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What's up with corporate America?

#23
I am the exception to the rule. I always have been and plan to stay that way. I own an insurance agency and I explain everything in detail and don't lie or talk somebody into buying something. I do not even let them sign any papers until they understand things. At least 95% of the people who either visit or call tell us we are the first insurance agency in all their years of driving to ever take the time to explain anything or answer questions. Sometimes, it takes us many hours to help somebody. We do not do anything over the phone in 15 minutes. Plus, we are face to face and hands on to help customers after the sale with claims, changes, etc. Customer service is #1 here before and after the sale and people appreciate that. I will tell people to stay where they are if I know it's better for them. My employees are all trained the same way and they tell me I do things so much better than other insurance agencies where they used to work.

I don't like to be treated badly and I sure am not going to do it to others. If you treat a customer right, they tell other people. If you treat them badly, they go tell more people.
 
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#25
Richland123 said:
I am the exception to the rule. I always have been and plan to stay that way. I own an insurance agency and I explain everything in detail and don't lie or talk somebody into buying something. I do not even let them sign any papers until they understand things. at least 95% of the people who either visit or call tell us we are the first insurance agency in all their years of driving to ever talk the time to explain anything or answer questions. Sometimes, it takes us many hours to help somebody. We do not do anything over the phone in 15 minutes. Plus, we are face to face and hands on to help customers after the sell with claims, changes, etc. Customer service is #1 here before and after the sale and people appreciate that. I will tell people to stay where they are if I know it's better for them. My employees are all trained the same way and tell me I do things so much better than other insurance agencies where they used to work.

I don't like to be treated badly and I sure am not going to do it to others. If you treat a customer right, they tell other people. If you treat them badly, they go tell more people.
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If I worked for you I might have stayed in insurance.
 
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#26
basslayer said:
This crap is capitalism. The vendor is working in direct opposition to your interests and often has the power to monopolize.
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I think modern marketing and sales practices run counter to the entire premise of capitalism.

The point of capitalism is that businesses compete by either creating a better product or lowering prices, thus assuring consumers get the best goods at the lowest prices.

Welcome to the post-modern age, where companies do not compete by making better products or selling at lower prices. They compete by having the best marketing campaign: rebranding the exact same thing every other company in the industry is selling and trying to make it look sexier than the competing product.

Or they don't compete at all, instead collaborating to split up the market, letting each company sell the exact same product to different niches under different branding. Even if there isn't explicit collaboration, astute marketing directors pay enough attention to others in their industry to make all modern industries into de facto, price fixing cartels.

And it's our fault because most of us would rather have what looks the coolest than what works the best. We enjoy the high of consumerism (buying something just to buy it) over the joy and security of owning things that help us do good work and live good lives.
 
#27
I negotiated my last car through email. I just pitted 3-4 local Honda dealerships against one another until I squeezed em down as low as I could.

The car before that I bought through Costco's buying service - no hassle, no negotiation.

Timing is important - around here (DC metro), February seems to be a desperate time for the dealerships to move stock.
 
#28
two fingers said:
Meh. You're a grown man. You did exactly what you are supposed to do. It's their job to try to talk you into something you would otherwise not do. It's your job to dig deeper and figure what's really best for you. Even as late as the 80s when I was first starting to make major purchases we were taught buyer beware.
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I tend to agree with this. We no longer live in a world that's as simple as it was 40 years ago. It really does pay to do your homework before committing to any kind of contractual relationship.

Congrats to YOU for asking questions and getting the full story.
 
#29
People lie. People cheat. People are greedy. The beggar on the street is just as likely to lie to you to make you part ways with your money as a corporate salesman. There was never a simpler time when all transactions were straightforward and honest.
 
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#30
It never ceases to amaze me the line of BS some salesman make up to buddy up to you to gain your confidence, the thing to remember is that in most cases you are nothing more to them than $$$ in there pocket.
 
#31
I must be so used to it that it doesn't bother me. At 43 years old, I just roll with it and look for a salesperson who will treat me right when making purchases that require the assistance of a salesperson. When I buy and sell, I prefer to 'make a friend than a dollar', so I look for people like that too. They are harder to find, but I find them.

As for the Verizon deal, I had that same thing. I would call in and get one set of figures for service on three lines, call back and get another. I finally went to a Verizon store, not a Verizon authorized reseller, and got everything in writing. At first they were reluctant to write anything down, but they did. Even after all of that, the bill was missing the $50 credit for the first two months. I called in that time, got it all ironed out, then they gave me a $100 instant credit to make up for the two months they missed. That was about six months ago. Ever since that last phone call, our bill has been exactly what they said it would be, before the taxes. I didn't expect the Verizon rep to know the tax rates in my state and city, so I let them off the hook on telling me how much that would be exactly.

-Mike
 
#33
I just had a random 24 year old stranger walk into my insurance agency who just bought an ATV and needed insurance. He said he wanted to compare prices and see if it was affordable. Since I took the time, showed him everything I was doing on the computer and described what the coverages meant and explained several options he could do with coverages, prices, and payments, he appreciated the extra service and he bought the policy on the spot and did not go anywhere else to look and I was able to help him quickly. I have a feeling he will be back for other things in the future.

I constantly hear from people how they do not get that type of service elsewhere.
 
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#36
Dale D Dilly said:
I think modern marketing and sales practices run counter to the entire premise of capitalism.

The point of capitalism is that businesses compete by either creating a better product or lowering prices, thus assuring consumers get the best goods at the lowest prices.
<snip>
.
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i disagree. what you state as the 'point' of capitalism is merely a hoped-for by-product of capitalism. sometimes it works out that way, sometimes it doesn't.
 
#37
The solution is to know exactly what you want and exactly what you will pay. No more, no less. If I pay what I'm willing to pay and I get what I want, then I'm not upset if I could have got it cheaper somewhere else. Likewise, I'm always ready to walk away if the price isn't right for exactly the right deal. It helps to buy used cars, too. They are cheaper. I like that about used cars. And, T-Mobile was the cheapest cell service I could get. It works where I need it to work. It's just a utility, not a lifestyle.
 
#38
Gorn Captain said:
I leased a new car in August. I'm aware of exactly how much it costs. When I signed up for my current verizon cell phone contract, I knew exactly what it would cost every month. Neither bills hold any surprises. This may come off the wrong way, but maybe you just need to pay closer attention to detail.
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I spoke with 3 separate people, in 3 separate departments at Verizon, and text chatted with a 4th. None of them could or would tell me what my final monthly charge would be and only told me I'd have to pay tax plus a surcharge that could be up to 45%. I told them I wasn't going to switch providers if they couldn't give me an exact number. They told me "sorry then". I'm not switching.

What do you suggest I do differently? I'm all ears.
 
#39
But ... it's a matter of degree. Face it, BS may be eternal but it changes. The boomer generation was born into prosperity. There was enough to go around. So the white hats were for real.

Of course it's gone downhill. Shark hungry: bite leg. AND teach others that bite is best.

The worst thing for America's future is cynically concluding honesty does not exist.
 
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