The value of Customer Service.

Superior customer service has been a trait I look for in companies I do business with. This is especially true for companies that regularly upgrade to the latest in digital technology.

Recently,  AT&T has launched their U-verse service in my area. Having heard the news, I was excited about the possibility of trying a new means to receive television programming and possible saving some money. I spoke with a couple of different sales people from AT&T and I was impressed with the service. However, I expressed my recent poor customer service experience with the installation of AT&T's dry-loop DSL service (also known as naked DSL). Each one of the representatives I spoke with acknowledged that there was a significant problem with the dry-loop DSL service. They also said that the Uverse was a totally separate division.

Having worked for a major corporation I understand that different divisions can operate in significantly different manners. However, I find it difficult to do business with an organization that does not understand the value of outstanding customer service. Combined billing makes disputing charges a little more difficult.

I am a firm believer that a low price will bring a customer into an organization and good customer service will keep them.  AT&T got me in the door with a good price on a service but their extremely poor customer service kept me from spending more money with a company that does not value my time spent waiting on hold. In this case poor customer service will keep me searching for another service provider.