What's made you smile today?

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

They say the best advertising is word of mouth. I hope the converse is also true. And no, I dont bear grudges. LOL. But Im a bit like an elephant....

I completely agree. I learned this lesson at the wee DAF garage I worked in back in the late '70s. We were a small family business and relied very much on repeat customers. I was trying my hand at car sales and one day a customer, who had just bought a used 33 for his wife, came into the showroom complaining about the rear tyres - which were a bit worn but far from illegal. He was demanding they be replaced. I was about to start arguing but the boss overheard the conversation and stepped in saying he'd be happy to give him new ones in goodwill. He took me to one side and told me that a couple of budget tyres were a good investment in terms of customer relations - especially as the gentleman involved was actually a minor local politician! We had a very solid base of customers who returned again and again for new cars - in fact, when I moved back into the workshops and then quickly took up a position at the local, much larger BMC dealer, a couple of the customers actually found me and asked if they could buy as car from me - even though I was in my greasy overalls!

 

[bugsymike]

I completely agree. I learned this lesson at the wee DAF garage I worked in back in the late '70s. We were a small family business and relied very much on repeat customers. I was trying my hand at car sales and one day a customer, who had just bought a used 33 for his wife, came into the showroom complaining about the rear tyres - which were a bit worn but far from illegal. He was demanding they be replaced. I was about to start arguing but the boss overheard the conversation and stepped in saying he'd be happy to give him new ones in goodwill. He took me to one side and told me that a couple of budget tyres were a good investment in terms of customer relations - especially as the gentleman involved was actually a minor local politician! We had a very solid base of customers who returned again and again for new cars - in fact, when I moved back into the workshops and then quickly took up a position at the local, much larger BMC dealer, a couple of the customers actually found me and asked if they could buy as car from me - even though I was in my greasy overalls!

When running my small business I knew most of the lads in the trade locally and when the Ford Dealers had their Christmas Trade pi** up I was invited and was chatting to one of their sales guys who reminded me that when he just started I had mentioned making sure his name was on business cards etc. Rather than just the company name, to give the personal touch. It was good as he was thanking me for the way it helped him as he progressed and built up a trusted client base.
I strongly believed in that way of doing business as opposed to those that just put something like a few capital letters *** Motor Sales and Repairs etc. also as in those days a Mob. Number was looked on as someone here today and gone tomorrow, so a landline was a good sign. My how things change.

 

[Cheest]

Teaching motorcycle awareness classes to Drivers Ed all day at a local high school. Smiling because it’s not worth getting bent over. Every kid has an ear bud and carries a phone. Trying to get some class participation is like pulling teeth. Trying to hear the ones that do participate is hard.

I was probably not a heck of a lot different but we had Playboy and AM radio instead of phones and streaming.

 

[portland_bill]

Vauxhall's ad for their Grandland just popped up on the telly, again. They start with the declaration that having called it Grandland, they had to make it grand. All marketing nonsense of course, it's just a Peugeot 3008 with a change of clothes.
Reminded me of yesterday, when I was following the smaller model, the Crossland. Can't see them following the same marketing theme with that one.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Great news today. Scheduled visit to the physio at 2pm where, after a thorough "MOT" he signed me off. I've to continue with the muscle strengthening exercises and my daily walk, but he says there's nothing else he can think of which would be more beneficial. I've only used up 4 of the consultations allowed under my insurance and he tells me that I have about another month when I could still use the other two if needed, but he thinks that unlikely and isn't expecting to see me again regarding the hip. Went swimming with the grandchildren yesterday too. The only thing I'd been worried about with the swimming was whether I could climb the vertical ladder to get out of the pool. In the event it was no problem and I climbed it with ease after a pretty active hour in the pool with the "gang" - We meet other friends there with their two kids and "granddad" is always expected to join in "enthusiastically".

Final "passing out parade" with the consultant surgeon ("the boss" as the physio calls him) is scheduled for the 29th and the physio says he'd pass me out right now if it were him.

 

[The Panda Nut]

I have similar thoughts about Texaco and will not use their products, when the lease expired on the workshop I was renting which was part of a Texaco Service Station the 1980s I spent months and legal fees trying to negotiate a lease with Texaco direct, but my solicitors had to deal with Texaco at their Knightsbridge London Property Services Division. They were demanding a rent three times market value, with a full repairing lease, and an in going fee although I was already there and the final nail in the coffin, the option to evict me within three months, even though by then I had rented the place for nearly four years.
All this at the start of a recession, whilst all that was going on I had to let go options to buy/rent other premises, so when I found it was empty earning them nothing for over three years later I felt they deserved it!
Finally I fully agree about the " They say the best advertising is word of mouth" as all my business came from that and proved to be a loyal customer base over many years.

I hate Texaco too. I was short changed at a Texaco station in Slough in 1975. I have avoided them ever since so of the subsequent 1.6 million ,miles I drove, I never used Texaco for anything again. It certainly didnt hurt me. It may have escaped them too, but they didnt get a slice of any of the fuel oil or tons of stuff I bought along the way. Lol. Hit the buggers in their wallet!

 

[The Panda Nut]

Build a snowman, and place it looking out of a bedroom window. Might need a good plastic groundsheet, and some sandbags.

Not enough snow to frighten our 1.2 let alone Noop. And, bar the gutter and a few trims the roof is done. YIPEE

 

[Cheest]

Im not an expert by a long shot but I get really cross if someone tries bullshitting. If they cost me money on top, my reasoning is they dont deserve to be in business, so I make every effort to assist them with their quest for bankruptcy and unemployment. Your right on tge emplyment side. Who would want to work for or with people who are too bone idle to try.

My Dad gave the middle finger to the local John Deere dealer last month. They had a good working relationship for years but then JD seems to have taken a page out of Caterpillars "Screw Over The Small Customer' book. Used to be that Dad could bring his small tractor in for service and they'd take it right away and do whatever while he waited. If they were really busy, they'd send Dad home and deliver the tractor later that day or early the next morning. No more. The last time he brought it in, he was told they'd get to it in two weeks. When Dad pressed the Service Manager on what was obvious BS, the SM told Dad that things are different now, he didn't like it but he had to do it to keep his job. Dad said fine and took his business elsewhere.

This is similar to some of the crap that my former employer pulled, the 'Return On Investment' line of bullshit. I recently spoke to the outgoing CEO and said that it was the most important thing for the company. I suggested that that belief was blind because it costs you customers. Without those customers, there is zero return on that investment. I honestly think he doesn't believe it either and it's the reason for his leaving.

 

[bugsymike]

My Dad gave the middle finger to the local John Deere dealer last month. They had a good working relationship for years but then JD seems to have taken a page out of Caterpillars "Screw Over The Small Customer' book. Used to be that Dad could bring his small tractor in for service and they'd take it right away and do whatever while he waited. If they were really busy, they'd send Dad home and deliver the tractor later that day or early the next morning. No more. The last time he brought it in, he was told they'd get to it in two weeks. When Dad pressed the Service Manager on what was obvious BS, the SM told Dad that things are different now, he didn't like it but he had to do it to keep his job. Dad said fine and took his business elsewhere.

This is similar to some of the crap that my former employer pulled, the 'Return On Investment' line of bullshit. I recently spoke to the outgoing CEO and said that it was the most important thing for the company. I suggested that that belief was blind because it costs you customers. Without those customers, there is zero return on that investment. I honestly think he doesn't believe it either and it's the reason for his leaving.

I am a firm believer in "little and often", in so much as a good regular customer may only spend a small amount at a time, but over the years it adds up to a good return.
I have seen companies that worship big new businesses that seem to spend lots of money with that company and then suddenly go bust leaving that big company with a large debt, weakening their financial position.
I had to remind some suppliers of that, when in the past offering better discount rates to those sort of businesses, that I had been trading with their company since the early 1970s!!!