The price of progress

As part of my employment I sometimes have to buy major appliances. One day it was a stove, the oven wasn't working. I called the two major appliance dealers in town. I picked the lowest price of the two and had then deliver and install it. Job done.

A few weeks later I got a call from a major nation-wide appliance company. "No I don't need anything now. Bought a stove a while back."

"What did I pay and what features did it have?"

By now I was getting annoyed for some vague reason.

"Wow I could have saved you a hundred bucks."

Yeah. Wow.

I could have saved money. So what money isn't everything.

I live in a nice quiet little town in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I like it here, low crime rate, and beautiful scenery! People say hello to strangers, and they are not trying to sell you crack.

In order for me to live here there has to be jobs for people here. Which means we have to support the local, over priced, merchants. I may pay more but life here is worth more than money.

Then I thought about this salesman and where he lived, and the rest of the people who work for that company. Where do they live. Rush hour traffic, 24 hour noise, street corner drug vendors. Hustlers, hurry up, etc.

And what if there is a problem, I get to wait two weeks for a replacement. If I am still not happy who do I talk to.

If I am not happy with the service I get locally I drive over to the dealers, two miles, and ask to talk to who ever is in charge. I'll tell him why I am dissatisfied and it will be taken care of because companies like mine are important customers to them.

Spending the a little extra of the companies money? That money goes the the people who are our bread and butter.

And I instantly dislike a sales person who says, "I could have saved you $100."

OWL

April 6, 2009