How (not) to make a customer happy

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

I just saw this on "the other place" and thought it might interest our American friends.

I thought the American business paradigm was "the customer is always right" 😀

 

[herry65]

If you are a working photographer, becoming a member of ASMP and PPA are really no-brainers. You get a lot of discount rates on things Photoshop, car leases, routes, etc. You also get all the good information on things acquiring. If you run into a problem and need legal help, ASMP will help give that as well.

 

[VTHokiEE]

I thought the American business paradigm was "the business is always right" 😀

...fixed it for you 🙂

 

[oftheherd]

The customer is always right, especially with the airlines. Well, except when it comes to making money.

 

[Godfrey]

I just saw this on "the other place" and thought it might interest our American friends.

I thought the American business paradigm was "the customer is always right" 😀

That aphorism generally holds for small, family businesses all over the world. Big businesses are ruled by profits and procedures. I had the same thing happen to me on a British carrier when I booked a seat on a flight that was off by one day due to a destination schedule change. Even though the re-scheduled flight was only one day earlier, on a not-full plane, they charged me a change fee AND a double fare since it was now within the 7-day discount fare limit.

Corporations are not people. "The customer is always right" expresses a trust relationship between people, not between a person and a corporate entity.

G

 

[MickH]

Hah! I thought THIS was 'the other place' :angel:

 

[user237428934]

He got what he paid for because he obviously took the cheapest tickets. Tickets with free reschedule option are normally more expensive. Stupid guy.

 

[Thardy]

This very same happened to a woman I work with. A $250 ticket turned into a $1000 after all the fees plus a new ticket. Airlines claim that the non refundable tickets are too cheap to allow changes (good service).

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

He got what he paid for because he obviously took the cheapest tickets. Tickets with free reschedule option are normally more expensive. Stupid guy.

I had scheduled a trip to Puerto Rico through United Airlines. Unfortunately a work trip came up, putting me in Orlando during my outbound flight. Luckily, my work was kind enough to purchase a 1 way ticket to Puerto Rico from Orlando for me, I would only miss 1 day of vacation and could use my original return flight. When I called United Airlines to let them know that the outbound tickets would not be used, and they were free to do what they like with the seats, they were happy to inform me that I "must pay the $150 change fee."

Smart of the company to create the possibility of a class action suit and get rid of customer loyalty!