Why You Shouldn't Use “Sorry for the Inconvenience” - Typing ...

“Sorry for the inconvenience” means that you're apologizing for any action (or lack of action) that has caused trouble to another person. Skiptocontent PlanningtoApologize?Don’tUse“SorryfortheInconvenience” CandaceWilliams June17,2021 5:02am Peoplemakeallkindsofmistakes.Whene-mailingorcommunicatingwithsomeone,forinstance,theymaywrite“barewithme”insteadof“bearwithme.” Theymayalsousethewrongwordinadvertently,suchasusing“farther”whenthecorrecttermtouseis“further.” Whenpeoplecommunicateamistake,theytypicallystartwithanapology.Apartfromthecommonlyused“I’msorry,”theytendtouseonephrasetosoftentheblow.Thisoverlyusedphraseis“sorryfortheinconvenience.” WhatDoes“SorryfortheInconvenience”Mean? “Sorryfortheinconvenience”meansthatyou’reapologizingforanyaction(orlackofaction)thathascausedtroubletoanotherperson.You’lloftenhearthisinthecustomerserviceindustry. Anexampleofthisapologyphraseinactionis,“Ourwebsiteiscurrentlydown.Wearesorryfortheinconveniencecaused.” WhythePhrase“SorryfortheInconvenience”isNotGoodEnough Althoughsaying“I’msorryfortheinconvenience”maybegrammaticallyOK,thisstatementhasalotofinherentflaws. Ifyou’regoingtoofferasincereapologytoacustomerortoanyoneyou’veinconvenienced,youshouldn’tmake“sorryfortheinconvenience”yourgo-tostatement. Here’swhy: ThePhraseisaCannedResponse Thephrase“sorryfortheinconvenience”isatemplateusedbymanycustomerservicerepresentatives.Whenacustomerraisestheirvoiceanddemandsasolution,thecustomerwilloftenhear“sorryfortheinconvenience”fromtherepresentative. Theoverusedphraselacksauthenticity,andmanycustomersareawareofthis.Theygetpissedoffwhencustomersupportagentsuse“sorryfortheinconvenience”onautopilot.Theyfeellikethey’retalkingtoarobotthatdispensescannedresponsesforeverycomplaint. YourApologyCreatesDistance Sayingonly“sorryfortheinconvenience”canbeinadequate.Thecustomermaythinkthatyoudon’twanttotakeaccountabilityforyourmistake.Source:Pinterest Peoplesometimessubconsciouslypushasubjectawayfromthemselvesbyusingstatements,phrasesorwordstomakeeventsseemasdisconnectedtothemaspossible. Whenyousay“sorryfortheinconvenience”toacustomeroranyindividual,theywillfeellikeyou’renottakingownershiporaccountability.Theapologydoesn’tfeelsincere,andyoumisstheopportunitytoshowthatyoucare. ThePhraseDoesNotExpressUrgency Saying“sorryfortheinconvenience”withoutafollow-upstatementleavesthecustomerhanging.It’slikesaying“no”withoutgivingareasonforrejection.Thephraseitselfdoesnotgivethecustomersomeformofreassurancethatyou’llresolvetheissueorproblem. Anexampleiswhenawebsiteisdown.Simplyposting“we’resorryfortheinconveniencecaused”onthemainpageisn’tenough.Thewebmasterneedstoletvisitorsknowwhathappenedandwhenthewebsitewillgobacktonormal. You’reNotGenuinelySorryatAll Somecompanieshaveafearordislikeofsayingsorry.Theybelievethatpeoplewillinterpretanapologyasanadmissionofliability.So,theystronglydiscourage—orworse,ban—theiremployeesfromapologizing. Thiscanbedifficultforpeopleworkinginthecustomerservicedepartment.Ifyouareonthephonewithsomeonewho’shadaterribledayorabadexperience,whatelsedoyoudobutapologize? Unfortunately,thephrase“sorryfortheconvenience”cancomeacrossasasorry-not-sorrystatement.It’slikesaying“I’msorryifyoufeelthishascausedyoutrouble”and“I’msorryifyoufeelthatway.” Talkinginthiswayislikedumpingoilonanalreadyragingfire.Thereasonisthatnon-apologiesportraythatthecomplaintisallinthecustomer’shead.You’remerelysayingthatyou’resorryabouttheirfeelingsandnotaboutwhathappenedortranspired. WhatareAlternativesto“SorryfortheInconvenience?” Don’tjustapologizeifyoudidsomethingwrong.Givethatpersonahelpinghand.PhotobyNoahBuscheronUnsplash Ifyouwanttoapologizetoacustomerandmakeupforwhathappened,don’tsay“sorryfortheinconvenience.” Usethesephrasesorstatementsinstead: “Letmehelp.” Offerasolutioninsteadofanapology.Peoplecomplainwhenthey’redisappointed.Thisisn’tbecausetheyliketowhine,butbecausetheywantasolutiontotheirproblem.Theywantsomeonetohearthemout. Saying“I’msorryfortheinconvenienceofspillingicedteaonyourbeautifuldress”won’tgetthestainoutnomatterhowmuchyourepeatthestatement.Ontheotherhand,“Letmeshoulderthecostsofcleaning”willsolvetheproblem. “Iunderstandyourfrustration.” Youdon’tdismissthecomplaintofacustomerasamereinconvenience.Instead,youacknowledgewhatthey’refeelingandaccepttheblame.Thiswilllikelyresultinabetteroutcome. Using“Iunderstandyourfrustration”orasimilarstatementguidestheresponsewithempathy.Thisisastrongerwaytode-escalateheightenedemotions,aswellasreachasolutionthatwillbefavorableforthecustomer. “Irealizethisisdisappointing.” Recognizedisappointmentandtakeownershipofthesituation.Showthecustomerthatyou’rethinkingoftheirperspective.Ratherthanstartwith“sorryfortheinconvenience,”beginyourmessagewithsomethingthatgoeslikethis: “Irealizethisisshortnotice,andthatyou’vebeenlookingforwardtogettingyourorderedproducton[insertdatehere].”Youcantakeaccountabilitywhenyouusetherightwords.Also,includingspecificinformationinyourstatementsshowsthatyoucare. Thenexttimeyou’rethinkingofsaying“sorryfortheinconvenience,”thinkcarefully. Gobeyondtheusualsincereapologybyacknowledgingtheproblemandofferingasolution. 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