Sunday, 15 July 2007
it was FADS
stupid useless British paint shop! we dont order paint, that would mean repeat customers and we really just want to go out of business so no customers bother us ever again!
Why Britain really doesn't quite get capitalism
So you run a chain of shops, selling, oh let's say paint, and a customer comes in to one of your b ranches and tells you that they're looking for a specific colour, which they bought the last cans of from you just a couple of weeks ago, but which hasn't been re-stocked yet, and would like you to order in for them.
Do you
a) Say "Of course sir/madam, let me take the details and we'll order it in in the next order."
or
b) Say "Well, we used to have a system like that, but we don't do that any more. We're expecting a new delivery of paint in a couple of weeks, but we can't tell you specifically if the colour you want will be in it as it will depend on whether the colour has sold enough."
Personally, I'd've thought that a chain that wanted to encourage repeat custom and actually make sales would opt for a), but our local D-I-Y branch seems to belong to a chain that subscribes to b) as a business model.
Bah.
Do you
a) Say "Of course sir/madam, let me take the details and we'll order it in in the next order."
or
b) Say "Well, we used to have a system like that, but we don't do that any more. We're expecting a new delivery of paint in a couple of weeks, but we can't tell you specifically if the colour you want will be in it as it will depend on whether the colour has sold enough."
Personally, I'd've thought that a chain that wanted to encourage repeat custom and actually make sales would opt for a), but our local D-I-Y branch seems to belong to a chain that subscribes to b) as a business model.
Bah.
Tuesday, 3 July 2007
Hmm, which is more offensive?
a) Being charged £4.05 for a crayfish and rocket sandwich at Wimbledon - note, not £3.95, which would indicate a slight sense of shame at the outrageous over-pricing; an attempt to make it seem like it isn't really four quid for a sandwich, but £4.05 - that last 5p being shorthand for "because we can".
Or
b) Getting to the checkout at the self-service buffet restaurant at Wimbledon, be charged nearly £30 for a chunk of "mushy and unpleasant" (corrector of bah) pasta bake (£9.50!), an OK curry (another £9.50!), two teas and pastries and then find a tip jar!
Having said that, I did enjoy the Wimbledon experience, rain and all - and by comparison to the above the rather nice strawberries and cream at £2 a bowl were almost reasonable, and even at £6 a go the Pimms was nice.
The thing that gets me though is this: all the profits from the Wimbledon tournament, and they must be substantial, are supposed to go to the Lawn Tennis Association to develop the game of tennis in the UK. So why are we still so rubbish at it?
Bah.
Or
b) Getting to the checkout at the self-service buffet restaurant at Wimbledon, be charged nearly £30 for a chunk of "mushy and unpleasant" (corrector of bah) pasta bake (£9.50!), an OK curry (another £9.50!), two teas and pastries and then find a tip jar!
Having said that, I did enjoy the Wimbledon experience, rain and all - and by comparison to the above the rather nice strawberries and cream at £2 a bowl were almost reasonable, and even at £6 a go the Pimms was nice.
The thing that gets me though is this: all the profits from the Wimbledon tournament, and they must be substantial, are supposed to go to the Lawn Tennis Association to develop the game of tennis in the UK. So why are we still so rubbish at it?
Bah.
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