# resolution alternatives brainstorm
## Metadata

- Canonical URL: https://6ducklearn.com/skills/resolution-alternatives-brainstorm/
- Markdown URL: https://6ducklearn.com/skills/resolution-alternatives-brainstorm/index.md
- Product: skills
- Category: general
- Tags: curated, google-workspace, customer-service, templates, support
- Updated: 2026-07-14T03:00:00.357428+00:00
## Summary
Brainstorm 10 alternative resolutions to a customer complaint when the requested fix (e.g. expedited shipping) is not available. Trigger when you need creative options beyond your standard policy to de-escalate a frustrated customer.
## Content
> **Attribution:** Prepared by 6DuckLearn. Inspired by [Google Workspace with Gemini Prompting Guide 101 (2025)](https://workspace.google.com).

## When to use this

You're a customer service rep or manager who has already acknowledged a customer's complaint but the resolution they want isn't something you can provide. You need a list of creative alternatives to offer — alternatives that feel like genuine gestures of goodwill rather than a flat "no."

## What you'll get

A list of 10 distinct alternative resolution options — ranging from practical (store credit, product replacement) to goodwill gestures (discount on next order, priority status, handwritten apology) — tailored to the nature of the complaint.

## Prompt template

Use this in **Gemini in Docs**:

```
Suggest 10 alternative options in place of [requested resolution] to resolve the customer's frustration about [complaint description].
```

**Fill in the variables:**
- `[requested resolution]` — what the customer asked for that you can't provide (e.g. "expedited shipping", "full refund", "immediate replacement", "on-site repair")
- `[complaint description]` — a brief description of what happened (e.g. "receiving a damaged package", "a delayed order", "a product that didn't match the description")

## Customisation tips

- Add your policy constraints to filter unrealistic options: *"We cannot offer cash refunds — exclude that from suggestions"*
- Specify your tier: *"This is a first-time customer"* vs *"This is a VIP loyalty member"* — Gemini will calibrate generosity accordingly
- Ask for a ranked list: *"Rank these from lowest cost to highest cost for us to deliver"*
- Request rationale: *"For each option, add one sentence explaining why it might satisfy this customer"*

## Iteration suggestions

After Gemini responds:
1. **Use the best option in your reply** → go back to `damaged-goods-empathetic-response` and add the chosen alternatives into the bullet points
2. **Standardise the best options** → use `customer-communication-templates` to turn the top 3 into reusable response templates
3. **Train your team** → use `customer-service-training-guide` to include these options in your new hire training material

## Related skills in this workflow

| Step | Skill | What it does |
|------|-------|--------------|
| 1 | `damaged-goods-empathetic-response` | Empathetic reply to damaged product complaint |
| 2 → You are here | `resolution-alternatives-brainstorm` | Brainstorm alternative resolution options |
| 3 | `faq-grounded-reply` | Generate reply grounded in FAQ document |
| 4 | `customer-communication-templates` | Build apology, confirmation, and thank-you templates |
| 5 | `phone-call-scripts` | Standardised call opening and closure scripts |
| 6 | `customer-service-training-guide` | Communication best practices for new hires |

## Related Skills

- [customer communication templates](https://6ducklearn.com/skills/customer-communication-templates/index.md): Build three reusable customer communication templates — apology email, order confirmation, and loyalty thank-you note — in a single Gemini prompt. Trigger when standardising your team's written customer communications.
- [customer service training guide](https://6ducklearn.com/skills/customer-service-training-guide/index.md): Generate a customer communication best practices guide for new hire training — with separate sections for happy, neutral, and dissatisfied customer interactions. Trigger when onboarding new support agents or refreshing team standards.
- [damaged goods empathetic response](https://6ducklearn.com/skills/damaged-goods-empathetic-response/index.md): Draft an empathetic email response to a customer whose product arrived damaged — including acknowledgement of frustration and three resolution bullet points. Trigger when handling damaged goods complaints in Docs or Gmail.
- [faq grounded reply](https://6ducklearn.com/skills/faq-grounded-reply/index.md): Generate a customer reply in Gmail grounded in your @FAQ document, covering return policy and product certifications questions. Trigger when you need a fast, policy-accurate response to a specific customer query.
- [phone call scripts](https://6ducklearn.com/skills/phone-call-scripts/index.md): Create standardised phone call scripts for customer service teams — covering call openings, greetings, and closures — with placeholders for personalisation. Trigger when setting up or refreshing your team's call language.
- [gemini customer service templates](https://6ducklearn.com/skills/gemini-customer-service-templates/index.md): Handle customer complaints empathetically, build FAQ-grounded replies, create standardized service templates, and design phone scripts