As the number of perceived service alternatives increases, the level of adequate service _____ and the zone of tolerance _____. 

The owner of a small but growing business, Terry Franklin was becoming overwhelmed with requests from his outside customer service representatives for decisions about solutions to customer problems. Noting the mountain of his own work that was piling up, he instituted a policy change and informed the representatives. “Keep the customers happy,” he said. “If it’s a problem that takes less than $100.00 to fix, there’s no need to call me. Use your judgment and go ahead and fix it.” Terry Franklin is using empowerment to narrow provider __________ of the gaps model of service quality.  

Enterprise Rent-A-Car closely ties customer service to employee success. With a tracking system called the Enterprise Service Quality Index (ESQi), the company routinely follows up with customers by phone to determine their level of satisfaction with the company. Only completely satisfied customers count toward an employee ESQi score, which is used to measure employee’s potential for promotion. Enterprise closes provider _____ by using marketing research. 

Every month the pest exterminator does a monthly spraying at Jean Poole’s house. Every month Jean gripes that she is being ripped off by the exterminating company and that she’s going to find a new one. But she never does change service providers due to: 

Denise said all she expected from the day care at the gym she belonged to was to get her children back at the end of an hour and learn the police had not been called because of something they did. She uses this particular gym because the day care will let her unruly children stay even though it provides only the nominal supervision. Denise has _____ expectations about the day care. 

When Theo complained out loud that the hotel restaurant did not serve breakfast late enough in the morning, a hotel worker overheard him and went to the kitchen. When the hotel worker returned, he presented Theo with a plate of sweet rolls, a cup of coffee and the hotel’s apology for having to close down the breakfast service early. Which service recovery strategy is being used in this example? 

The extent to which customers recognize and are willing to accept variation in service performance is called the ____________: 

A primary goal of firms at the friendship stage of the relationship is: 

A florist had promised to have the bridal flowers delivered to the wedding rehearsal dinner by 6 p.m. Because of vehicle problems, the flowers did not arrive until the meal was nearly over and the bride and her mother were very upset. To show how sorry he was for the poor service, the florist put extra flowers in the bridal bouquet and gave each mother and grandmother a free orchid corsage. The bride and her mother were extremely pleased with the extra flowers and have recommended the florist to a number of their friends. The florist is wondering if he shouldn’t deliberately underdeliver other jobs, compensate the consumer with some upgrade and benefit from even more positive feedback. The florist is responding to the: 

Home Design is a reasonably priced source for home decorating items like bronze bookends and silver candlesticks. Until its recent remodeling, customers who happened into the store were often disappointed because they expected the store to be a discount store. The front of the store had some masonry damage. Its parking lot needed repaving. Its store windows were stained and one was cracked. Now customers who enter the store expect to find unique decorating items because the outside of the store is so tastefully done. This change in servicescape was a way to narrow provider _____ of the gaps model of service quality.