Let
me count the ways in which I like business
1.
I love the way my supermarkets have the apples and
pears waxed so that they attract me to buy them and also sell me
vegetable soap to wash the wax off.
2.
I love the way my mobile operator calls me to sell his
schemes when I am ‘roaming’ and charges me for receiving those calls when the
humble SMS had suited him when I was in town.
3.
I love the way my credit card company gives me a
totally unnecessary add-on card in the name of my nominee for ‘free’ and then
charges me for it the next year because I did not call them up (on their
toll-free number that bounces me around for a day with no results) to cancel
the card.
4.
I love the way my internet provider fails to send me a
bill, disconnects my connection without notice for not paying up but rings me
up twenty times thereafter since I have continued not to pay up!
5.
I love the way business hates government interference
when they are profitable and insists on it when they are not. Apparently
unbridled capitalism is good only if it ensures their profitability!
To
every one of them the Customer is King, of course! People in business sure have
weird ideas about how Royalty was treated in their heyday.
I
was hesitant about generalizing based on these thoughts about business till I
found that people in business shared these thoughts themselves! There are a
couple of ads running currently – from two different industries – that claim
that the companies concerned do not cheat the customer (while the rest do!)
Obviously, then, it seems to not only be the norm to take the customer for a
ride but also an acceptable norm considering that honesty in business is touted
as an exception!
Quite
evidently the watchword for today’s world is still ‘Caveat Emptor’ – Let the
Buyer beware!
The 5 situations made me smile! Seriously, a lot of unscrupulous businessmen out there!
ReplyDeleteThanks Deepa
DeleteBut then you didn't buy the add on credit card or the schemes from your telecom provider? I believe you need to modify that phrase such as, 'Liver Beware!'
DeleteNo clue as to how to say that in Latin!
Hi Uma! The add-on card was sent to me gratis and in order to nor pay for the add-on I ended up dispensing with my credit card as well! As for the telecom provider, my problem is that they deducted roaming charges on my pre-paid mobile for receiving their marketing calls!
Deleteyeah! those 5 situations are hilarious. but i have some doubts about those waxed apples.. :) as far as i had tried to dig it, i found that the fruits are imported and that is why i always / only prefer to have washington apples, or the one with #4054 and #4015 (probly). :) but I too love the way businesses work.. :)
ReplyDeleteI have not done any detailed analysis but my info about waxing comes from someone in the business
DeleteThats why they say if you are too righteous and honest forget about running a business ha ha...Nice post!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I wish to think that it should be possible to be, at least, honest with suppliers, customers and employees:)
Deletehahaha. that was fun!! you can probably write a book on them. and please continue with your non payment coz i am doing that ;). and that's when they give you all the discounts, rebates and also correct the bill as well.
ReplyDeleteWell! That is another post, actually. The connection was duly disconnected and all. They raised no final settlement bill. One year down the line they sent me a notice from the Lok Adalat. Since the date fell in the period when I was going on a trek, I sent a letter to the Lok Adalat detailing the issue. After that, sepulchral silence:)
DeleteAwesome descrption of how business ppl are cheating the common man!!! A very honest post!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ruchita
DeleteNice perspective - can easily identify with them :-)
ReplyDeleteI bought a hosting service from an MNC / Global giant last year for my brother. Haven't really used it. I forgot all about it later and after one year I got a mail from them saying "If you do not extend it by so-n-so date, the extension amount will be automatically charged to your credit card" :-)
That's not the end of it... I called them and requested to cancel the service; they did so after some relunctance, but send a mail saying "As you could not extend by paying the amount in due time, we are cancelling your service".... Customer WAS the king :-)
Thanks for coming by and commenting...I'm sure all of us have some horror stories to relate!:):)
DeleteAccidently tripped over your blog...it was worth it, your insights are funny and thoughtful...keep going! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! May God bless me with many more such accidents:)
Delete