I know, I know, the customer is ALWAYS right.
Right?
Umm, maybe. Well, if you decide to do business with them, I guess that is true. But you do have choices when it comes to running your business, as do I.
What the hell am I talking about you ask?
Let me tell you a story…..
I’m an affiliate marketer. I make a living via my sites, and I don’t really have to do much else. I could cut out the whole design portion of the company and still do well. I like working with other would be marketers, and quite frankly I learn a lot from my clients, which is why I continue to work in the development area as well.
But I don’t have to. Which is something I think some would be clients don’t see. Here’s what I mean. Some people have these weird control issues, and they want to make sure that everyone knows who the boss is from the very beginning. Often coming off with very rude statements. Which in my case results in one thing.
I don’t work with them. Period.
I am fortunate in that I have a choice in who I accept as a new client. If you send off flares, giant red flags and obnoxious warning buzzers before we have even begun, I’m going to opt out of any type of relationship with you. No matter how big your development might be. Because if you are a pain in the ass before we’ve begun, you’ll be an even bigger pain afterward. At least, that’s what experience tells me.
So yes, as a client you have a responsibility as well. That responsibility is to treat me and my staff with respect and common courtesy, which should go unsaid. But unfortunately it can’t, because some people feel that if they have paid for a service that they have also bought the people offering the service and can treat them any way they want.
Nope, you can’t. Common decency is required at all times, it’s a basic rule for being a human being.
You do not get better service by being a bully.
Like my grandma used to say, you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar.
So to the would be client that sent me that rude inquiry today, no thank you. We won’t be adding your project to our client developments. Because your email was just plain rude.
It’s too bad. We’re extremely good at what we do. I’m sorry your actions have forced us to reject any relationship with you.
Yup, as a customer, anywhere, there is a certain etiquette required. So please be nice. It will take you a long way.
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