Taught Me How to Treat Customers in Distress

Hurricane Debbie dumped 17 inches of water in Colin's home. 

It was a traumatic experience, from wading through the murky water to the neighbor’s house—hoping not to encounter the alligators that usually hang out nearby—to watching a team of 12 recovery professionals sweeping through and gutting what remained inside after the water subsided. The experience has been emotionally draining, especially since they didn't have flood insurance, making the cost of repairs overwhelming.

It exposed the emotional nature of these circumstances and reminded us of what is important when treating a distressed customer. This episode explores the Customer Experience lessons learned along the way. 

The story begins with the frantic search for help after the flood. With no time to gather multiple quotes, a friend recommended Servpro, a disaster recovery company. While Servpro did a great job, one small misstep—using the term "demolition"—upset the host's wife, highlighting the importance of language and empathy in high-stress situations. Despite the upsetting circumstances, Colin and his wife appreciated the team's professionalism and sympathy.

We also touch on a less positive customer service experience with the cable company. While their technician was helpful and empathetic, the initial process during the phone call didn't consider the host's extreme situation. The rigid, unempathetic procedure highlighted how companies, like the cable provider, can improve by empowering their employees to handle unique circumstances flexibly.

While getting coffee, the lack of empathy from a cheerful barista served as another example of how businesses can fail to acknowledge customers going through difficult times. While we recognize that coffee chains do not specialize in disaster recovery, it was still a missed opportunity for them to show empathy in a moment requiring more than routine friendliness.

A frustrating visit to a self-storage facility was another eye-opener. The company had implemented a tablet/virtual receptionist system, which lacked the human touch, particularly during hurricane season when people needed help the most. Companies should be prepared to offer a more hands-on, empathetic approach to meet heightened demands during extraordinary times.

The episode is a call to action for companies to build flexibility and empathy into their Customer Experience strategies, especially during times of crisis. Businesses that show genuine concern for their distressed customers during challenging times will create loyal customers for life, while those who don't may lose them.

In this episode, we also dive into:

• The emotional toll of disaster recovery and its impact on Customer Experiences.

• How language choice can impact a customer's emotional state.

• The importance of empowering employees to handle unique customer situations.

• Why self-service solutions may fail in high-stress scenarios.

• The critical role empathy plays in building customer loyalty, especially during crises.