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Feeling “Worked” ? (and How to Fix It)

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Feeling “Worked” ? (and How to Fix It)

Took mom’s car away; yup just flat out stole it from her. The state of California sees my 89 year old, can’t stand up, can’t look over either shoulder, can’t see the weather map on her 50 inch display at a distance of 2 meters, mother as potential cash flow.

So we pried the keys from her frail, arthritic fingers…not that what she was doing with the car could really resemble “driving” in any sense of the word. Nor that she really went anywhere.

We bought that car for her in September of 2000, an ‘01 Honda Accord. She has 43,000 miles on it.

Honda had sent multiple recall notices about the Takata airbags – which she ignored. So after calling the 800 number, set up the appointment at the Honda recommended dealer, showed up at 7am on the day prescribed for the “1 hour” fix.

Juan, a strapping 30 something, takes the keys and info. So off to the Honda waiting room goes the mac, iPad, and iPhone to check out their WiFi.

Almost 5 hours later, Juan hunts me down, weapon-izing an inch thick dissertation of all the things they deemed needed fixing. Juan was seriously implying that if not addressed some unsaid catastrophe would cause a massive disturbance in the Force; screwing up the galaxy’s time/space continuum.

This “dissertation” included a $130 un-authorized “diagnostics fee”. If accepted, the total of all work done by these chuckleheads exceeded the car’s value by 50%.

Next:

Went to see the dentist, had been 14 months since the last cleaning…and evidently my old dentist died, retired or something, at any rate the practice was sold. Now “my” new dentist who must have just come from the dentist distributor training seminar on how work old guys, says that my gums are shot from years ofFeeling “Worked” ? (and How to Fix It) neglect, and need about 4 months of procedures and a 6 grand investment…

Next:

Have a sizable bank of unused American Air miles. Wanted to send my wife and daughter to Hong Kong see our youngest as a cast member of the Disney unit over there. Was trying to book 3 months out. Which is when I found just how impossible it really is to “cash in” with those good folks at American Air.

Appears that every seat on every Pacific flight was already spoken for out of LAX, DFW, SFO, Sea-Tac, San Jose and Fresno. It took about 90 min on the phone with some American Airlines super-grade, plus 350,000 miles to make it happen.

Next:

Booked a single half-day gig in a meeting room at the Marriott to present to a potential out of town client. The meeting was for two hours, we also ordered a coffee and snack service. The cost for the meeting room was $256, + State, County & City Tax, an energy, environmental, and resort fees, and don’t forget the 22% required gratuity, add in the food and beverage – total came in over $550.

Many other Next(s)…….

Dealing with the Internet provider, DIRECTV, Verizon, Comcast & Xfinity. The return requirements at the distributor, or supplier and you get the point.

One could argue that none of the above are needs. Most are first world issues. And that in the aggregation across all of history and time are relatively minor.

But at times I just want to shriek:

“GAWD, I FEEL WORKED!”

Every reader within the reach of this Epic newsletter goes through their own version of the above every week.

Sit back for a moment, and consider what our customers and users have to go through on their lists of “being worked”…These are people of some real net worth…they are constant targets of gypsies, tramps, thieves and perhaps over-zealous technology contractors.

No wonder every line item on our proposals get Google’d.

Our Perspective:

Just slow down for a moment and consider what it feels like to go through the digestive system of your company as a client.

If you do not continue to invest in conversations of value and activities that install deeper trust within your clients mind, they could feel equally worked from you.

Another irritating perspective to think about from your friends at WELD2.

​Share this with someone you think has felt “worked” recently.

About WELD2:

A marketing service that ensures future, highly profitable work for discriminating integration firms . These jobs cost next to nothing to score, require that you only answer the phone, and chat with an engaged prospect about what you offer. The cost of this is so insignificant that one trip to the gas station probably costs you more.

MANUFACTURERS and REPS:
​Which of your customers would getting more profitable business help?

PARTING THOUGHT:

“Every day you go without building your customer relationships is a day they’re getting farther away from you and closer to someone else.”

The post Feeling “Worked” ? (and How to Fix It) appeared first on Relationship Marketing for Contractors.


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