In discussion with a salesman the other day I heard a great version of this often told anecdote… “Don’t say no for your consumer,… Fail to qualify, fail to close,…  Don’t judge a consumer by your uninformed perception, etc…”.

An old lady, maybe 60 or so, comes into the store. The “veteran” salesman immediately turns her over to me (with a smirk). She has a broken speaker in her car.  What’s it cost to replace a speaker, she wants to know, $39…? 

      Sure we can do that. What do you listen to?

      I like classical.

      Do you like Vivaldi 4 Seasons?

      One of my favorites.

      What kind of system do you usually listen to your classical music with?

      Whatever is in the car I guess.

      Does it usually sound like this…?

The guy proceeds to demonstrate a genuine hi fi system to this old lady. As you might have guessed she winds up having a $2,200 system installed. Of course it gets better…

Three days later the old lady shows up with a plate of cookies, homemade for sure. She explains, nearly in tears, that she has never enjoyed “her music” so much.

When an old lady brings you a plate of cookies you have made an impact.

Moral of this particular version of the story:

Even if you don’t respect the profit potential and/or top line sales opportunity from engaging with everybody who takes the time to contact your store, for whatever reason; DO IT FOR THE POSITIVE IMPACT YOU MIGHT HAVE ON SOMEONE’S LIFE.

Who knows, you might find yourself the benefactor of a plate of cookies.

Then the old lady might even share her experience at your store with her grandson who is the president of the local music lovers car club…

At your service,

Ray Windsor                                     Facebook:                  GermanMAESTRO Germany

President                                            Twitter:                        raywindsorlsc