Providing Service

One way companies are responding to the down turn if to offer better service to retain and attract customers. E-Trade has responded that way with a letter from the CEO, that contains service improvements like the following:

Substantial product and service improvements were made this past quarter, and the brokerage introduced new initiatives focused on making the online investing experience easier and more effective. For example:

• Customer service phone support was increased to 24 hours per day, seven days a week.
• We tested an online chat service, to provide prospective customers with the opportunity to receive live online help to open a new account.
• New tools were introduced, designed to simplify the bond and fixed income mutual fund selection and investment process, thereby helping customers make more informed fixed income investment decisions.

There are more solutions to come this quarter — all intended to help customers become smarter, more engaged investors — including the MobilePro application for iPhoneTM introduced last week, and the upcoming Investor Resource Center and Online Advisor.