Lower Your Guard, Not Your Price
(I manage a distribution center, but I am filling in for the manager of another facility for the week. One of the duties of the branch manager is to fill all walk-in orders.)
Customer: “What are your prices?”
Me: *indicating clearly-marked price board* “The prices are [amount] and [volume discount price].”
Customer: “Well, I always pay [lower price]. I buy from the other branch all the time and they give me a discount!”
Me: “You mean the facility in [City]?”
Customer: “Yes, I purchase from them all the time! You should give me the same price.”
Me: “That’s odd; I don’t recall ever seeing you before.”
Customer: “Why would you have seen me before?!”
Me: “I am the manager of the branch in [City], and I handle all accounts for that location.”
Customer: “Um, I’ll just take [product] at regular price.”
Me: “Thank you. Have a nice day, sir.”
Question of the Week
Have you ever served a bad customer who got what they deserved?
