* I'm grow tired of people crying foul - moreover anyone in this "dealer's
room," a.k.a. the great body of public posters at MoPo - finding fault with any
merchant, including Bruce - for using testimonials to tout themselves - even if
they come at the expense of competitors. We're not talking about trolling
obituaries and barking the availability of related movie paper. What, Bruce
has "bad manners?" He used a testimonial to tout his service. It's relevant
to customers whether it comes 37 minutes or 37 hours after a query about
delivery times involving Heritage.
* As a customer of many dealers, and you know who you are, even if Bruce's
actions were intentional (he says they were not), I would NOT be offended.
Customer testimonials are critically important to build and maintain a
business. Would you buy from a car dealer just because another dealer said
good things about him? Or would you give more weight to what a customer said
about that same dealer? Even accounting for the fact that some customers and
dealers are crazy - in my view - most aren't.
* I like Grey a lot. He is restricted in what he can say under the banner of a
giant corporation like Heritage. And when he chimes in, he is effective. He
chooses wisely when he speaks about matters for which he feels compelled to
respond. And as retail customers - we judge his words and actions -
accordingly.
* Conversely, Bruce is an aggressive marketer a few dealers find disagreeable.
But I know for a fact that WAY more dealers like him - than dislike him. I've
talked to them and their numbers are big. He compares and contrasts how he
does things - vs. how "others" do it. And he backs his claims up - some say
without modesty - through his actions.
* I have zero complaints about Heritage's delivery protocols. I have
criticisms about other elements of Heritage's operations - but they're not
relevant to the specific topic of delivery issues. Many know that I consider
Grey a pal and that I have consigned a few things to him without complaint.
But Bruce is my consignor for reasons relevant to the greater body of
collector-lurkers with whom I've corresponded privately on these boards. This
has less to do with Heritage and more to do with what eMoviePoster offers to a
guy like me whose asset value is comfortable, but not high.
* Rich and others understand the marketing ideology of customer testimonials.
They work. If merchants praise themselves via the words of their OWN customers
- even if this comes at the expense of competitors - what of it? Is this not
the way of the world for businesses, large and small?
* In my view, there's no place for modesty NOR dishonesty - in the world of
competitive marketing - and I include myself in the equation. Nobody gives a
s*** if a competing PR guy vouches for my skills and character. But customers
do care if they hear anything good or bad about me from other customers. In
sum - to the countless lurkers out there who still respect me - never forget
who's doing the vouching. Pay more attention to customer testimonials about
merchants - and pay less attention to merchant testimonials about those same
merchants. -d.
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