An existing customer goes to his bank to apply for a debit card. The bank required that the customer provide additional supportive documents and complete a pending procedure. However, after two visits, the employee failed to inform the customer of the additional procedure that should be...

When a senior field journalist attempts to cover super typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, body guards were assigned to protect end-up obstructing. Disagreements between the news team and security team followed. The teams had different opinions regarding how situations should be handled. The...

A group of tourism and hospitality students from a Danish university were on a study trip to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. During a company site visit, their program was disrupted by an unexpected extra speaker following an unplanned social event. The Danish group leader decided to stay with the...

A family of three pays a premium to upgrade to Concierge Class cabins for a cruise vacation. After setting sail, they decide to add a shore excursion (sight-seeing option) to their vacation package. Upon making their way to the Concierge Desk, they are told that excursions are an “add-on”...

Rules are not always followed. If rules are broken, there may be a valid reason. Staff charged with maintaining order must be encouraged to identify the reason for the violation and provide creative solutions. An example of such a situation occurred when a German high-speed train passenger...

A customer orders two bowls of soup at a Neighborhood chain restaurant and after paying is informed that the store is out of one of the soups. The customer refuses a different variety of soup and insists she needs the original soup choice. The soup will be available again in one hour. What...

Customer goes online in order to cancel Wowiesatisfy (name disguised) membership after receiving an email from them on February 1st. Upon receiving a cancelation confirmation that her account has been deactivated, she again receives an email from them on February 2nd letting her know that her...

Two hotel guests repeatedly took food from various breakfast buffets every morning before starting the daily tour. Not only is this considered a violation of etiquette, it also violated the hotel restaurant policy. Following complaints from other tour group members, and a polite but firm request...

A group of Japanese tourists arrive at a 4-star hotel, situated in the city center of Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. Upon arrival, the Danish-born Japanese tour guide is the first to enter the hotel, while leaving his group of tourists in the bus. He then spends about 15 minutes with the...

This chapter is the introduction to the 26 trade-tale case studies in the present volume. Face-to-face, telephone, and written interactions between salespersons and customers and service-providers and customers occur frequently in everyday life. Successful communications and outcomes are likely...