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Originally Posted by yerrow
thats all we ask, i will pay more for the best customer service.
provide the service and the business will come. continue providing service and the business will continue to grow
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Unfortuanately that is not true. The majority of buyers determine the vendor according to price, hence the great success of ebay. I've helped too many to count, answered too many questions, had my brain picked for hours on end, only to have many customers, including members of this forum make their purchase from another vendor that was priced lower. I'm not blaming anybody, or trying to "hate" the forum or the internet as a business venue, just pointing out the harsh truth.
I personally share your viewpoint though. I always refer vendors who have been willing to answer my questions and have purchased privately only from the ones that helped me out, even when they were more expensive, or didn't have it in stock, simply because I appreciate their knowledge and want to support their presence. It's tragic that the majority does not share your viewpoint. It's just the culture we live in, that constantly promotes a price war. Just ask yourself how often you've asked whether a vendor would match someone else's price. It is this senseless price war that made me get out of the retail business, and the fact that consumers do not value product knowledge, or have any kind of loyalty.
In the end, it's an extremely demanding and often ungratifying business. But those few times, when you've really made an impact, and have really gotten to know the customer, and everyone ends up with what they wanted, are the times that make it all worth it.
Also, let's not forget that it is our nature to make mistakes. Being a jerk is not acceptable, I agree, but an error happens even to the best, so let's not flame people who have in all honestly just made a mistake.