This will be a short entry. More of a venting with insight thrown in just because…
Why is the Post Office losing money? Because its not run like a business. It doesn’t even try to serve its customers. Today I waited in line for 45 minutes to drop off a package because I couldn’t put it in the slot because it was media mail and not priority. So, let me get this right, terrorist only use media mail? If its mailed priority then it doesn’t need to be checked by a postal employee. Second, how many of you have a nightmare story regarding the post office? I bet we could all recount at least a dozen terrible incidents with postal “service.”
All I can say is thank God the government is now going to be in charge of health care. I didn’t think the lines were long enough at my doctor’s office. I guess that could be a new course of treatment; have the patient wait long enough and either the illness or the patient will go away.
Second business brief: Why are some businesses so dumb? Scholastic Books, which has run book fairs at my school for the entire time I’ve been a teacher got rid of their teacher promotion this time. Usually teachers will get some kind of special deal. Maybe 20-25% off, or buy three get one free. Some kind of deal. As a teacher I routinely will drop $80-150 at the two book fairs they have each year at my school to replenish my class library. Well, this year because of the economic times they got rid of the special teacher promotion. I spent $20 and begrudgingly. Way to encourage spending, cheapskates.
When will people learn that even in hard economic times there are unique opportunities? Instead of getting tight with specials, promotions and pinching every penny, the companies that give extra value, cut the margins and try to “bless” their customers will inherit many and grateful customers.
Well, that’s my two cents…. wait, I think I gave you at least a dimes worth. And you’re welcome.
Scholastic did it again this year. They cut out any teacher deals. So instead of spending $120 like I did this past fall (when they briefly reinstated the deal) I spent $30. You’d think with all of the business schools in America at least one of them would have a class on how to engender good will from your customers.