11.2 Participants
Service marketers are interested in the participants of the service encounter because to many customers, it is the face-to-face encounter which is the essence of the service product. In addition customers' interactions with other customers can create the potential for satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the service. Thus service marketers must attempt to exert some control over the many personal interactions which take place in the service environment. Yet for all its importance, the personal encounter is one of the most difficult aspects to manage because of the human dimension.
The interaction between service personnel and customers is known as the service encounter that is concerned with the human dimensions of the exchange. Remember, this differs from the service experience , which is concerned with the customer's total experience before, during and after their purchase.
As we have mentioned, there are two main participants in the service encounter, the customer and the service personnel. We shall discuss the role of the customer first.