FIVE-STAR SERVICE.

YOU DESERVE IT. HERE’S HOW TO GET IT.

We’ve all heard customer-service horror stories. But unless you get tipped off through word of mouth, it’s hard to anticipate sub-par service, says David VanAmburg, managing director of the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), which surveys 70,000 customers a year. How can you avoid being the next disgruntled customer? The right research goes a long way, experts say.

BE SUPER KNOWLEDGEABLE

A good purchasing decision starts well before you enter the store. Other consumers have already armed you with tips on social media or review sites such as TripAdvisor or Yelp.

Don’t stop there if you want the best of the best, experts say. Online reviews can skew negative, so compare them to research with random sampling, like ratings from J.D. Power, Better Business Bureau and ACSI for a more balanced picture, VanAmburg says.

The happiest consumers also know a lot about the product they are buying so there are no surprises, said Finbarr J. O’Neill, president of independent market research firm J.D. Power.

LOOK FOR RED FLAGS

Lara Ponomareff researches customer service best practices for CEB, a firm that helps corporate leaders manage talent, customers and operations. When in doubt, Ponomareff says, look for companies that invest in training for front-line staff, are responsive on social media and have easy-to-navigate websites.

Finally, if you can’t get all the information you need from a single point of contact, whether that be a website, online chat or phone call, there’s a problem, said Andy Lee, CEO of Alorica, which provides remote customer service for

Fortune 500 companies. “The best companies we work with are creating different channels of communication to mesh with the mode that the customer is comfortable with, where a representative takes full responsibility to get you through the experience,” Lee said. “That means someone isn’t pushing issues to other companies or departments.”

Sometimes, that means passing up deals offered jointly by two or more companies, said consumer psychologist Kit Yarrow, author of Decoding the New Consumer Mind.

“You’re putting yourself a little more at risk doing, for instance, credit cards with rewards from more than one company,” Yarrow said. “No one really takes responsibility when issues arise.”

STICK TO THE MISSION

When dealing with some of shopping ’s most dreaded interactions, Yarrow says to bring a script — and stick to it.

BEING “UPSOLD.” When given unexpected options for additional purchases, Yarrow advises saying, “Thank you for the information, but I’m not prepared to do that today.”

BEING DISMISSED. When you’re unsatisfied with the help you’ve been given, say, “It isn’t personal, I know you’re trying to do your job, but I really need you to help me because I’m frustrated.” Make sure to use the person’s name — then, calmly ask for their supervisor.

It also can’t hurt to have the competitors’ apps and prices pulled up on your smartphone, O’Neill said. “Consumers who do that get a better deal.”

“I know you’re trying to do your job, but I really need you to help me because I’m frustrated.” Consumer psychologist Kit Yarrow on what script to follow