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":"058400220a1636e744ba286501e0d8f4","s":"aadcab047bd4fe68"}
Share your thoughts. Click here