Sure, knowing that someone admires you is flattering, but too much unsolicited flattery from a customer can make you quite uncomfortable.

How do you respond when a customer is openly smitten with you? Refer to the following dos and don’ts as a guideline:

 

• Don’t flirt with customers, especially if you aren’t interested in a relationship.
• Don’t lie and say you’re involved in a relationship just to ward off a customer.
• Do inform your manager if a customer is hitting on you. This will keep your boss in the loop; you may need her help if the situation gets out of hand.
• Do tell your admirer politely and kindly that you have a personal policy to never date customers. But stick to that policy, and make sure your admirer doesn’t catch you dating another customer.
• Don’t make a big deal out of flowers or gifts your admirer sends and don’t display them at work.
• Do tell your customer gently that you can’t accept any gifts he gives you.
• Do continue to be professional and courteous to your admiring customer.
• Don’t give customers your home phone number or address. If you can avoid it, don’t give them your last name either.
• Do act kindly knowing that your admirer may feel foolish when you reject his advances.

If your admirer persists and you feel threatened, don’t ignore the situation. If he’s stalking you or if your requests for him to leave you alone don’t work, you may need to get the authorities involved.

Filed under: Customer Service Corner