At one time, it may have been acceptable for a car dealership to do nothing but sell cars and send people on their way. That time is long gone, though.

If you’re driving along, and you see a car dealership, chances are, there’s a second one just a block away, a third across the street, a fourth next door to that, and so on. People have a lot of choices when it comes to cars and dealerships.

There’s no reason for them to settle for anything but the best treatment.

Add to that the fact that we live in the Age of the Internet, when anyone can do a quick Google search or look up reviews of your business on sites like Yelp and the Better Business Bureau.

If you’re getting slammed for your lack of customer service, you’re on your way out the door. One or two bad reviews are inevitable, but if there’s a trend, people will avoid you.

Here are some great tips for putting your customer first and setting yourself head and shoulders above the competition.

Take Notes from the Hospitality Industry

If you want to have the best customer service and the most customer satisfaction, take a look at how top-notch hotels treat their guests. Think of your customers as guests and treat them like they’re checking into a luxury hotel.

After all, even if they’re only purchasing an economy car, they’re still spending thousands of dollars with you.

Have someone available to greet all of your guests as soon as they arrive. You can’t eliminate all wait times, but you can definitely eliminate pointless or idle wait times.

Your customers should never have to wait on a salesperson. If, however, something happens and you’re short-staffed, make sure that someone has at least greeted each guest and pointed him or her in the right direction.

When customers come back for service appointments, have a few different newspapers and magazines available to them. Make note of their favorite drinks and snacks.

They’ll feel like VIPs when you say, “Good afternoon, Mr. Client, can I get you your usual coffee with cream and two sugars? We have the New York Times or the Wallstreet Journal. Would you like to peruse one or the other?”

Finally, before they leave, make sure that you schedule their next visit. At this point, it might behoove you to give them a discount card, too. Between the appointment and the discount, returning will be a no-brainer for them.