Retail
May 9, 2018
Consumers prefer to try to solve their customer service issues online first. Image credit: Bloomingdale's
By Sarah Jones
When trying to solve issues with a retailer, 80 percent of consumers are apt to head to a brand’s Web site before calling customer service, according to a new report.
{"ct":"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","iv":"7f1cf5f6738ce69df6c3d3d7aacea8dd","s":"8d29fed1198459bc"}
Share your thoughts. Click here