When you buy from a company, what kind of client are you. Are you valued or a pain?
The distinction is important to consider for two reasons.
1. Valued clients receive better service and often get better deals. Vendors want to do more for people they enjoy working with.
2. Clients who are a pain tend to pay more because few vendors really care if they stay or leave. They don’t get the service they attempt to demand and are in search of new vendors frequently.
If you’re a valued client you will:
Be a joy to work with. You have a great attitude even if things get off track. You know that the vendor is doing her or his best to resolve the situation quickly.
Respect the vendor’s staff and reflect a kind attitude in all interactions with vendors and other people.
Want the best deal but also realize that the best service comes from your vendor earning a fair profit. Instead of trying to beat the vendor down you look for the balance between fair price and exceptional client care.
If you’re a client who is a pain you will:
Be demanding and difficult to work with. You will constantly remind the vendor of what a great client you are so they give you priority treatment. If you’re this type of client, vendors seldom treat you as a priority.
Think that if the staff member you’re talking to now can’t do what you want, there is a supervisor who may. You constantly badger the person who is trying to help and demand to talk to a higher authority.
Constantly try to beat down your vendor on price. Once again, the tactic you use is to remind the vendor of what a great client you are as you ask them to shave their profit line down to make you happy.
Here's what to do if your clients are frequently a pain.
As a vendor you will have to deal with a few clients who are a pain. There are always a few people who are difficult to deal with.
But if a lot of your clients are a pain to deal with, it’s time to look at the niche carefully. In some cases, entire niches can be tough to deal with profitably.
If this is the case, make sure you understand why and consider dropping the niche completely. The clients you gain may be eating away at your profits and causing you undue hardship with staff members at the same time.
Make sure your thinking and attitude is helping you attract the kind of clients you want.
Think of every client as a friend and not as a money source.
Express appreciation for your clients frequently with small, meaningful gestures.
Care about the results your clients your clients gain. When they excel because of you, you’ll excel because of them.
