Recall that Cubana Chiefpriest was recently embroiled in a social media war of words with popular Food and Wine Critic, Opeyemi Famakin, following his negative review about his Owerri restaurant, Donald’s. During which Chiefpriest tagged him a “low life”.
In reaction to the ongoing drama between Chiefpriest and Opeyemi Famakin, then the owner of a popular hotel in Port Harcourt known as Portland Resorts, in the person of Barr. Azubuike Ihemeje has schooled Chiefpriest on how best to manage his attitude towards his customers.
He stated that no matter one’s position in life, that it is very important for one to pray for the blessing of humility, to enable you to make the best of customer and business owner relationship, while dealing both positive and negative review and criticism.
Further, he made it clear that as a business person, you need the right communication skills in resolving issues arising from customer’s actions and reactions. While discouraging the idea of quick reactions to customers reviews, as it could be done in anger and frustration, leading to a case of worsening the situation.
Azubuike wrote: “Proper communication can help in many ways. As a business person, you need the right communication to resolve everything, even in worst case scenarios. Whenever you’re faced with some bad reviews, please do not be quick to respond out of anger, frustration or provocation“.
Here’s just one of many tips you could adopt in response to a bad review:
“Thank you so much for showing up and for your honest review. Your feedback is well appreciated and note. We’re learning everyday from feedbacks like this. We’re work in progress
And we promise to make necessary adjustments for better improvements. Once again, thank you for being a great customer and our partner in progress”
No matter your station in life, you really need to pray for humility to make the best of customer relations and deal with criticism more effectively and successfully”
“Otherwise, you may find yourself derailed from the real issues and start attacking your customer. In order to respond positively to a bad criticism, you need to pray for humility”.
He warned of the attitude of trying to shame your customer based on the review they left behind after patronizing your business, just like in the case of Chiefpriest and Opeyemi Famakin, as it will end up being counterproductive.
In his exact words, “For a haughty person will most likely respond in a manner that discloses Class distinction or reveals you’re trying to shame your customer with poverty”
“You don’t need that, for that’ll be counterproductive. Your class is not in issue at all. You’re big already, and the whole world knows it. You don’t need to bring that up anymore in your response to customers. Stick to the issue of review”
“A review is still a review. Deal with it in the most courteous and circumspect manner and move on!”
While reacting to the issue, a certain Facebook user identified as Chuks Collins reminded Chiefpriest of how he recently gave a bad review of the entire South East region of the country with regards to insecurity in the region. Citing that Chiefpriest failed to consider how many investors he would driven away from that comment, but now he’s getting angry simply because another person gave a bad review about his own business.
“Cubana chief priest few months a go gave a bad review on insecurity in South East and how he has to relocate his business to lagos he didn’t consider how many investors that will drive away from South east, now another person did review on his business he start crying very funny,” Chuks Collins commented on one of the posts on this matter.
