A Tale of Two Purchases

Okay, so a lesson to be learned for all business owners or service providers or shopkeepers or...okay, anyone to wants to treat customers better. My wife told me about a book I needed to read...(no, not the latest Harry Potter, though I'll get to it). So off I went to Barnes and Noble to look for it. I stopped at the information counter to ask where I might find it. Now, I would have been satisfied with the young man telling me which section of store to look, but he walked me up the stairs and right to the section, picked up the book and handed it to me, then suggested a couple of other books on the same subject. Now that is customer service. Of course he could have paid for it, but not even my expectations are that high.

Then I went to my local Tru Valu the other day to pick up deck stain. Now, I'd asked a couple of people what to look for, but still wasn't sure. So, I went looking for someone to help me. I found the owner helping someone else, so waited until they were done. I asked him where the deck stain was and he told me, "The next aisle over". I went to the next aisle and looked for a few moments, but not being a deck stain expert, I still had no idea what to buy. No one ever came near and being the impatient jerk I am, I finally left. Yes, I bought deck stain elsewhere. Now, having bought deck stain, I know that Tru Value lost about $70.00 in deck stain purchases by not walking me the one aisle over to make sure I got what I came for.

Have you learned the lesson here? I mean this is powerful stuff. And how simple. It's just golden rule business practice. Treat your customers as you'd want to be treated. Put yourself in their shoes...and walk them to what they want to buy. Oh, and be sure to share this with everyone that works for you too. At least those that deal with customers. Now, get back to having fun, thanks for reading, and we'll leave the mic on for ya.