So often when shopping, you sacrifice one thing for another. Cost vs. quality. Cost vs. convenience. Necessity vs. preference.
Today I had a choice-- convenience or comfort. I had time to kill and an ever-hungry teenager to feed. We decided to go to McDonald's for our second breakfast of the day. It would have been simpler to go to the nearest McDonald's. It was five minutes away from us, it was new and shiny. Or, we could go to a McDonald's that further away-- not too much, maybe 10 minutes away. Parking was a little trickier in that McDonald's crowded lot. I was waiting for another son to finish his orientation, so whenever he called, I could be either 5 or 10 minutes away?
Makes sense to choose the closer one, right? Except that each time I'd gone to the closer one, they'd gotten my order wrong. Plus, they weren't very nice. (On one occasion, even downright rude-- I wrote to McDonald's, but alas, no response.)
Seems to me that when a customer goes into a restaurant or store, the employees should make them feel glad they made that decision.
Some McDonald's are independently owned, so in essence, they do compete with each other. But when they serve the same food for the same price (at least in that small geographic area), what can they compete on? Service.
Moms spend so much of their time taking care of others, it seems only fair that when they pay their money, someone takes care of them. With a smile.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Shopping for Twin XL Sheets-Easy vs. Cheap?
With two of my sons taller than their mattresses, we decided to get them extra long twin beds. It was easy to find them at all three of the stores I went to, and after bargain hunting, we decided on the ones we liked.
But next, I needed extra long sheets, mattress pad and comforter. Too bad it wasn't a few weeks earlier, because stores may have been better stocked for back to college.
Like a lot of moms, I did my research online first. But I really wanted to touch the sheets, feel the softness, and see if the stores had any better prices and availability.
Nyet. Went to Bed, Bath and Beyond and Sears. Went online at Bed, Bath and Beyond, Sears, JC Penney and Amazon. I ended up buying them from JC Penney-- similar prices as the rest, but free shipping.
Of the websites I used, Amazon was the easiest to navigate. When I typed in twin xl, that's just what I got. The list of available twin xl products.
With the others, I got the list of ALL the products, SOME of which may be in twin xl, so I had to delve into each product description to see if it indeed had twin xl, or just twin.
Fortunately, I had a little time last night to surf. But, if I were in a hurry (and it delivered for free), Amazon would have been my preference.
But next, I needed extra long sheets, mattress pad and comforter. Too bad it wasn't a few weeks earlier, because stores may have been better stocked for back to college.
Like a lot of moms, I did my research online first. But I really wanted to touch the sheets, feel the softness, and see if the stores had any better prices and availability.
Nyet. Went to Bed, Bath and Beyond and Sears. Went online at Bed, Bath and Beyond, Sears, JC Penney and Amazon. I ended up buying them from JC Penney-- similar prices as the rest, but free shipping.
Of the websites I used, Amazon was the easiest to navigate. When I typed in twin xl, that's just what I got. The list of available twin xl products.
With the others, I got the list of ALL the products, SOME of which may be in twin xl, so I had to delve into each product description to see if it indeed had twin xl, or just twin.
Fortunately, I had a little time last night to surf. But, if I were in a hurry (and it delivered for free), Amazon would have been my preference.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Yes, I Buy
As a mom of four kids, somebody ALWAYS needs something. My 14-year-old son always needs food, preferably pizza or hamburgers. My 13-year-old son always needs something for a school project due tomorrow, that I'm just hearing about today. My oldest son always needs shoes, after conveniently having a growth spurt two weeks after the last pair were purchased.
And my youngest, my only daughter-- needs--well, okay, maybe she doesn't really NEED something, but there are so many cool things to buy for girls, sometimes I can't help myself.
Medicines, toiletries, clothes, books, entertainment, sports equipment, food. You name it. My handbag almost automatically opens anytime they're nearby anticipating the sucking sensation as their vacuum-like hands hover over it, requesting money.
To be fair, many times their requests are legitimate. Sometimes, it's a legitimate want, but not an absolute need, and sometimes it's completely frivolous (although there's a place for that sometimes too.)
I'm sure I'm not alone in bankrolling my kids. Maria Bailey, author of "Trillion Dollar Moms" reports that U.S. women spend $3.7 trillion per year in consumer goods and services.
But even as the largest consumer group, moms needs are often unmet by product design, marketing and service.
As a mom, a business writer and a blogger, I'd like to help bridge this gap.
And my youngest, my only daughter-- needs--well, okay, maybe she doesn't really NEED something, but there are so many cool things to buy for girls, sometimes I can't help myself.
Medicines, toiletries, clothes, books, entertainment, sports equipment, food. You name it. My handbag almost automatically opens anytime they're nearby anticipating the sucking sensation as their vacuum-like hands hover over it, requesting money.
To be fair, many times their requests are legitimate. Sometimes, it's a legitimate want, but not an absolute need, and sometimes it's completely frivolous (although there's a place for that sometimes too.)
I'm sure I'm not alone in bankrolling my kids. Maria Bailey, author of "Trillion Dollar Moms" reports that U.S. women spend $3.7 trillion per year in consumer goods and services.
But even as the largest consumer group, moms needs are often unmet by product design, marketing and service.
As a mom, a business writer and a blogger, I'd like to help bridge this gap.
Mom Request # 1: Please Respect My Time
I should have known the moment I walked into the salon. One of the three televisions was blaring ESPN. One TV in the back shouted "The View." I came in with my daughter to get her hair "did" before the school year started. We had an appointment, but we were early.
We sat. Two stylists were with customers. Neither looked up. No one said "Hello, be with you in a few minutes."
This was my first visit, so we tried not to jump to conclusions.
One stylists was straining her neck to hold her cell phone to her ear while she hot curled a customer's hair. She chatted--to the cell phone caller. Eventually she finished. Then she started talking on another call.
After we'd waiting ten minutes past our appointment time with no acknowledgment, I called another salon, secured an appointment and we walked out.
Sadly, in some businesses there seems to be a smugness that suggests that customers will accept any kind of treatment. A simple greeting would have bought them at least ten more minutes. A short explanation that they were running behind and would be with me shortly would have bought them 20 minutes.
Instead, they didn't care. Maybe business is so good for them that one lost customer isn't a big deal. But chances are, I'm not the only lost one.
A new survey by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) says that women all over the world feel stressed and overextended. With limited time to balance our responsibilities, we want to feel like it is well used. Sitting in a salon, being ignored --that wasn't the way.
We sat. Two stylists were with customers. Neither looked up. No one said "Hello, be with you in a few minutes."
This was my first visit, so we tried not to jump to conclusions.
One stylists was straining her neck to hold her cell phone to her ear while she hot curled a customer's hair. She chatted--to the cell phone caller. Eventually she finished. Then she started talking on another call.
After we'd waiting ten minutes past our appointment time with no acknowledgment, I called another salon, secured an appointment and we walked out.
Sadly, in some businesses there seems to be a smugness that suggests that customers will accept any kind of treatment. A simple greeting would have bought them at least ten more minutes. A short explanation that they were running behind and would be with me shortly would have bought them 20 minutes.
Instead, they didn't care. Maybe business is so good for them that one lost customer isn't a big deal. But chances are, I'm not the only lost one.
A new survey by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) says that women all over the world feel stressed and overextended. With limited time to balance our responsibilities, we want to feel like it is well used. Sitting in a salon, being ignored --that wasn't the way.
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