Do You Agree With This Business Philosophy? - GoFuckYourself.com

GTS Mark · 12-18-2005, 10:25 PM

"Treat your customers like they own you, because they do."

Mark Cuban, co-founder, HDNet; owner, Dallas Mavericks

DH

tony286 · 12-18-2005, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrinkingHARDER

"Treat your customers like they own you, because they do."

Mark Cuban, co-founder, HDNet; owner, Dallas Mavericks

DH

He uses hard words but its true without the customer we are nothing. I learned that when I worked for Mercedes.

Major (Tom) · 12-18-2005, 10:26 PM

i would say there is a large degree of truth to that...

now get me my coffee bitch!!!

Duke

Donny · 12-18-2005, 10:27 PM

How about this one:

Build the largest solo girl network on earth, then realize that although you're making millions you're also spending millions. Lay off your Vice President. Fire your photographer too. Then stop paying the models at the beginning of 2006 and live off content that you've shot ahead of time until it all runs out. When it's gone, maybe you'll just retire or something...

Sound like a good business plan?

GTS Mark · 12-18-2005, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tony404

He uses hard words but its true without the customer we are nothing. I learned that when I worked for Mercedes.

Yep, it's harsh but I really believe in the philosophy that the customer is ALWAYS right.

DH

GTS Mark · 12-18-2005, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DukeSkywalker

i would say there is a large degree of truth to that...

now get me my coffee bitch!!!

Duke

Yes Massa Duke!

DH

Tempest · 12-18-2005, 10:30 PM

Pretty much yes.... That's why I try not to get into businesses where I have to deal with customers...

Hell Puppy · 12-18-2005, 10:35 PM

In this industry there have been a lot of people who just burn thru customers for the quick turn of the buck. It's part of why we have a bad reputation in general, and it's also responsible for where we are with things like Visa regulations.

In any other business, customer is king.

We've always used this methodology with our customers and we have guys that are still recurring dating back to the late 90's on some of our sites as a result. Those are no accident or simply forgotten cancellations as they update their cards when they expire. It doesn't cost near as much to go to the extra effort to treat a customer well, deliver what you promise and keep him coming back for more than it does to acquire a new customer....especially one that'll recur over and over.

$5 submissions · 12-18-2005, 10:38 PM

Very wise words.

GTS Mark · 12-18-2005, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hell Puppy

In this industry there have been a lot of people who just burn thru customers for the quick turn of the buck. It's part of why we have a bad reputation in general, and it's also responsible for where we are with things like Visa regulations.

In any other business, customer is king.

We've always used this methodology with our customers and we have guys that are still recurring dating back to the late 90's on some of our sites as a result. Those are no accident or simply forgotten cancellations as they update their cards when they expire. It doesn't cost near as much to go to the extra effort to treat a customer well, deliver what you promise and keep him coming back for more than it does to acquire a new customer....especially one that'll recur over and over.

Some really good points here

DH

pornguy · 12-18-2005, 10:51 PM

I am from the east coast. Florida to be exact. and the main supermarket there is Publix. they have signes all over the place that say that the customer is always right. I have seen people take a loaf of bread with 4 slices left in it, and it got moldy, they take it back, and publix will replace it, or refund the money.

If you pick out an item, and take it to the register, and it rings up a higher price, and you show them the price on the shelf listed, they will give you that item no charge. NO matter what the item is.

That is CS!

GTS Mark · 12-18-2005, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonovanPhillips

How about this one:

Build the largest solo girl network on earth, then realize that although you're making millions you're also spending millions. Lay off your Vice President. Fire your photographer too. Then stop paying the models at the beginning of 2006 and live off content that you've shot ahead of time until it all runs out. When it's gone, maybe you'll just retire or something...

Sound like a good business plan?

Actually sounds like a pretty good plan to me

No staff to worry about, no content to worry about, expenses are at an all time low. You run on a barebones operation until the income drys out entirely and retire a very rich man.

DH

GTS Mark · 12-18-2005, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pornguy

I am from the east coast. Florida to be exact. and the main supermarket there is Publix. they have signes all over the place that say that the customer is always right. I have seen people take a loaf of bread with 4 slices left in it, and it got moldy, they take it back, and publix will replace it, or refund the money.

If you pick out an item, and take it to the register, and it rings up a higher price, and you show them the price on the shelf listed, they will give you that item no charge. NO matter what the item is.

That is CS!

Sears has very similar customer service policies. They want that customer for life

DH

Sly · 12-18-2005, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonovanPhillips

How about this one:

Build the largest solo girl network on earth, then realize that although you're making millions you're also spending millions. Lay off your Vice President. Fire your photographer too. Then stop paying the models at the beginning of 2006 and live off content that you've shot ahead of time until it all runs out. When it's gone, maybe you'll just retire or something...

Sound like a good business plan?

Sounds like an exit strategy to me. What else is someone to do who wants out of the business with little-to-no possible buyers?

Donny · 12-18-2005, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sly

Sounds like an exit strategy to me. What else is someone to do who wants out of the business with little-to-no possible buyers?

Probably right. Not a bad exit strategy either.

sltr · 12-18-2005, 10:59 PM

i'm customer-centric to a fault and it is sound advice to realize the customer owns you but i don't agree that the customer is always right.

Bman · 12-18-2005, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrinkingHARDER

"Treat your customers like they own you, because they do."

Mark Cuban, co-founder, HDNet; owner, Dallas Mavericks

DH

Yeah thats sounds about right. I have been in this biz 4 years now. i have had like 5 clients. Still do biz with each one. I believe that 100%. Have to treat employees good too, they treat the customers right. ;)

luv$ · 12-18-2005, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrinkingHARDER

"Treat your customers like they own you, because they do."

Mark Cuban, co-founder, HDNet; owner, Dallas Mavericks

DH

500%

PixeLs · 12-18-2005, 11:13 PM

Business survives because of them so I guess costumers should be valued that much..

Nice line there..

GTS Mark · 12-18-2005, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sltr

i'm customer-centric to a fault and it is sound advice to realize the customer owns you but i don't agree that the customer is always right.

If a customer doesn't want to deal with you anymore because they feel they were wronged, guess what... Who cares who was right or wrong, you just lost yourself a customer.

Understand what I am trying to say

DH

jayeff · 12-18-2005, 11:14 PM

I have had three successful bricks-and-mortar businesses. All of them were customer driven and I strongly believe that is primarily why they were successful.

Obviously that is not the only way to do business, but in the long run it is almost always the best way to do business. It is also usually much easier to sell what people actually want, than to have to convince them to accept a substitute. You can fool some of the people... etc...

And in my experience, businesses which treat their customers badly are nearly always poorly run. Without customers driving standards and forcing constant change and improvement, management becomes complacent and inefficient.

But, and it is a big but, there are far more businesses which claim to be customer driven, but are not, than businesses which are too short-sighted and unambitious to understand the sense of putting their customers first. To paraphrase Tom Peters, co-author of "In Search of Excellence", there is a world of difference between companies which exist by their slogans and companies which only use slogans to paper their walls.

sltr · 12-18-2005, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrinkingHARDER

If a customer doesn't want to deal with you anymore because they feel they were wronged, guess what... Who cares who was right or wrong, you just lost yourself a customer.

Understand what I am trying to say

DH

that is correct but that has no bearing on the fact that the customer is not always right.

jayeff · 12-18-2005, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sltr

i don't agree that the customer is always right.

I have always thought the real meaning of that cliché is that a customer is a customer, so the question of wrong or right is irrelevant. The only thing which matters is whether or not you want to keep them as a customer.

sltr · 12-18-2005, 11:18 PM

here's an example:

a customer buys a product that has a rebate, mails in the rebate and returns the product-

that customer is not right and is not a profitable customer

Sly · 12-18-2005, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sltr

that is correct but that has no bearing on the fact that the customer is not always right.

The phrase wasn't meant to be taken in a literal sense. Of course customers aren't always right, but they should be treated like they were. Educating your customers is a GREAT way to keep everybody happy.

je_rome · 12-18-2005, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrinkingHARDER

"Treat your customers like they own you, because they do."

Mark Cuban, co-founder, HDNet; owner, Dallas Mavericks

DH

I have been told with this a hundred times, because technically customers sign your paycheck.

SilentKnight · 12-18-2005, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrinkingHARDER

Yep, it's harsh but I really believe in the philosophy that the customer is ALWAYS right.

DH

I thought that way for years, also. But these days I've changed it to:

The customer may not always be right...but their wishes must always be adhered to.

sltr · 12-18-2005, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sly

The phrase wasn't meant to be taken in a literal sense.

that was exactly my point

12-18-2005, 10:25 PM	#1
GTS Mark Vrume Mark Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 20,912	Do You Agree With This Business Philosophy? "Treat your customers like they own you, because they do." Mark Cuban, co-founder, HDNet; owner, Dallas Mavericks DH

12-18-2005, 10:26 PM	#3
Major (Tom) Boomer Woffen Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Null Posts: 30,579	i would say there is a large degree of truth to that... now get me my coffee bitch!!! Duke __________________ My mother said, to get things done You'd better not mess with Major Tom

12-18-2005, 10:38 PM	#9
$5 submissions I help you SUCCEED Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The Pearl of the Orient Seas Posts: 32,195	Very wise words. __________________ Need a NON-ADULT income stream? We build your YOUTUBE CHANNEL for only $20 per video! For Hire: $3/hour or $400 per month Marketing Specialist Virtual Assistants

12-18-2005, 10:51 PM	#11
pornguy Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Homeless Posts: 62,911	I am from the east coast. Florida to be exact. and the main supermarket there is Publix. they have signes all over the place that say that the customer is always right. I have seen people take a loaf of bread with 4 slices left in it, and it got moldy, they take it back, and publix will replace it, or refund the money. If you pick out an item, and take it to the register, and it rings up a higher price, and you show them the price on the shelf listed, they will give you that item no charge. NO matter what the item is. That is CS! __________________ PornGuy skype me pornguy_epic AmateurDough The Hottes Shemales online! TChicks.com \| Angeles Cid \| Mariana Cordoba \| MAILERS WELCOME!

12-18-2005, 11:13 PM	#19
PixeLs Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 11,922	Business survives because of them so I guess costumers should be valued that much.. Nice line there.. __________________ Make money on any traffic. Bi-weekly payments with no hold.

12-18-2005, 10:27 PM	#4
Donny As you wish... Industry Role: Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 13,754	How about this one: Build the largest solo girl network on earth, then realize that although you're making millions you're also spending millions. Lay off your Vice President. Fire your photographer too. Then stop paying the models at the beginning of 2006 and live off content that you've shot ahead of time until it all runs out. When it's gone, maybe you'll just retire or something... Sound like a good business plan?

12-18-2005, 10:30 PM	#7
Tempest Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: May 2004 Location: West Coast, Canada. Posts: 10,217	Pretty much yes.... That's why I try not to get into businesses where I have to deal with customers...

12-18-2005, 10:35 PM	#8
Hell Puppy Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Hotlanta, Georgia Posts: 183	In this industry there have been a lot of people who just burn thru customers for the quick turn of the buck. It's part of why we have a bad reputation in general, and it's also responsible for where we are with things like Visa regulations. In any other business, customer is king. We've always used this methodology with our customers and we have guys that are still recurring dating back to the late 90's on some of our sites as a result. Those are no accident or simply forgotten cancellations as they update their cards when they expire. It doesn't cost near as much to go to the extra effort to treat a customer well, deliver what you promise and keep him coming back for more than it does to acquire a new customer....especially one that'll recur over and over.

12-18-2005, 10:59 PM	#16
sltr Confirmed User Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,191	i'm customer-centric to a fault and it is sound advice to realize the customer owns you but i don't agree that the customer is always right.

12-18-2005, 11:14 PM	#21
jayeff Confirmed User Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 2,944	I have had three successful bricks-and-mortar businesses. All of them were customer driven and I strongly believe that is primarily why they were successful. Obviously that is not the only way to do business, but in the long run it is almost always the best way to do business. It is also usually much easier to sell what people actually want, than to have to convince them to accept a substitute. You can fool some of the people... etc... And in my experience, businesses which treat their customers badly are nearly always poorly run. Without customers driving standards and forcing constant change and improvement, management becomes complacent and inefficient. But, and it is a big but, there are far more businesses which claim to be customer driven, but are not, than businesses which are too short-sighted and unambitious to understand the sense of putting their customers first. To paraphrase Tom Peters, co-author of "In Search of Excellence", there is a world of difference between companies which exist by their slogans and companies which only use slogans to paper their walls.

12-18-2005, 11:18 PM	#24
sltr Confirmed User Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,191	here's an example: a customer buys a product that has a rebate, mails in the rebate and returns the product- that customer is not right and is not a profitable customer