1. "It's been so crazy/busy around here."
Often used as an excuse for a delay or mistake, it may leave your
customers wondering whether you're too busy for them.
2. "You'll have to wait." When you're experiencing delays, consider giving customers a choice: "I can help you in five minutes or you can order from our Web site."
3. "That's not my job." A better alternative: "Let me find someone who can help you with that."
4. "I can't make a meeting that day because I'm going to (fill in a too-personal detail)." Rather than letting clients know they're being back-burnered for your son's Little League game, say that you have a conflict and leave it at that.
5. "Can you call/come back later?" They
won't.
This story appears in the May 2000 issue of Entrepreneur. Subscribe »
