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Bait and Switch and You

Guest post by: Robert Strong

Article Overview: I recently went on a trip to Boca Raton Florida for pleasure/business; the wife and I were able to orchestrate everything to where we could both get away for 5 days. We decided to rent a car for 5 days as we were traveling in between Ft. Lauderdale and Boca Raton and doing some sightseeing, now if you know my wife she is an organizational queen.

Bait and Switch and You

I recently went on a trip to Boca Raton Florida for pleasure/business; the wife and I were able to orchestrate everything to where we could both get away for 5 days. We decided to rent a car for 5 days as we were traveling in between Ft. Lauderdale and Boca Raton and doing some sightseeing, now if you know my wife she is an organizational queen. Before we left home for the trip she decided to reserve the car in advance and get an estimate with a confirmation which was roughly 238.00 for the 5 days. We enjoyed our trip, and on the 5th day took our car back and the nice little valet guy gave us our receipt that showed we owed close to 685.00, as you can see there was a discrepancy.

Off to the Office we go

As a consumer my wife and I are waiting there in the office and watched for more than 30 minutes as one desk clerk helped other patrons, which seemed to be complete train wrecks. As I stood there longer, my business mind was calculating the situation and the many possible outcomes. I then realized this was a classic example of bait and switch, to where they get you to sign up for one fee and then once signed up the fee changes, a practice that I despise to my very core. See my wife and her organizational skills had printed the reservation/confirmation in advance for the price of 238.00, so we were well prepared for any are fetched excuse we may be given.

Here comes the manager

As we were waiting, waiting and of course waiting some more here comes the manager. The manager asks to help us, I let my wife handle this as I stand back with our 6 pieces of luggage. I did this because I know that I have been really coaching my wife on how I handle situations like these; with a big smile, friendly and asking the person for their "help". People are like animals, if you start yelling at them, pointing at them they start feeling like you ar attacking them, their defenses go up and you may not get the outcome you desire. Well the manager was able to take care of the situation for us and we will be repeat customers due to her professionalism and support.

Now you wonder why

You may be wondering how this affects you, your business or others around you and why I would even write an article on this experience. It is actually quite simple, it's about telling the truth up front, consider it a gift to your prospect or client. While you may be tempted to sell a product or service that has a,b,c but you present it to your prospect or client that it has x,y,z to sell it, who are you hurting? When you are offering a business opportunity, consider the individuals strengths and weaknesses, are you being honest with them when you have them sign up? Are you really preparing them for what if any sacrifices they may need to make to become successful in this business opportunity? If you are selling a product or service for 59.99 but there are monthly maintenance fees of 4.99 a month for the next 6 months to cover updates, cleaning or checkups are you educating the prospect or client up front? Are you being honest or are you practicing your business in the gray area of Bait And Switch?

Now the "And You" part

You can only control you, what you do, what you say and how you act. Your actions towards others can build or destroy your reputation. Take the high road every time, while you may not make tons of sells up front and quickly, you are building a reputation of honest and straightforwardness, you are building you as a brand. You are building relationships, whether they last one day or a lifetime is partly your responsibility as it is theirs, treat people how they want to be treated.

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Article Tags: bait and switch, boca raton florida, ft lauderdale
Referred by: http://www.MeetKarenNewman.com



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