11 replies to this topic

[Miss Frankie]

We product high end surimi based imitation crab.  Our labels say "Alaskan Snow Legs"

The labels state 'made with crab flavor'.

The customer complained they they purchased the bag thinking it was crab legs and later realized it was imitation crab.

Now they want a refund.  

How would you handle this?

[Brothbro]

Personally, I would work to refund them the bag. It's technically their fault for not understanding your product, but situations like this I see more benefit in maintaining relationships with customers rather than saving a sale on a single bag. 

 

If you repeatedly get concerns like this, it may be worth revisiting the wording on your product with the marketing team if it's causing lots of complaints. Otherwise, I would consider this a one-off.

Edited by Brothbro, 28 September 2022 - 03:34 PM.

[juanolea1]

Hello,

 

Give the client a refund and let him know that your team will review the package disclaimer so that there is no confusion as to the contents in the package.

Discuss the complaint with your teammates. Maybe changes to the ingredient disclaimer are necessary? clarification? font size? color?

 

What comes out out of the meeting should be satisfactory to close the complaint.

[G M]

A significant portion of the consumer complaints our team gets are "user error" type events (people just don't bother to read the package).  They still usually get the equivalent of a refund for customer satisfaction (coupons for replacement).

[olenazh]

Information on the product label should not be misleading - which is, I  think, your case: the label should state a common name of the product, which is surimi. 

[Miss Frankie]

I talked to my boss and she is referring the matter to marketing since it's not really a quality issue. 
Our sales manager is going to reach out to the consumer directly.

 

Thanks!

[Brendan Triplett]

Whenever there is an error we always take the blame and go for the refund, unless there is blatant fraud where the relationship cannot and should not be salvaged.  It might seem counterintuitive but even if you are right you need to take the blame and admit that you were wrong.  Salvage the customer relationship and act in good faith.  The customer will stay and you will have a reputation for being engaged and responsive instead of being rude or cheap.

 

As for labeling, I would agree with Brothbro, if you see several of these complaints in a month then it is a pattern.  If it is only once or twice a year then it is user error.

 

Cheers!@

[Miss Frankie]

Whenever there is an error we always take the blame and go for the refund, unless there is blatant fraud where the relationship cannot and should not be salvaged.  It might seem counterintuitive but even if you are right you need to take the blame and admit that you were wrong.  Salvage the customer relationship and act in good faith.  The customer will stay and you will have a reputation for being engaged and responsive instead of being rude or cheap.

 

As for labeling, I would agree with Brothbro, if you see several of these complaints in a month then it is a pattern.  If it is only once or twice a year then it is user error.

 

Cheers!@

I think the end result will be a refund. 

This is only the 2nd one that I know about in the past year.  Oddly enough, the last one was almost exactly 1 years ago.

Labels have been approved by FDA and USDC.

[Brendan Triplett]

I think the end result will be a refund. 

This is only the 2nd one that I know about in the past year.  Oddly enough, the last one was almost exactly 1 years ago.

Labels have been approved by FDA and USDC.

 

I think you are right then.  Refund the customer and save the relationship.  It does not appear to be a label issue at all and you have good documentation to back it up with your label approval/certifications.  Log it and keep it in the back of your mind just in case.

 

Cheers!

[Setanta]

People will blame you for the label, but that doesn't mean it is your fault.

[jfrey123]

Almost every imitation crab product I buy states "Imitation" pretty clearly on the front of the package (such as the one below).  Without seeing your label, I think big words implying actual crab legs with small print stating it is fish is potentially misleading.

 

As for a complaint you might view as frivolous, I've always tended to believe refunding the customer is a small and cheap gesture towards satisfaction.

 

Edited by jfrey123, 07 October 2022 - 05:04 PM.

[Miss Frankie]

Our label says "Alaska Snow Legs"   

then below that it states

"Crab Flavored Seafood" in the description.

 

We produce a higher quality product than Trans Ocean, but I do like their bags better.