Adequate
 

Recently had a major issue with a provider of service for one of my clients.

It was an f'ng nightmare of epic proportions.

Got a note from their head of Customer Service.

It included this line "My team takes care of ensuring that you are provided with adequate support."

Adequate!

To me the word is not very strong or confidence inspiring.

I for one would never tell a client that "I provide adequate service"

Curious what the brain trust thinks of the word "Adequate" when it comes to providing a service.

Adequate isn't a word that should ever be used regarding anything in business!

Generally, it means inadequate when I hear it. When I say it, well actually, that is not likely to come out of my mouth.

It is like the difference between an adequate amount of nutrition in a meal and a good meal.

Just enough to keep you alive but not healthy and happy.

Either the guy just had an off moment and made a bad word choice, or he is pissed at y'all for something and used it in a patronizing context.

As a natural born cynic I would suspect the latter.

May have just been off in his writing--appropriate, proper, necessary, etc.--all would have been better qualifiers.

What type of business?

Clear and unambiguous is the guidance I give my customers on creating agreements

Examples of not clear and concise:
-Adequate
-Best effort
-Conscientious

The customer may think that best effort tis that we know how important it is to you and we'll get right on it. They may think it means they are short on resources and you'll be lucky if they get to it in week.

I like the food description of adequate in Glen's post #4 above

I would take adequate to mean enough to prevent business impact, but that it just my expectation.

My plating and bright dip services are adequate for a Hagerty 1 car.

Substituting "adequate" with "minimal" might better describe their service philosophy.

i think Adequate meets requirements.

This attitude reflects negatively on you.

Time for a new provider. Period.

Adequate means minimal life support services unless otherwise modified.

Their Head of Customer Service doesn't have adequate skills for his or her job.

adjective
1.
as much or as good as necessary for some requirement or purpose; fully sufficient, suitable, or fit (often followed by to or for):
This car is adequate to our needs. adequate food for fifty people.
2.
barely sufficient or suitable:
Being adequate is not good enough.
3.
Law. reasonably sufficient for starting legal action:
adequate grounds.

Write and tell them that you'll pay them in a tolerable amount of time.

Or you will pay an adequate amount for their services.

Adequate = good enough

It should be "exceptional" if you want a strong customer support mantra ...

G

DO you now have an adequate understanding of the word? :cool:

Adequate = Bronze medal (ground level/minimum)

So.....who gets the Silver and Gold medals?

It's not what I'd like to hear.

My favorite line from a former service provider to my company:

"We always fulfill our promises. You just have to remind us what they are."

I'm happy to say that we are a former client of theirs...