GoDaddy Survey Shows Customer Patience Is Thinning, Unless You're Under 30

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Jul 31, 2025, 08:17 ET

Service with a Shrug? Rudeness, Robots and Revenge of the One-and-Done Shopper

TEMPE, Ariz., July 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly half of U.S. shoppers say customer service provided by businesses is getting worse, according to results from the latest GoDaddy (NYSE: GDDY) Consumer Pulse* survey – yet Gen Z and Millennials remain more upbeat than their parents' generations.

New survey data from GoDaddy finds nearly half of U.S. shoppers say customer service provided by businesses is getting worse.

According to GoDaddy's survey of 1,500 U.S. consumers, only 20% of respondents say customer service has improved recently, compared to 42% who perceive a decline in the quality of service received. Among Gen X and Boomers, pessimism is particularly pronounced: just 12% say customer service has improved and 46% believe it has worsened.

In contrast, 29% of Gen Z and 31% of Millennials say support has gotten better, suggesting the next generation of shoppers is more positive about the state of customer care.

"The generational divide is striking. Young consumers are more likely to give businesses the benefit of the doubt, but they also have higher expectations for speed, flexibility and friendliness," said GoDaddy Small Business Trends Expert Amy Jennette.

"Meanwhile, older generations are losing patience, often due to experiences with unfriendly service or limited options to reach a real person. For businesses big and small, the message is clear: customer trust is fragile, and brands must work harder to maintain it."

The survey points to several drivers behind Americans' shifting attitudes:

Channel Preferences Are Evolving - While 44% of consumers still prefer picking up the phone for support, Gen Z and Millennials are more likely to use live chat, text, or even social media direct messages. However, 86% overall say they prefer to interact with a real human rather than a chatbot.
Rising Frustration with Service - Among those who feel businesses are falling short of customer service expectations, 66% of those surveyed cite rude treatment as a top gripe while 55% mention a lack of empathy. Nearly half (47%) of respondents are frustrated when there is an absence of customer service options.
One Strike and You're Out - Younger generations may be more optimistic but are also less forgiving. Nearly a quarter (24%) of Gen Z consumers say they would not give a business a second chance after a mistake, compared to 18% of Gen X and Boomers.

Ways to Win for Small Businesses
Despite these trust issues, the survey results highlight clear opportunities for small businesses to stand out. The majority of consumers (68%) polled expect small businesses to deliver the same level of digital security and professionalism as larger rivals**. Flexibility when enforcing policies, such as returns, and a sense of urgency when resolving issues are among the top signs that a business puts the customer first.

"Small businesses can build authentic relationships by responding to customers. The right technology, especially using the latest almost-magical AI capabilities, makes this possible, even for businesses without large support teams."

GoDaddy Conversations: Empowering Small Business Support
It's hard for small business owners and managers to handle all aspects of operations while still investing the time and effort to consistently communicate effectively with customers. That's where AI-powered tools like GoDaddy Conversations come in; an all-in-one communications tool that brings together messages from web chat, social platforms, and email into a single inbox.

With GoDaddy Conversations, businesses can reply instantly, personalize interactions, and never miss an opportunity to earn trust—no matter how customers choose to reach out. For more information about GoDaddy's full suite of products to help businesses grow, visit www.GoDaddy.com.

*GoDaddy Consumer Pulse is a series of surveys of consumers ages 18 and above conducted throughout the year.
** https://aboutus.godaddy.net/newsroom/news-releases/press-release-details/2025/Security-Double-Standard-Young-Consumers-Reuse-Passwords-Expect-Businesses-to-Be-Fort-Knox/default.aspx

About GoDaddy
GoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a website and logo, sell their products and services, and accept payments. GoDaddy Airo^®, the company's AI-powered experience, makes growing a small business faster and easier by helping them to get their idea online in minutes, drive traffic and boost sales. GoDaddy's expert guides are available 24/7 to provide assistance. To learn more about the company, visit www.GoDaddy.com.

SOURCE GoDaddy Inc.