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Customers for Life: How to Turn That One-Time Buyer Into a Lifetime Customer [Paperback]

Carl Sewell , Paul B. Brown
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)

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Book Description

November 19, 2002
In this completely revised and updated edition of the customer service classic (more than 600,000 copies sold), Carl Sewell enhances his time-tested advice with fresh ideas and new examples and explains how the groundbreaking “Ten Commandments of Customer Service” apply to today’s world.

Drawing on his incredible success in transforming his Dallas Cadillac dealership into the second largest in America, Carl Sewell revealed the secret of getting customers to return again and again in the original Customers for Life. A lively, down-to-earth narrative, it set the standard for customer service excellence and became a perennial bestseller. Building on that solid foundation, this expanded edition features five completely new chapters, as well as significant additions to the original material, based on the lessons Sewell has learned over the last ten years.

Sewell focuses on the expectations and demands of contemporary consumers and employees, showing that businesses can remain committed to quality service in the fast-paced new millennium by sticking to his time-proven approach: Figure out what customers want and make sure they get it. His “Ten Commandants” provide the essential guidelines, including:

• Underpromise, overdeliver: Never disappoint your customers by charging them more than they planned. Always beat your
estimate or throw in an extra service free of charge

• No complaints? Something’s wrong: If you never ask your customers what else they want, how are you going to give it to them?

• Measure everything: Telling your employees to do their best won’t work if you don’t know how they can improve

• Borrow, borrow, borrow: Sewell, for example, learned about hospitality from Japanese culture, cleanliness from Disney, and
politeness from his mother.

Frequently Bought Together

Customers for Life: How to Turn That One-Time Buyer Into a Lifetime Customer + Raving Fans: A Revolutionary Approach To Customer Service
Price for both: $28.34

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Editorial Reviews

Review

Stanley Marcus If you don't learn from this book, it's your fault. -- Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

The art of developing the long-term customer relationships that are the lifeblood of every successful enterprise.

"Sewell's fundamentals are to an entrepreneur what the three R's are to a teacher...required reading."--Harvey Mackay, author of Swim With The Sharks --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.


Product Details

  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Crown Business; Revised edition (November 19, 2002)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0385504454
  • ISBN-13: 978-0385504454
  • Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #73,641 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Authors

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Customer Reviews

Often we forget who really pays your paychecks. Twilliams  |  5 reviewers made a similar statement
This is a great quick and easy read. nozama  |  5 reviewers made a similar statement
Here are just a few quotes from the book: * The customer will tell you how to provide good service. Kristin J. Arnold  |  7 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for every business owner May 19, 1999
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
None of the ideas in this book are ground breaking, but the author does a great job of explaining how they translate into loyal customers for your business. There is no abstract psychological babbling lots of similar books have. The author clearly shows the reader what his points are, then uses case studies from both his business and others to reinforce the concepts.

Every business owner should have this book, and I'd recommend buying copies for all the employees as well. It will pay off in the long run.

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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Customer Service Book yet! October 26, 2005
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Sewell really practices what he preaches.

I had made a visit to two of his dealerships in Dallas; after seeing his operation I HAD to read his book. Both his customers and his employees are fanatically loyal - for good reason.

Carl's view of customer service is very different; in fact he does not have (or need) a 'customer service' department. Instead they create systems to avoid problems in the first place, and each employee (associate, really) is empowered to solve the few problems that do come up on their own.

It's an easy read and a real eye opener.
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17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the best.... November 12, 2001
Format:Paperback
Do not be put off by the cheesy grin and sharp suit on the cover of the book - this is anything but a slick-but-little-content sales seminar. I would even say that this is among the top 5 books on business I have ever read - packed full of good ideas, common sense and presented in such a way that you do not need an MBA to understand the text. Read it from cover to cover (or take chapters in isolation, as I did) and you cannot fail to be anything but impressed by the advice given.

It would shock me to learn of someone that cannot learn from Mr. Sewell's approach to customer service. A must buy, for anybody that has a remote interest in improving the effectiveness of their operations.

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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars No kidding-- this is a great book! November 28, 2001
Format:Paperback
I was deeply skeptical when a friend handed this book to me-- suit, grin, car salesman? What did that have to do with consultancy to media companies? What did this have to do with anything?

No joke-- it has to do with *everything* in business.

A great focused reminder about where to spend your energy and attention if you want to grow your business. This doesn't just repeat the same old motivational seminar stuff that seems to populate so many of the business books out there.

It's a quick read with good advice illustrated by real life examples. What more can you ask for?

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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Sewell Cadillac is a world class organization visited annually by Japanese Businesses to evaluate his style of management. This is the most readable book on business since the One Minute Manager. Pracital business experiences which can be applied to any business not just a car dealership. Example: 'Threat a customer as you would your best friend Don't charge for the small stuff.' I bought 34 copies for all my managers. You'll pick it up read it in a few hours and then read it again.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The "Bible" of my Business December 7, 1998
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
My wife gave me her copy of "Customers For Life" that she had received a corporate retreat. When I first considered opening a gentlemen's club I pulled it off the shelf hoping to find a few useful "tidbits." This book completely changed my concept of customers and business success. In 3 short months of operation I have put a substantial dent into a highly competeitive market using Mr. Sewell's approach to servicing his customers. As a condition of employment with my company, everyone from waitresses and doorman to my general managers must read this book and attend weekly meetings to discuss how to apply it's principals at my place of business. The only business book I can honestly say is worth its wait in gold.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I cannot say enough about how right on the money Carl is on this book. I have met some of his custoemrs on planes and as I travel. Been to one of his dealerships. This guy practices what he preaches and it shows. This is real world how it is done. Jack in his book about Enterprise Rent A Car called Exceeding Customers Expectations is similar and so is the book about South West Airlines and the History of Nordstroms. Maybe this should be called the Bible of customer service in th Real World. He is right, his customers love him in Dallas and your customers will love you too if you follow this real world, provn plan and if you believ it in your heart and soul you will understand like Carl. This book needs six stars, but I can only put in five so here is all six for you Carl ******. You deserve them and so does this book. the other reviews are good too and I think anyone who reads this book will understand it's value, after all you are a customer too. Think about what you want as a customer, this is what Carl shows you. He shows you how to become one with your customer. You should buy this book and then you do not need an MBA.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars My Company's Bible! August 14, 2001
Format:Audio Cassette
I opened a small Non-Alchohalic Gentlemen's Club in the competitive Chicago market 3 years ago on a shoe string budget. Never had been in the club business before, but knew what I liked and didn't like when I was a customer....and I had this book. Applying it's principals over and over again I have become one of the best success stories in recent years in adult entertainment. Out of over 2500+ Gent Clubs in America I am rated 35th, and am the only one in the Chicago market in the top 40. I even named my corporation Ichibahn, Inc., because I want to be the best. Principals brought across in this book are the same for any business, and they are easy to understand. I can not say enough about CFL. I am now considering going into the "handyman" business, and these same lesson I know will make me a great success in that field too. Easy reading for a plane flight, and I promised your head will be spinning when you land. Joe
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Soild
I have never written a review, but this book was worth writing about. It was an easy read, but packed with great examples and check lists to help implement ideas presented. Read more
Published 17 days ago by Jsa
5.0 out of 5 stars What was true 30 years ago is still true today
Any business owner interested in growing his business should apply the principles that are offered by Mr Sewell. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Suncoast
5.0 out of 5 stars Automotive service Customers for Life
Sewell Cadillac and Carl Sewell. This is a great quick and easy read. Not just for the automotive industry, but for any business where you have a customer. I highly recommend this.
Published 1 month ago by nozama
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't buy the BOOK!
Get the kindle edition. I purchased the book and sent it back to Amazon. The content was more than I expected, as I had the original edition, and the new edition is easier to use... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jerry7242
5.0 out of 5 stars In-Depth and Substational
An important book if you want to get to the emotional heart of what it takes to keep customers for life. Because it is all about emotion and heart.
Published 2 months ago by adman1
5.0 out of 5 stars Customers drive you nuts? Read this book.
A must read for anyone who deals with customers in any way.
Should be required reading for any new hires.
Published 3 months ago by Jeffrey S.
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Loved the audio book! I also bought a tape to mp3 converter and worked great. I had to get the book for extra credit
Published 7 months ago by mike riser
4.0 out of 5 stars Book Review
Seems like it'll be a good book, purchased it for a class this semester but haven't been able to read through it yet.
Published 10 months ago by Shoup
3.0 out of 5 stars Good read, limited perspective.
This is a good read. Carl Sewell has surely built his own brand and there's a lot of useful information in here for just about any type of business person. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Nicholas Parks
5.0 out of 5 stars Customers for life, what a concept
Carl's book is amazing and a must read for anyone serious about building long-term relationships with customers-should be anyone in business. Read more
Published on June 17, 2011 by Harish Babla
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