For the past few years, clients received a series of specially commissioned art pieces.
The idea came from the CEO.
The intention is to get the customers to continue doing business with the company so that they can collect the whole series of art pieces. More importantly, when the customers stay with them and as long as they stay with them, they can charge higher prices in the coming years.
Unfortunately, its customers do not think likewise. In fact, there were quite a few customers who flatly turned down the yearly gift.
"No need to send me the gift," one exclaimed.
"What's the use of sending this to us?" another asked.
For the more diplomatic customers, they'll probably accept it graciously but wonder what the hell they are going to do with that.
Of course, there will be a few who genuinely appreciate the gift and the artwork.
So most of the staff are against doing another series of artwork as gift this time round based on the responses they got while delivering the gifts to their customers.
Someone raised the idea of conducting a survey to collect feedback on how many customers actually do not like the gift.
A man said, "What's the use of asking the customers? We've already feedback the responses when we delivered the gifts. And if you ask them, will you get an honest answer? And even if the feedback are negative, will the CEO listen?"
While the gift was presented as a token of appreciation, the customers already know what the CEO is thinking.
Just the other day, there was an article on a bank redesigning their branch so that customers need to go into the branch to complete certain transactions, which gives its sales staff the opportunity to sell their investment products.
Some businesses dangle some freebies outside their shop and hand them over to passerby. The moment you take it, they will start a conversation and try to get you in to see a demonstration and then sell you their products.
I'm sorry but I'm not interested.
And the next time I pass by these shops, I'll walk on the other side.