List of companies that offer good customer service

Ok, I realize that coming from the US we are used to a fairly high standard of customer service, and more emphasis is placed on customer satisfaction than it is here. That being said, has anyone here been able to find a way to deal with/improve their customer service experiences?
Don't get me wrong, there are companies that do a good job and I direct my business there when I can, but the good experiences tend to be heavily outnumbered by the not so good ones. It would be so helpful to make a list here of good service operations that we can use as a resource and I'm going to start it with First Direct (responsive, accountable and proactive). Anybody have any others?

Able and Cole

Abel and Cole

ha! I was just coming in here to post this! Though I've corrected the spelling for anyone wanting to google them...

I can't really think of any instance when I've had bad customer service. I'm sure I have, but nothing's coming to mind. It would be much easier to ask for a list of companies that offer BAD customer service, wouldn't it? Just my opinion.

I can't really think of any instance when I've had bad customer service. I'm sure I have, but nothing's coming to mind. It would be much easier to ask for a list of companies that offer BAD customer service, wouldn't it? Just my opinion.

I agree.  I'm not quite sure where this notion that the UK has bad customer service comes from.  Is it just because people don't give you a big fakey grin and tell you to have a nice day? 

FWIW, here are some places where I got good customer service, just off the top of my head:

O2
Waitrose
John Lewis
Monsoon
Debenham's
Cardiff City Council
Costa
Waterstone's
Lloyd's Bank
NatWest
innumerable pubs and inns, country houses and National Trust properties
UK Apple stores online and IRL
thetrainline.com
Marks and Spencer

Really, the only bad experience I had was with National Express, and that was due to their policies, not the customer service team.  They were very professional whilst I was raging at them .

Of course, my idea of good customer service is when my issue or request is competently, courteously, and efficiently dealt with.  If the employee doesn't smile or make small talk, that's perfectly fine by me. 

Yeah, I've had hardly any bad customer service experiences in the UK (and I've lived here most of my life) . I hate the whole fake grin, 'have a nice day', 'can I help you with anything?', 'can I start a dressing room for you?' thing in the US - I prefer to be left alone and then to approach someone myself if I need some help .

Off the top of my head, companies that I've had good customer service from include:

Boots (although I kind of have to say that because I used to work there )
H&M
Next
Tesco
M&S
Debenhams
Orange
Natwest
Currys
Virgin Media
Aldo (shoes) - very good experience with them over Christmas... it was my first ever first to an Aldo store and after we'd left, both my mum and I commented on how lovely the staff were . They were young girls (teens/early 20's) and very helpful... when they didn't have the size of boots I wanted, they offered to order a pair in my size and have them delivered to my home free of charge!

I can only think of 3 companies that I've had bad customer service experiences with in the last few years (and one of them was in the US):

- Comcast
- British Gas
- WHSmith (they refused to exchange a Christmas gift I'd bought that I decided wasn't really suitable... I'd lost the receipt, so I wasn't expecting to be able to get a refund, but they refused to even exchange the item, so now I'm stuck with a gift I have absolutely no use for and no one to give it to ).

Ok, I realize that coming from the US we are used to a fairly high standard of customer service, and more emphasis is placed on customer satisfaction than it is here.

This is a view which is open to argument, and some people might find it annoying. I have had some lousy customer service in the States and in the UK, but it has been mostly OK in both countries. I notice Natwest has come up a couple of times; I'll add my voice to that.* I like the calm, unfussed, undemonstrative way people do things here and I much prefer it (as others have said) to a certain false, gushing, obsequious "have a nice day" type of approach that you sometimes see across the pond. Also I feel there is a (how can I put this?) certain Poppa's little princess type of person with a massive feeling of entitlement who, sadly, crops up on both sides of the Atlantic. I have worked in customer service and I know what I'm talking about.

Also British Gas, EDF, VirginMedia, Virgin Mobile, Comet, Currys, Waterstones, Specsavers, H & M, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, and (yes) the Home Office, to name just some.

  Is it just because people don't give you a big fakey grin and tell you to have a nice day.

"You all right there?" is no less annoying in my opinion.

Manners never go out of style....

I believe Sainsbury's ranks high on my list...They never make you feel rushed and won't start the next person until you have everything packed in your cart ect...
I enjoy this and every person I have dealt with is kind.

I will agree with O2 in the shop since they have always been great when I pop in.

Every other place is just ring up and go..To me that isnt customer service that is just the person who collects the money, but that is my opinion.

Just wanted to second or third of fifteenth Sainsbury's.

The last time I was there the check-out lady went and procured a chair for me so I could sit and watch my husband load groceries. I was about three weeks from popping a little Britling so it was appreciated (if a little embarrassing). Since then we have had a home delivery from them that was missing a bag of produce and they reversed the charges with no questions asked and apologized.

Strangely I was thinking the other day that as this pregnancy progresses customer service seems to be much better. Personable and helpful without the obsequiousness of American shop keepers. I think they all just want to either A. get me out of their shop before my water breaks on their floor or B. Find out all about the baby, when I'm due, talk about theirs, etc.

There's good and bad on both sides of the Atlantic.  Personally, I prefer "a friendly smile and have a nice day" to "yawn, lounge in my chair, toss your groceries down the ramp". 
I've had very nice people help me find books in Waterstones but I've never had a friendly person help me find a book in the Otley library.  They either just point or say "I'm sure we don't have that" before going back to their cuppa.  And DON'T ask for help with the dvd unlocking device.  The huffing, eye-rolling and rude comments are too much.   
The sweet girl at the supermarket deli counter stopped cleaning the slicer and apologized for making me wait while 4 other employees hung out at the end of the case chatting away.  I felt sorry for her.
Our favorite local butcher would jump through hoops to give us the best service and best product.  The pinch-faced owner of the local paper shop scowls when she has to give you change. 
 

I've found it very much down to the individual you're dealing with at the time. HSBC has been really, really good to me. Opened a high level account with no trouble, gave me an excellent (nearly silly) limit on my first credit card, and helped me out to no end when I made the same mistake TWICE that should have totally cancelled out a special savings account we have. So, it depends.
I've also always had excellent service at the Starbucks and other cafes around here, and I've never had any trouble when I've had to ring something up to ask or clarify something. BUT, DH has lived here a LONG time, and sorted most of the annoying things (gas, water, etc), so I've been able to skip all that nonsense.

Our local butcher - FE Ellis in Coventry

They know me and always greet me by name and actually let me do an order on credit just before Christmas! was expecting to do my usual order to be frozen and picked up a few days later but oops they don't do freezer orders in December in order to have room for Turkeys etc. for Christmas.  They let me take away part of my intended order that day and pay for it later that week (they only take cash or cheques and I didn't have enough on me). 

It's a mixed bag. I had terrible service for things like electric and gas in the UK. Oh and phone, etc. Things you kind of HAVE to get unless you go live off-grid in the wilderness with solar panels. But I also had great service in small, independent shops and some good chains.

But I have to say, customer service is sliiiiiiiiding down hill here in the US in places where it used to be better.