Buyer Beware: Your Sears Purchase May Not Really Be From Sears
Retailers like Amazon, Sears and Walmart now have marketplaces that offer merchandise from other sellers, but the experience is leaving some shoppers confused and unsatisfied.
customer service
Is Online Banking Right for You?
Online banking may be a growing trend, but that doesn't mean it's right for everyone. Here are the pros and cons of keeping your cash in a traditional versus online bank.
How to Use Social Media to Make Customer Complaints
Experts discuss the best ways to make a complaint to a company.
McDonald's to Roll Out New 'Dual-Point' Ordering System
Facing a spike in customer complaints about disorganized service, McDonald's is rolling out a new dual-point ordering system.
Bank of America Puts Human Tellers Inside ATMs
Bank of America will start rolling out a new generation of ATMs that allow customers to have a live video chat with a remote teller.
Market Minute: Nordstrom 4th-Quarter Net Income Rises
Luxury spending has rebounded since 2009, but Nordstrom is grappling with new demands from shoppers armed with smartphones and tablets. That's pushing the department store, considered the gold standard in customer service, to redefine the term for a new era.
"Your Call Is Important to Us (but You're Better Off Tweeting)"
It's no secret that no one likes waiting on hold for a customer service representative, but it happens all the time. Fortunately, businesses today are turning to Facebook, Twitter and even texting to handle customer queries.
Amazon Video Game Marketer Is Also a Waffle Iron Expert
Never underestimate the expertise of the employees of Amazon: One man whose usual job appears to focus on promoting video game deals may very well be one of the world's leading authorities on waffle irons.
In Defense of Online Shopping (Delia Ephron, Listen Up)
Screenwriter Delia Ephron did not have a merry online Christmas shopping experience at J. Crew. But rather than complain about the company's customer service, she turned an op-ed column in the New York Times into a wide-ranging indictment of online shopping itself. Here's why she's wrong.
Unwanted Gifts? Your Guide to Post-Christmas Returns
If Santa brought you a bunch of stuff you don't want this Christmas, you're probably itching to get to the store with the gift receipt and return it. To keep hassle to a minimum, follow these expert tips.
Struggling Best Buy Deletes Email Option From Customer Service
Best Buy is in a tailspin, but its new CEO, Hubert Joly, has been touting a plan to revitalize the consumer electronics retailer's fortunes through an emphasis on great customer service. So why, we wondered, did it just eliminate one of its customer service contact options?
9 Questions to Ask to See If Your Bank Is Right for You
The end of the year is a good time to give your financial life a once-over and see what changes need to be made. One item not to forget in that review: your bank. Answering these questions will help you determine whether your money is in the right place, or if it's time for a strategic withdrawal.
The Downside of Credit Unions
Credit union membership is at an all-time high, thanks to our rising disillusionment with traditional banks. Banks, after all, are run by executives aiming to enrich stockholders, while credit unions are owned by, and run for the benefit of, their members. But that doesn't mean credit unions are right for everyone.
For Better Customer Service, Should You Tweet That Complaint?
When it comes to lodging customer-service complaints, people have taken to using social media in droves. But is sending a tweet or posting a gripe on a company's Facebook page really the most effective way to get your problem resolved?
The Customer Isn't Always Right, Especially When He's Complaining
When it comes to customer service disputes, there's an old adage in the retail industry: The customer is always right. Of course, the customer is very frequently in the wrong, and unfortunately for put-upon customer service reps, new research suggests that consumers complain the most when they know they're wrong.