Don't Be a Lifer !

Most of us think that if we give our loyalty to a business or organization over a long period of time that we will get some perks or at least be treated better because of it. The big companies don't think this way (at least most of them) and give no preferential treatment regardless of how long you have been a customer or client. They think nothing of raising prices, reducing services or quantity per package and expect us to just grin and bear it. The worst offenders are the big banks and insurance companies that could care less how long you have been their clients. They have big banners saying "Gold Star Service" which mean nothing when you ask about them.

This is where a small and growing company can carve into the big business customer base. The big guys just use massive advertising and sometimes low prices to try to lure their customers back. What irks me the most is when I see "For New Customers Only", doesn't that tell you that your loyalty is worth nothing to them. Small business can reverse that by saying "For Current Customer Only" and make new customers see how they will be treated for their future loyalty. It's time that we all see what our continued loyal business is getting us and decide if it's time to give that smaller company the chance to make us happy for spending our money with them. Think about it.

Barry is a Marketing and Customer Experience speaker and trainer. www.idealetter.com