The language you use in business communications must be considered, as it may significantly affect the impression you leave on potential customers.
The phrase “thank you for your understanding” is often overused and misunderstood in sales conversations.
Consider adopting similar phrases that convey appreciation and thanks while maintaining clarity.
Employing these alternative phrases when thanking customers may create connections, earn their confidence in your brand, and build lasting partnerships.
In this article, we have provided some alternatives to use that can help you improve your business communication skills.
Thank you for your understanding meaning
“Thank you for your understanding” is a phrase used in less-than-ideal situations when delivering unexpected news or causing inconvenience to others.
Using this phrase assumes good behavior and encourages the good behavior of the people you are communicating with.
This is particularly beneficial in customer service and sales when trying to maintain a relationship with a customer. Microsoft reports that 95% of their survey clients indicated that customer service is important to their brand choice and loyalty
For example, when there are problems with the services you’re offering, resolving customers’ issues is taking longer than anticipated, or the customer isn’t having a good experience for any reason. Using this phrase shows appreciation for the other person’s understanding and patience.
This phrase can be helpful whether you are chatting in person, over the phone, or by email.
Why use “thank you for your understanding” alternatives?
Saying “thank you for your understanding” can convey a variety of meanings, such as expressing gratitude for your patience or apologizing for any inconvenience caused.
However, it’s overused. It can also be interpreted as slightly impertinent, as it instructs readers on how to react, telling them how to feel and behave. It implies that not understanding a situation is unacceptable.
These days, it is usually viewed as a polite but insincere expression. Therefore, exploring “thank you for your understanding” alternatives may be beneficial for a more precise and polite expression.
“Thank you for understanding” alternatives to use in your communications
The phrase “thank you for your understanding” can be replaced with other appropriate ways to convey your appreciation of customers’ forbearance.
1. “Thank you for sharing this information”
When a customer reports that something has gone wrong, perhaps with the company website, let them know you’re working on fixing the problem, and then show appreciation for bringing it to your attention.
2. “We appreciate the information.”
3. “Your information is much appreciated.”
4. “Thank you for providing these details.”
For example:
Dear [Name],Thank you for sharing this information with us. I have sent it to the appropriate team member, and we hope to have everything resolved soon.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
5. “I appreciate your comprehension”
Saying “I appreciate your comprehension” is a helpful way for non-native English speakers to express gratitude for their ability to understand an idea or situation.
This phrase can be used in various communications, duties, tasks, and situations where specific actions are necessary.
Compared to saying, “thank you for your understanding,” the phrase “I appreciate your comprehension” conveys appreciation more articulately and clearly.
6. “Grateful for your support”
7. “Value your tolerance”
8. “Appreciate your acceptance”
For example:
Dear [Name],
I just wanted to express my sincere gratitude for your comprehension. Your ability to understand and empathize with the situation has been incredibly reassuring.
Your patience and understanding have made navigating this matter much smoother, and I truly appreciate your thoughtful approach.
With gratitude,
[Your Name]
9. “We appreciate your flexibility”
“Flexibility” is less presumptuous than “understanding” but can be used in fewer circ*mstances. It assumes there will be a solution.
This phrase acknowledges that customers are making an accommodation and is particularly useful when making a request or causing an inconvenience.
Whatever has gone wrong requires customers to wait some time or perform a workaround to achieve their original intent.
10. “We’re grateful for your adaptability.”
11. “Thank you for being so accommodating.”
12. “I value your willingness to adjust.”
For example:
Dear Customers,
On behalf of [company], I want to extend my genuine appreciation for your flexibility.
We realize the downtime has been an inconvenience, and we’re working on pinpointing the cause.
For now, everything is back online, so you can continue to use [system] as before.
Those customers who submitted requests via email will have them transferred to the [system] within 24 hours.
Thank you again for working with us on this while we sorted everything out.
Sincerely,
John Doe
[company] CTO
13. “We are grateful for your patience”
Saying, “We are grateful for your patience,” is a more direct way of asking people to stay calm while you figure out how to fix what went wrong.
It expresses acknowledgment and appreciation for their willingness to tolerate delays or challenges without complaint.
It still sets an expectation of behavior but also reassuringly assures them that their issues are being addressed. It doesn’t demand empathy, either, just time and space.
14. “We are thankful for your patience.”
15. “We appreciate your tolerance.”
For example:
Dear [ Name],
I apologize for the issue you’re encountering. We are doing everything we can to resolve the matter on our end.
We will let you know as soon as we’re finished. We’re grateful for your patience as we sort this out.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
16. “We are committed to helping you with this”
This phrase can be more helpful than “Thank you for your understanding.” It shows that, despite the bad news, you are determined to help customers solve the issue.
Instead of telling customers how to behave while you do, it just reassures them that you are taking them seriously and actively seeking a solution.
This can be even more calming than reminding them of their manners.
17. “We are dedicated to assisting you with this matter.”
18. “I am devoted to finding a solution.”
19. “We will be working on this until we find a solution.”
For example:
Dear [Name],
Thank you for sharing your concerns with us. I am sorry you have been experiencing this error.
Rest assured, I am committed to helping you with this. I will update you as soon as possible
Best regards,
[Your Name]
20. “Thank you for listening”
In what way do we understand? Via listening (or reading, depending on the medium). When customers take the time to learn why you made the decision you did, this phrase appreciates them for it.
It may be the case that an issue customers are encountering has no solution, or the resources required are not worth investing in after a cost-benefit analysis.
Or you may be announcing something unpleasant, like the discontinuation of a product, for similar reasons.
In this case, you can explain your reasoning and presume that upset customers will have empathy by saying, “Thank you for your understanding,” or simply appreciate the time they spent hearing you out. The latter tends to be more soothing.
21. “Thank you for hearing us out.”
22. “I’m grateful for your attention.”
23. “I appreciate the time you’ve taken to understand our reasons.”
For example:
Dear Customers,
I know many of you are unhappy with the recent news that [product] will no longer be updated. Thank you all for being such loyal enthusiasts these last [#] years!
After many long discussions, we at [company] feel that [product] no longer fits the direction we seek to pursue. [Reasons for discontinuation].
Thank you for taking the time to understand our reasoning. The product team for [product] recommends [list of products] for experiences like what you’ve had with [product].
We hope to see you in the next chapter of our growth!
Sincerely,
[Company executive]
The common use case for thank you for your understanding alternatives
The phrase “thank you for your understanding” is commonly used in situations where you want to express gratitude to someone for being patient or accommodating in response to a particular circ*mstance, often preemptively.
Here are some situations where it’s appropriate to utilize “thank you for your understanding”:
- Apologizing for an inconvenience: When you need to apologize for causing customers inconvenience due to a mistake, delay, or change of plans, you can use this phrase after an explanation and apology. It implies that things like this are normal and asks customers to empathize.
- Requesting patience: If an issue is ongoing, this phrase can be used to ask for time to resolve it. If the issue is affecting many customers, send a blanket email or post a pop-up with a warning on your website. Including “thank you for your understanding” in such a message begs for patience while you solve the problem and forestalls some of the influx of support requests and complaints.
- When acknowledging dissatisfaction: The phrase “thank you for your understanding” is often used when acknowledging someone’s expression of dissatisfaction. If their expectations are impossible to meet, an explanation followed by this phrase and an apology closes the subject.
- Announcing something disappointing: If you are announcing something that may upset a subsect of your customers, this phrase often follows a thorough explanation of your decision. While acknowledging their feelings, this emphasizes that you felt there was no choice and have faith they’ll see that, too.
Make use of “thank you for your understanding” alternative phrases
Businesses’ support teams are constantly learning how to communicate more effectively. One way to do this is by finding more than one way to say things that can come across as disingenuous.
While “thank you for your understanding” may be appropriate in some situations, it may not always convey the tone you’re trying to achieve.
BoldDesk empowers support agents to communicate effectively with their customers. Contact us to arrange a live demo and experience how our features can help you navigate customer support issues and improve relationships. You can also sign up for our free trial for immediate access.
Would you like to use any other alternatives to “thank you for your understanding”? Please share them with us in the comments section below.
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