--- title: "Survey Says: Customer Service a Costly Afterthought" description: Online consumers are willing to pay nearly 11 percent more for ecommerce items if it means the high... image: https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/customerservice-mini-3-1-1-1.gif --- [Log In](https://www.websitemagazine.com/_hcms/mem/login) [Subscribe](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com/free/w_webk05/prgm.cgi) [![Website Magazine Logo](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/gradient-regular@3x-1.png?width=586&height=145&name=gradient-regular@3x-1.png "Website Magazine Logo")](http://Website%20Services,%20Inc.) - [About](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about) - [FAQs](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/faq) - [Advertise](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/advertise) - [Editorial Staff](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/editorial-publishing-staff) - [Resources](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com) - [Newsletter](https://www.websitemagazine.com/newsletter-sign-up) - More - [Contact Us](https://www.websitemagazine.com/contact) [Log In](https://www.websitemagazine.com/_hcms/mem/login) [Subscribe](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com/free/w_webk05/prgm.cgi) Search - [Latest](https://www.websitemagazine.com) - [Design](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design) - [Development](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-development) - [SEO](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo) - [Ecommerce](https://www.websitemagazine.com/ecommerce) - [Content](https://www.websitemagazine.com/content) - [Marketing](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing) - [Advertising](https://www.websitemagazine.com/advertising) - [Email](https://www.websitemagazine.com/email) - [Infographics](https://www.websitemagazine.com/infographics) - [View All Topics](https://www.websitemagazine.com/channels) # Survey Says: Customer Service a Costly Afterthought ![Linc Wonham](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Linc%20Wohnam.jpeg) [by Linc Wonham](https://www.websitemagazine.com/ecommerce/author/linc-wonham) 22 Mar, 2010 - - - [mailto:?Body=https://www.websitemagazine.com/ecommerce/survey-says-customer-service-a-costly-afterthought](mailto:?Body=https://www.websitemagazine.com/ecommerce/survey-says-customer-service-a-costly-afterthought) - Link Copied! ![Survey Says: Customer Service a Costly Afterthought](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/customerservice-mini-3-1-1-1.gif) Online consumers are willing to pay nearly 11 percent more for ecommerce items if it means the highest level of customer service is included in the process, according to an Ovum survey commissioned by StellaService. In monetary terms, that amounts to an additional $17.3 billion that consumers are willing to pay for exceptional online customer service in 2010. The study concluded that consumers put a 10.7-percent premium on the quality of customer service they receive when shopping online and determined that few of today's largest e-tailers meet that standard. Exceptional customer service was defined as excelling in the three following areas: -    Online tools and interfaces -    Shipping delivery and return policies -    Human support In conjunction with the survey, online customer-service evaluator StellaService ranked the 150 largest ecommerce sites, with Zappos.com, Diapers.com and BlueNile.com taking the top three spots. Amazon.com, Staples.com, Crutchfield.com, LLBean.com, BestBuy.com, Apple.com and Sears.com rounded out the top 10. While many sites still expect consumers to exert the lion's share of effort when returning or exchanging items purchased online, Zappos' customer-friendly process helped it in the rankings, said StellaService CEO Jordy Leiser. To test the human-support element, the survey-takers called each site more than 12 times to inquire about products and policies and to state concerns, and evaluated the responses. "Generally speaking, most firms don't take an obsessive customer-service approach," said Leiser. Based on the survey results, and the dollar amount, smart businesses will consider a new approach. ![Linc Wonham](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Linc%20Wohnam.jpeg) [Linc Wonham](https://www.websitemagazine.com/ecommerce/author/linc-wonham) I am a longtime content specialist with vast experience in ideating, creating and editing articles, infographics, books, ebooks, white papers, insights guides, corporate POVs, video scripts and more for omnichannel promotion and distribution on behalf of publishers, brands and creative agencies. My areas of expertise include financial services & fintech; retail & ecommerce; CPG marketing, sports, technology, lifestyle and more. - #### Popular Post ### [The Impact of Late and Inaccurate Deliveries on Customer Loyalty ![The Impact of Late and Inaccurate Deliveries on Customer Loyalty](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/package_delivery-1-1.jpg)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/ecommerce/the-impact-of-late-and-inaccurate-deliveries-on-customer-loyalty) ### [Top 50 Customer Relationship Management Solutions ![Top 50 Customer Relationship Management Solutions](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gradient-regular-logo-mark-Jan-22-2023-11-50-42-2994-PM-Apr-10-2023-01-15-57-0982-PM-2-2.png)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/ecommerce/top-50-customer-relationship-management-solutions) ### [Square Cash Now Available for Business Use ![Square Cash Now Available for Business Use](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/squarecash-mini-Jan-22-2023-11-46-25-0939-PM-1-1-1.jpg)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/ecommerce/square-cash-now-available-for-business-use) #### Subscribe to Our Newsletter! [![](https://a.impactradius-go.com/display-ad/13053-1438301)](https://semrush.sjv.io/c/3976891/1438301/13053)![](https://imp.pxf.io/i/3976891/1438301/13053) #### Latest in Ecommerce [![WordPress vs. Shopify: Which One to Choose in 2023?](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Shopify-vs-WordPress-1-1.jpg) WordPress vs. Shopify: Which One to Choose in 2023?](https://www.websitemagazine.com/ecommerce/wordpress-vs.-shopify-which-one-to-choose-in-2023) [![Just Practice: 4 Steps to Turn Visitors into Customers and Clicks into Cash](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/happyshopper-1-1.jpg) Just Practice: 4 Steps to Turn Visitors into Customers and Clicks into Cash](https://www.websitemagazine.com/ecommerce/just-practice-4-steps-to-turn-visitors-into-customers-and-clicks-into-cash) [![The Impact of Late and Inaccurate Deliveries on Customer Loyalty](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/package_delivery-1-1.jpg) The Impact of Late and Inaccurate Deliveries on Customer Loyalty](https://www.websitemagazine.com/ecommerce/the-impact-of-late-and-inaccurate-deliveries-on-customer-loyalty) [![2023 Master List of Ecommerce Solutions](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shopping-cart-icon-Jan-22-2023-11-53-37-0814-PM-Apr-10-2023-01-07-48-8582-PM-1-1.png) 2023 Master List of Ecommerce Solutions](https://www.websitemagazine.com/ecommerce/master-list-of-ecommerce-solutions) [![Investing in the Online Fraud Fight](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gradient-regular-logo-mark-Jan-22-2023-11-53-50-0583-PM-Apr-10-2023-01-16-02-7173-PM-3-3.png) Investing in the Online Fraud Fight](https://www.websitemagazine.com/ecommerce/investing-in-the-online-fraud-fight) [![How to Be Successful on Amazon](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/amazonaa85f88ec5e163acbc5dff0000ff1aaa-Jan-22-2023-11-53-06-1544-PM-2-2-2.png) How to Be Successful on Amazon](https://www.websitemagazine.com/ecommerce/how-to-be-successful-on-amazon) [![gradient-regular@3x](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/gradient-regular@3x.png?width=128&height=128&name=gradient-regular@3x.png)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/) 999 E Touhy Ave, Des Plaines, IL 60018   [info@websitemagazine.com](mailto:info@websitemagazine.com) [(888) 7WEBMAG](tel:18887932624) [(312) 313-6576](tel:13123136576) About - [Advertise](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/advertise) - [Editorial](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/editorial-publishing-staff) - [Contact Us](https://www.websitemagazine.com/contact) Resources Membership - Login - Subscribe Signup for our newsletter © 2026 Website Magazine. All Rights Reserved - [Privacy Policy](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/privacy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Linc Wonham", "url" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/ecommerce/author/linc-wonham" }, "dateModified" : "2023-05-01T20:27:14.463Z", "datePublished" : "2010-03-22T05:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Survey Says: Customer Service a Costly Afterthought ", "image" : [ "https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/customerservice-mini-3-1-1-1.gif" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/ecommerce/survey-says-customer-service-a-costly-afterthought", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/gradient-regular@3x-1.png" }, "name" : "Website Services, Inc." } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "NewsArticle", "author" : [ { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Linc Wonham" } ], "headline" : "Survey Says: Customer Service a Costly Afterthought", "publisher" : { "name" : "Website Magazine", "url" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/" } } ```