The use of the word customer has begun to move away from the former financial
definition to refer to the consumer of services from a service provider. The
point is that any service provider, including volunteers in non-profit
activities, can improve by focusing on "customer" satisfaction as an objective.
All service providers, whether they charge or not, whether they try to make
money or not, should understand who their "customers" are, what their
customers' needs are and do their best to satisfy those needs.
For example, if you have a Ham club, then the officers should think of their
members as "customers" and one of the goals should be to understand those
customers.
I think Ed's reference to the EmComm agencies as "customers" shows an
enlightened way of thinking about the people they are trying to serve. I don't
think anyone is going to get confused and think that the EmComm Hams are trying
to make money from their volunteer efforts.
Jim - K6JM
----- Original Message -----
From: John Hays
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 2:10 PM
Subject: [DSTAR_DIGITAL] "Customers" (Was: Re: New guy)
On Jan 19, 2010, at 1:52 PM, Woodrick, Ed wrote:
We would be paying ourselves and our customers (during emergency
communications) a disservice if we only used one thing when other solutions are
available.
Amateur radio stations should never have "customers" -- you might provide
volunteer service during an emergency, but the term "customer" is just too
closely related to pecuniary interests. FCC Part 97.113(a)2-3
