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World-Class Service: The Double-Platinum Rule 2.0 


By Dr. Bryan K. Williams, DM
April 5, 2011

When I wrote the Double Platinum Rule years ago, my intent was to communicate the importance of exceeding customer expectations. To exceed expectations, you must not only treat people the way they want to be treated (Platinum Rule), but treat people the way they don’t even know they want to be treated (Double-Platinum Rule). I even shared some examples. Then, something recently hit me. Many people may think that the double-platinum Rule is only about anticipating needs. It is not. The double-platinum rule is also about providing information that the customer may not have known otherwise. In other words, the true essence of the double-platinum rule is to add value to someone else’s life beyond the basic service transaction.

Example 1: I enjoy getting massages. I’ve been to many exquisite spas throughout the world, and have received countless massages. On a recent trip to the luxurious Kohler Waters Spa in Kohler, WI, the spa director told me something that I never heard before.  She said that one of the best things I could do is to spend approximately 10 minutes in a steam room or sauna immediately before getting a massage. The purpose is so that my muscles could be nice and relaxed.  This would allow the therapist to effectively massage my muscles (instead of spending precious time trying to loosen up the muscles first). I will take that piece of advice with me for the rest of my life. From now on, every massage I get will be preceded by me spending time in a steam room or sauna. The spa director informed and inspired me with knowledge that I did not know otherwise.

Example 2: Recently, I was at the local post office in my neighborhood, and saw a man struggling with multiple boxes while trying to open the front door at the same time. I immediately went to assist him. After thanking me, he mentioned that he hates the weekly chore of bringing all of his packages to the post office (he mentioned that he runs an eBay home business). I then explained that he could actually stay at home, go online, print the postage and schedule the packages to be picked up from his house.  He was in utter amazement that such a service existed. Then, he became slightly irritated that no one at the post office had ever told him about the services I had just described.

Example 3: Just recently, I was on the phone with Korean Air to finalize a trip to Southeast Asia from Washington DC.  Although my ticket was purchased online, I had to call Korean Air to purchase the plane ticket for my baby daughter. The customer service representative promptly inquired if I would like to order baby food for my daughter. I said, “Of course! I didn’t even know that airlines offered baby food”. She then explained that my baby’s food would be delivered at the same time as everyone else’s meals. Wow. The airline rep then asked if I would like to request an airline bassinet seat. “What’s an airline bassinet seat?”, I asked. She explained that it was a bassinet that my daughter can sleep in so she wouldn’t have to be held for the entire trip. Again, wow. I did not know that such products or services existed.

To enliven the double-platinum rule, ask yourself this question: What products and/or services does my company offer that some customers may not know about? Then, starting today, begin listening intently to your customers…not only to what they are saying, but also listen to their mood and what they are hoping to achieve. The Kohler Waters Spa director listened to how much I enjoyed massages and used that as an opportunity to help enhance my massage experience from that point forward. The Korean Air customer service rep learned that I would be traveling with my daughter and immediately informed me about the airline’s baby food and bassinet seat options. In the post office, I listened to a fellow customer’s weekly disdain for bringing packages to the post office. I used that as an opportunity to inform him about the post office’s various at-home options. In all three examples, someone was informed and inspired.  That is the essence of the double-platinum rule. 

Contrary to what many people think, wowing customers does not have to be an expensive task. Many times a WOW moment may not cost anything. Look for ways to wow daily. The key word is daily. Behaviors become habits when they are done everyday (preferably multiple times per day). To inform and inspire is to add value to someone else’s life. The double-platinum rule is about providing knowledge that someone can take with them. Above all, strive to make the double-platinum rule your own minimum expectation for exceeding your customer’s expectations, and the WOW moments will come naturally.

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B.Williams Enterprise Updates: 

Share your service wow stories at www.worklikeyouownit.com


About the Author
Dr. Bryan K. Williams is the Chief Service Officer of B.Williams Enterprise, and the author of Engaging Service: 22 Ways to Become a Service Superstar. Bryan’s passion is world-class customer service, and has facilitated workshops and delivered keynotes all over the world for various companies.  He speaks on a variety of topics related to service excellence, employee engagement, and organizational improvement.  As a consultant, Bryan works closely with companies to design, develop, and implement sustainable service strategies. His company’s online store includes a growing collection of customer service products that are well-suited for your training library.

 



Order Bryan’s new book and other resources
 at the B.Williams Enterprise Online Store

Find more resources relating to service excellence at www.bwenterprise.net.

Also on the website, you can subscribe to the official B.Williams Enterprise emailing list.  You will receive announcements, newsletters and other excellent resources.

-We exist to serve others so they may better serve the world
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Contact:

B. Williams Enterprise, LLC 
Website: www.bwenterprise.net
Email:  [email protected] 
Phone: 240-401-6958 

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Also See: Customer Problem Resolution: The 100% Principle / Dr. Bryan K. Williams, DM / March 2011

World-Class Service 102: Be memorable / Dr. Bryan K. Williams, DM / February 2011

Take your service to the next level: Only BIG WOW’s…No bow-wow’s / Dr. Bryan K. Williams, DM / February 2011

Service Excellence: Inspect What You Expect / Bryan K. Williams, D.M. / November 2010

Work Like You Own It 2.0; Energize it. Recognize it. Celebrate it. / Bryan K. Williams, D.M. / September 2010

World-Class Service 101: Know the difference between meeting and exceeding expectations / Dr. Bryan K. Williams / July 2010

Service Superstars Part 2: Treat them like they own it! / Dr. Bryan K. Williams / June 2010

Make each touchpoint memorable: Cha-Ching! / Dr. Bryan K. Williams / April 2010

Service Superstars: Work like you own it! / Bryan Williams / February 2010

Complimentary resources from Bryan K. Williams and B.Williams Enterprise! Begin 2010 with a focus on world-class service. / January 2010

Service Ambassadors: The Key to Providing World-Class Service / Bryan K. Williams / November 2009

5-Star Employees - Part 3 / Bryan K. Williams / September 2009

5-Star Employees - Part 2 / Bryan K. Williams / August 2009

5-Star Employees - Part 1/ Bryan K. Williams / July 2009

Engaging Service: 22 Ways to Become a Service Superstar / Bryan K. Williams / July 2009

Complimentary tele-seminars with Bryan K. Williams in July! / July 2009

Building a Team of Living It Employees / Bryan K. Williams / June 2009

World-Class Service: What if every employee served like a concierge? / Byran K Williams / March 2009

5 Star Leadership: What Does It Take to Be a 5-star Leader? / Byran Williams / February 2009

5 Stars vs. 4 Stars: What’s the Difference? / Byran Williams / January 2009

Complimentary training with Bryan Williams / January 2009

The 7 Principles of EngageMeTM is now available! / Bryan K. Williams / November 2008

Hiring and Engaging a World-Class Team / Bryan K. Williams / October 2008

Great Ideas for National Customer Service Week 2008 / Bryan K. Williams / September 2008

Delivering World-Class Service Part 3: Company Service Standards / Bryan K. Williams / September 2008

Delivering World-Class Service Pt. 2: Personal Service Standards / Bryan K. Williams / September 2008

Delivering World-Class Service: Function vs. Purpose / Bryan K. Williams / August 2008

Guest Problem Resolution 101: Power of the Follow-Up / Bryan K. Williams / June 2008

7 Principles to Fully Engage Your Customers – Part 2 / Bryan K. Williams / May 2008

7 Principles to Fully Engage Your Customers / Bryan K. Williams / April 2008

I Am a Service Professional™ / Bryan K. Williams / March 2008

Engage Every Customer…One Touchpoint at a Time / Bryan K. Williams / January 2008

Engaging Service Part 2: It’s All About the Culture / Bryan K. Williams / December 2007

Engaging Service Part 1: Not Just for the Chic / Bryan K. Williams / November 2007

Service Excellence: A Destination or a Journey? / Bryan K. Williams / October 2007

National Customer Service Week is Coming Soon - October 1-5, 2007 / September 2007

National Customer Service Week is Coming Soon - October 1-5, 2007 / September 2007

Engage Me…the Voice of Your Customer www.engagemenow.com / September 2007

Customer Engagement: Where do we begin? / Byran K Williams / August 2007

Engage Me…the Voice of Your Customer / www.engagemenow.com / August 2007

B. Williams Enterprise, LLC Launches Engage Me…  the Voice of Your Customer / August 2007

To Engage…Listen to the Voice of Your Customer / Byran K Williams / August 2007

To Engage the Guest, You Must Engage Those Who Directly Serve the Guest / Byran K Williams / July 2007

Three Service Rules: The Golden Rule, Platinum Rule, and Double Platinum Rule/ Byran K Williams / June 2007

The Greatest Bellman I Ever Met… / Bryan K. Williams / April 2006

Sorry to Say…But Some People Should Not be Serving Other Human Beings / Bryan K Williams / October 2006
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