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Free Open-Ended Customer Service Survey

50+ Expert Crafted Open Ended Customer Service Survey Questions

Unlock richer, more actionable feedback by measuring open ended customer service survey questions - letting customers share candid insights in their own words. This survey is designed to reveal hidden pain points and highlight standout moments, fueling continuous improvements in your support experience. Download our free template preloaded with example questions or head over to our form builder to create a fully custom survey in minutes.

Which channel did you use to contact our customer service?
Phone
Email
Live chat
In-Person
Social media
Other
Please rate your overall satisfaction with our customer service.
1
2
3
4
5
Very dissatisfiedVery satisfied
The customer service representative resolved my issue in a timely manner.
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
The communication from our customer service team was clear and easy to understand.
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
In your own words, what did you like most about your customer service experience?
What could we improve to better meet your needs in the future?
What is your age range?
Under 18
18-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65 or older
What is your gender?
Male
Female
Prefer not to say
Other
How did you hear about us?
Website
Referral
Social media
Advertisement
Other
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Top Secrets to Designing an Open Ended Customer Service Survey

An open ended customer service survey uncovers the real voice of your customers. When you go beyond checkboxes, you tap into emotions, stories, and fresh ideas. You gain actionable insights that standard ratings simply can't reveal. That's why every support team should master this format.

Start by crafting precise prompts. For example, ask "What do you value most about our support experience?" or "How could our team improve the way we handle your requests?" A resource like The Savvy Survey #6b: Constructing Open-Ended Items for a Questionnaire suggests specifying the expected unit of response and providing plenty of space for detailed answers. This encourages thoughtful, quantitative and descriptive feedback.

Limit your survey to two or three open ended customer service survey questions to prevent fatigue. According to Qualtrics, concise, clear questions boost response rates and depth of insight by up to 60%. You can even embed a quick poll earlier in your process to gather initial sentiment and segue into richer follow-ups.

Here's a real-world example: a boutique e-commerce team used a simple Generic Customer Service Survey with two targeted prompts. Within days, they uncovered a shipping bottleneck and tweaked their packaging workflow - reducing delivery complaints by 25%. That's the power of well-designed open ended questions.

3D voxel art depicting online open-ended customer service surveys with a dark blue background.
3D voxel art depicting online open-ended customer service survey concept on a dark blue background.

5 Must-Know Tips for Crafting Open Ended Customer Service Survey Questions

Even the best intentions can lead to vague results if you avoid key pitfalls. Many teams start with "Any feedback?" and end up with one-word replies. To get depth, frame questions around specific moments: "Can you describe a recent interaction that exceeded or fell short of your expectations?" These targeted prompts guide customers toward vivid, actionable stories.

Tip #1: Don't overload your survey. Figpii advises balancing closed and open items - too many free-text fields tire respondents. Tip #2: Use neutral wording to avoid leading answers. Replace loaded terms like "dislike" with "What surprised you during your support experience?" to get honest reflections.

Tip #3: Plan how you'll analyze responses before you launch. Without a taxonomy or tagging approach, you'll drown in verbatim. As Simplesat notes, building a simple coding framework lets you turn qualitative data into clear action items. Tip #4: Keep questions focused on your goal - whether that's product feedback, service improvement, or brand perception.

Consider this scenario: a SaaS startup rolled out a Typical Customer Service Survey with a catch-all comment box but never reviewed responses systematically. By adding a weekly review meeting and tagging themes - friction points, praise, feature requests - they cut ticket volume by 18% in one month. Avoid that oversight, and you'll transform raw feedback into real business wins.

Customer Service Interaction Questions

This category focuses on the initial contact between customers and support teams, aiming to uncover clarity and responsiveness in first interactions. By gathering detailed feedback on first touchpoints, you can identify communication strengths and areas for improvement. For more templates, explore our Generic Customer Service Survey .

  1. How would you describe your initial contact experience with our team?

    Understanding how customers perceive the first interaction helps pinpoint communication strengths and weaknesses. This question uncovers immediate impressions that can inform staff training and process improvements.

  2. What channels (phone, email, chat) did you use and why?

    Identifying preferred channels reveals where to focus resources and optimize accessibility. This helps tailor support strategies to meet customer expectations across platforms.

  3. Did you feel acknowledged and understood during the first interaction?

    Feeling acknowledged drives customer trust and satisfaction. This question highlights whether agents are effectively demonstrating empathy from the outset.

  4. How clear was the information provided when you first reached out?

    Clarity in communication reduces follow-up questions and frustration. This question helps ensure that staff are delivering concise and understandable information.

  5. What aspects of the greeting or introduction stood out to you?

    Noting standout elements in introductions can guide scripting improvements. This question highlights best practices and areas for enhancing first impressions.

  6. Was the wait time during your initial contact acceptable? Please explain.

    Wait time directly impacts perceived service quality and patience levels. This question surfaces acceptable thresholds and areas needing faster response.

  7. How did the tone of our representative make you feel about our service?

    Tone sets the emotional context of an interaction and influences satisfaction. This question evaluates whether staff maintain an approachable and professional demeanor.

  8. Were any issues raised clearly identified by the agent? How so?

    Clear issue identification streamlines resolution and reduces repeat contacts. This question checks if agents are listening effectively and diagnosing problems accurately.

  9. How could we improve the first point of contact in the future?

    Gathering suggestions uncovers fresh ideas from the customer perspective. This open feedback drives targeted improvements in initial service design.

  10. What suggestion would make the initial interaction more efficient?

    Efficiency at first contact reduces customer effort and frustration. This question pinpoints actionable changes to streamline communication workflows.

Customer Satisfaction Resolution Questions

These questions delve into how effectively customer issues were resolved and how satisfied they feel with outcomes. Gathering insights here helps refine problem-solving processes and reduce repeat contacts. For real-life examples, see our Sample Customer Satisfaction Survey .

  1. Can you describe the outcome of your issue resolution?

    This question captures the customer's perspective on final results and completeness. It highlights how clearly the solution met the original request.

  2. How satisfied are you with the solution provided?

    Direct satisfaction ratings reveal overall contentment with outcomes. This open format allows customers to elaborate on their feelings and drivers.

  3. Did the resolution meet your expectations? Why or why not?

    Comparing expectations to reality uncovers gaps in service delivery. This drives adjustments to ensure consistent customer satisfaction.

  4. What could have been done differently to resolve your issue faster?

    Seeking ideas for speed improvements highlights process bottlenecks. This question fuels efficiency initiatives and faster turnaround times.

  5. Were all your concerns addressed during the resolution process?

    Ensuring complete issue coverage prevents follow-up tickets and frustration. This spotlights any overlooked elements in the support workflow.

  6. How well did our team explain the steps taken to solve your problem?

    Transparency fosters trust and reduces confusion during resolution. This question ensures agents communicate their actions clearly and comprehensively.

  7. What part of the resolution process impressed you the most?

    Highlighting positive aspects identifies service strengths to replicate. This feedback reinforces behaviors and strategies that delight customers.

  8. Can you highlight any gaps in the provided solution?

    Identifying shortcomings is crucial for continuous improvement. This question uncovers overlooked details that may undermine full satisfaction.

  9. How would you rate the completeness of the final outcome and why?

    Assessing completeness ensures the solution fully addresses the issue. This follow-up probe reveals areas needing more thorough resolution.

  10. What recommendations do you have for improving our resolution processes?

    Inviting recommendations taps into customer expertise and creativity. This question generates actionable ideas to streamline support operations.

Customer Service Agent Performance Questions

This section examines how customers perceive agent professionalism, empathy, and communication skills. Insights here help tailor training programs and boost agent effectiveness. Learn more from our Excellent Customer Service Survey .

  1. How would you rate the professionalism of the agent you interacted with?

    Perceived professionalism influences overall trust and satisfaction. This question highlights whether agents maintain appropriate conduct and authority.

  2. What did you appreciate most about our agent's communication style?

    Identifying admired traits helps standardize best practices. This question reinforces positive behaviors that resonate with customers.

  3. Did the agent demonstrate genuine empathy? Please elaborate.

    Empathy builds rapport and fosters customer loyalty. This open-ended query determines if agents truly understand and share customer concerns.

  4. How effectively did the agent handle your questions?

    Effective handling reduces follow-up contacts and frustration. This question measures clarity, speed, and completeness in responses.

  5. In what ways did the agent go above and beyond?

    Spotlighting exceptional service moments can inspire replication. This feedback recognizes and rewards outstanding agent performance.

  6. Were there moments when you felt the agent could improve? How?

    Constructive criticism pinpoints growth areas for coaching. This question encourages honest suggestions to enhance future interactions.

  7. How clear and concise was the agent's explanation of next steps?

    Clarity around next steps reduces customer uncertainty and anxiety. This question identifies opportunities to improve instructional communication.

  8. Did the agent build rapport with you? What contributed to that feeling?

    Rapport creates a positive emotional connection with the brand. This question reveals actions that foster genuine customer engagement.

  9. What skills do you think our agents should develop further?

    Customers often have unique insights into skill gaps. This question drives targeted training in areas that matter most to users.

  10. How could our agents better personalize your service experience?

    Personalization enhances customer satisfaction and loyalty. This question uncovers tactics to tailor support to individual preferences.

Service Improvement Feedback Questions

This set gathers ideas for refining processes, tools, and overall support infrastructure. It invites customers to propose enhancements that boost efficiency and satisfaction. Check out our Open Ended Questions Survey for more inspiration.

  1. What suggestions do you have for making our service more user-friendly?

    User-friendly design reduces friction and support volume. This question solicits direct input on interface and procedural improvements.

  2. How could we enhance the tools or materials provided during support?

    Better tools lead to faster resolutions and happier customers. This feedback highlights resource gaps and opportunities for richer documentation.

  3. Are there any features or services you wish we offered?

    Feature requests pinpoint new value-adds and competitive advantages. This question collects fresh ideas aligned with customer needs.

  4. What bottlenecks did you experience that we should address?

    Identifying friction points focuses improvement efforts on high-impact areas. This question surfaces hidden process delays and obstacles.

  5. How would you improve our self-service options?

    Improving self-service lowers support costs and empowers users. This question gathers guidance on creating more intuitive help resources.

  6. In what areas do you find our processes most cumbersome?

    Highlighting cumbersome steps reveals efficiency opportunities. This question directs attention to streamlined workflows and automation.

  7. What training or resources do you believe our team should receive?

    Customer insights guide targeted staff development initiatives. This question ensures training aligns with real customer challenges.

  8. How can we better measure and monitor customer satisfaction?

    Effective metrics track progress and highlight pain points. This question sources ideas for meaningful performance indicators.

  9. What could make our feedback channels more accessible?

    Accessible feedback loops encourage honest and frequent input. This question identifies ways to remove barriers to sharing opinions.

  10. Can you propose any innovations we should consider for future improvements?

    Innovation suggestions fuel long-term competitive advantage. This open question taps into customer creativity for groundbreaking ideas.

Overall Experience Feedback Questions

This group captures the big-picture perspective on your entire service journey, from start to finish. Understanding overall experiences helps align operational goals with customer expectations. For common templates, visit our Common Customer Service Survey .

  1. How would you summarize your entire service experience with us?

    A concise summary reflects overall satisfaction and key takeaways. This question reveals the emotional core of the customer journey.

  2. What moment in your service journey was most memorable?

    Memorable moments create lasting impressions and brand loyalty. This question identifies highlights to replicate and celebrate.

  3. Were there any surprises, positive or negative, during your experience?

    Surprises can delight or frustrate customers unexpectedly. This question uncovers unanticipated factors affecting satisfaction.

  4. How well did our service align with your expectations?

    Expectation alignment is key to perceived value and trust. This question measures gaps between promised and delivered experiences.

  5. Did the overall process feel seamless? Why or why not?

    Seamlessness reduces effort and enhances satisfaction. This question surfaces process breaks that may cause friction.

  6. What stood out as the highlight of your interaction?

    Highlight feedback spotlights strengths that differentiate your service. This question helps prioritize what to maintain and promote.

  7. Were there any points of frustration? How could they be resolved?

    Identifying frustration points drives corrective action. This question yields targeted fixes to common pain spots.

  8. How likely are you to recommend our service based on your journey?

    Likelihood to recommend gauges loyalty and advocacy potential. This open-ended version explores reasons behind referral intent.

  9. What words would you use to describe our service to others?

    Descriptive feedback uncovers brand perception and sentiment. This question captures the language customers associate with your service.

  10. How can we make your next experience even better?

    Proactive improvement ideas ensure continuous enhancement. This question invites customers to guide future service evolution.

Customer Service Follow-Up Preference Questions

These questions explore customer preferences for post-resolution communication, ensuring follow-ups add value without annoyance. Aligning follow-up methods and timing with expectations fosters long-term loyalty. Learn more from our Customer Service Survey .

  1. How would you like us to follow up after resolving your issue?

    Understanding preferred follow-up methods enhances post-service satisfaction. This question helps tailor follow-up protocols to individual needs.

  2. Which communication method do you prefer for follow-up and why?

    Preferred channels differ by customer and context. This question ensures follow-ups happen via the most comfortable and effective medium.

  3. What frequency of follow-up contacts feels appropriate to you?

    Striking the right follow-up frequency balances reassurance and intrusion. This question identifies optimal contact intervals for each customer.

  4. What information would you find most helpful in a follow-up?

    Relevant content in follow-ups increases their perceived value. This question uncovers details customers want after issue resolution.

  5. How soon after resolution would you expect a follow-up?

    Timely communication reinforces reliability and care. This question sets expectations for prompt post-service engagement.

  6. Would you prefer automated updates or personal calls? Please explain.

    Automation can be efficient but may feel impersonal. This question gauges when human contact is preferred over system notifications.

  7. How can we make our follow-up process less intrusive?

    Minimizing intrusion respects customer time and boundaries. This question solicits strategies to improve follow-up etiquette.

  8. What expectations do you have for post-service check-ins?

    Clarifying check-in expectations ensures satisfaction tracking. This question helps define the scope and tone of follow-up contacts.

  9. In what situations would you love to see proactive follow-ups?

    Proactive outreach can prevent issues and build goodwill. This question uncovers contexts where anticipation adds customer value.

  10. What additional resources or referrals would you like in follow-up communication?

    Offering resources demonstrates ongoing support beyond resolution. This question identifies helpful referrals or materials customers value post-service.

FAQ