There’s value in having a handle on your bookwork – if you cannot do it yourself, then you should be outsourcing a bookkeeper to do it for you – read more HERE
At a small suburban DVD rental stores (not around Cockburn or Fremantle), the new owner (we’ll call him Dave) is trying to build up his customer base.
One of their customers ( we’ll call him Bob) has been a member of that store for some time, and welcomed the change of ownership.
Dave achieved a three dollar sale, and NO MORE ever, from one customer.
The store promotes hiring 7 x “weekly” DVDs for $10. Simple enough, you would think. You select seven DVDs that you can hire for a week, for $10. So Bob selects some “weekly” DVDs, only to be told that they are “New Release Weekly” DVDs and Bob has to pay more.
“But how many days are in a week?” Bob asks. “Seven”, was the reply. So why aren’t you charging us the $10 ?
“Well, they aren’t weekly DVDs, they are New Release Weekly DVDs”
“Oh, so weekly DVDs are not the same as New Release Weekly DVDs?”
Okay, so Bob may have had a misunderstanding based on poor advertising by Dave. It’s only a difference of three dollars (for that one sale).
Dave’s view was that Bob (the customer) was stupid
However, the attitude of Dave was one of indignance, that Bob was stupid, and because it was Bob’s mistake Bob would certainly be paying for it.
Dave didn’t consider that Bob can choose which store he can rent DVDs from, and why does he need to be insulted at this store, when Bob can go to another store and be treated with respect.
The obvious jesture would have been for Dave not to worry about the three dollars, and retain a happy customer.
Dave didn’t consider that Bob was $500 customer
What Dave achieved was the three dollar sale, and NO MORE ever, from one customer. Dave’s not a bookkeeper, and maybe he doesn’t rely on bookkeeping when running his business week to week.
Because as bookkeepers, we would tell Dave that what he didn’t consider, was the fact that Bob was not a three dollar customer, Bob is a $500 customer (annually) . If you’re not sure about this concept contact us for more information.
If the DVD store owner did that with 10 customers, he’s lost $5000 annual turnover – But Dave’s made the extra $30, and been able to make his point.
Well done Dave! Will you still be in business in twelve months time? Or will you realise how much a three dollar customer is worth?
If you’re a small business owner / operator in / around Cockburn, Melville, Fremantle, Canning Vale, and South Perth, then contact us for a free initial consultation, and we’ll have a chat about your bookkeeping needs

2nd Quarter: 28/02/12
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