Taking business elsewhere....

Group 5 minus 1 · ‎03-11-2010

I think that most business' don't care if you do. NOW you take several million or in todays world billions then that might make a diff.

But I'm just sayin'.

justashopper · ‎03-21-2010

Yeah... I agree. It's a different world.... it's all about shareholder value, not sales.

manny2 · ‎05-24-2010

I think it matters. That's why they do small focus groups. They can see what works, and why people leave. If you leave they know there are many more just like you leaving, so I do think it matters in the end.

millieshops · ‎03-09-2010

@justashopper how can that be true when shareholders make no money or less money depending upon sales?

Foxxee · ‎10-03-2014

Customers are really in control if only they knew that. They make or break a company.

One customer can cause a significant loss just by posting on social media. Their followers will post the comment, their followers post the comment, and so on, and before we know it, that one post was sent to millions of people.

I've seen it done. One retailer lost 10% in sales in several months. That sent a message to those sitting in their ivory tower.

Fancy business footwork making the company look better than it had been doing will not rescue them if sales continue to slide.

manny2 · ‎05-24-2010

@Foxxee wrote:
Customers are really in control if only they knew that. They make or break a company.

One customer can cause a significant loss just by posting on social media. Their followers will post the comment, their followers post the comment, and so on, and before we know it, that one post was sent to millions of people.

I've seen it done. One retailer lost 10% in sales in a few weeks. That sent a message to those sitting in their ivory tower.

Good point about social media @Foxxee Locally we had a business that was price gouging during covid. People got on social media and all but destroyed his business.

justashopper · ‎03-21-2010

@millieshops

That is the logic assumption. But it's not always what is actually happening. Stock prices are based on perceived value. If the company has strong sales but there are other factors, investors may not bite.

Look into the investment firm Robinhood and Gamestop. This stock had an amazing climb, but not because of sales.

Some examples of low PE companies that are also perceived as having room to grow and therefore attractive to investors -- GM, Verizon,conco phillips.

If a company's sales dip, but there is the perception that the future for the company is bright, it may not be impacted.

Publicly traded companies court investors at the top of the house. If they can secure investment, they can dominate the market and therefore force sales. Think about an industry where the mom and pop stores have been forced out. Like big home improvement stores or even walmart. You might have a crappy experience, but you'll be back.

Of course, as with any economic or busness strategy, it is an opinion and it is that elusive mix that makes anything successful. For a small business owner, sales is king. But they are not usually at the mercy of stock prices and investor favor.

Laura14 · ‎06-09-2014

To take your business elsewhere there has to be an elsewhere. And there has to be a lot of elsewheres for there to be any price or service competitiveness that matters.

Otherwise you end up with a few options where each business stays right in line with the other which ultimately means nothing of any real value to the customer at all.

Pick your poison.