Now it's officially the iPhone thread.
On Wed, Apr 23, 2014 at 6:01 PM, Kurt Buff <[email protected]> wrote: > Yes, I realize that, and apologize. That came out very poorly. > > More later. > > Kurt > > > On Tue, Apr 22, 2014 at 9:02 AM, Michael B. Smith > <[email protected]>wrote: > >> Yeah, that’s not quite what I was going for there… >> >> >> >> *From:* [email protected] [mailto: >> [email protected]] *On Behalf Of *Andrew S. Baker >> >> *Sent:* Tuesday, April 22, 2014 11:19 AM >> *To:* ntsysadm >> *Subject:* Re: [NTSysADM] OT: Corporate Support of Open-Source projects >> >> >> >> *>>As MBS has pointed out, those who have monopoly grants from the >> government often prosper without customer service.* >> >> Is that that MBS pointed out? Or are you just willing to extrapolate all >> that in order to support your otherwise unsubstantiated argument? >> >> Does Google have a monopoly grant from the government? Do they have good >> (or even comparable) customer service to Apple in the area of mobile >> computing? >> >> Just for the record Kurt, you are entitled to have your own views, as is >> everyone one else here. The issue -- especially in a technology forum full >> of technologists -- is that we have, for some foolish reason, gotten it >> into our heads that people who present a position will not only be able to >> support that position logically, but will consider it their duty to do >> so. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> *ASB **http://XeeMe.com/AndrewBaker* <http://xeeme.com/AndrewBaker> >> *Providing Virtual CIO Services (IT Operations & Information Security) >> for the SMB market…* >> >> >> >> >> >> On Mon, Apr 21, 2014 at 11:48 PM, Kurt Buff <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> No, not all category leaders are good at customer service. As MBS has >> pointed out, those who have monopoly grants from the government often >> prosper without customer service. Those who offer retail Internet >> connectivity (often WISPs), have customer service as a differentiator - >> sometimes it's their only differentiator, because they're shut out by law >> from string cable/fiber, and can only occupy a small niche, usually well >> outside of a metropolitan market. >> >> As well, I'm fairly sure not all companies with good customer service are >> category leaders, though I think that's more often true in smaller markets >> - but if I were to run across such a company, I'd probably prefer to buy >> their stock, and would definitely give them my custom. >> >> >> >> However, in most free(ish) markets, category leaders are often, though >> not always, very good at customer service. It probably depends a lot on the >> market in question. >> >> Take groceries, for example. My wife and I don't shop at the large >> corporate chain stores that are local to me (Albertsons, QFC, Safeway, >> etc.). We shop at a smaller locally owned store, where they have very good >> service, and a really good selection - not just the basics, but nice stuff >> that it's hard to find at the large chains that focus on the lowest price >> at the cost of service and selection. Their prices where I shop are usually >> within a percent of the large stores. For me (and obviously a fair number >> of other people, as the store is doing well), customer service wins. >> >> Kurt >> >> >> >> On Mon, Apr 21, 2014 at 3:20 PM, Andrew S. Baker <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >> So, only the category leaders (and those vying to be category leaders) >> offer customer service? >> >> Are there any category leaders that *don't* offer customer service (or >> anything approaching real customer service), while others in their category >> do? >> >> >> >> >> >> >> *ASB* >> >> *http://XeeMe.com/AndrewBaker* <http://xeeme.com/AndrewBaker> >> *Providing Virtual CIO Services (IT Operations & Information Security) >> for the SMB market…* >> >> >> >> >> >> On Mon, Apr 21, 2014 at 10:07 AM, Kurt Buff <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> On Mon, Apr 21, 2014 at 5:56 AM, Steven M. Caesare <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >> >> Re: Companies' incentives: That's not universally true. I refer you to >> companies that have as at least some of their core operating principles the >> ideas of customer service - >> > >> > That's an ends to a means. That customer service exists to promote >> goodwill with regard to the customer buying products the sell, >> > >> > The litmus test for these: >> > >> > Cold the company conceivably exist by eliminating the "extra mile" >> customer service? Yes. Could they existin by eliminating product sales? No. >> >> Hrm. I don't think that's the right yardstick. I believe the question >> should be: Would these companies be category leaders if they didn't >> have such good customer service? And I believe the answer is no. >> >> Kurt >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > >
