We consume lots of things every day, and that makes us a consumer, and it's not like those items we need will just appear right in front of us; we will obviously go out to shops, markets etc., to get them. In many ways, we've met with or encountered different kinds of traders — some are nice, kind, and considerate, and there we have those whose attitudes will immediately make you take a step backwards, and you'd be careful next time not to make a mistake of going around their shops.
I've met with different kinds of traders, while some made me glue to them, making them my consistent customers, others have pushed me away by their attitude and inability to maintain a good customer relationship. So also, there are traders who would be nice to you and be harsh to others, this depends on the way we relate with each other.
For instance, I've had people complaining of a particular trader to me how harsh and insulting she is all the time when they patronise her, but I never experienced such with her. In the long run, I came to realise that those people were going beyond their boundaries when it came to negotiating goods, hahaha. Imagine an item is sold for #100 and you negotiate up to #40 😀 why won't the trader be harsh? Especially when the fixed price is #100, but you, as a consumer, just want to play a smart one.
There was a beautiful memory I had of a trader whose attraction towards her customers made me keep coming back to patronise her, and as always, she has been nice to me. Many times, she would even reduce the price and give me a discount when I bought lots of items from her. The first time I visited her shop, I had a lot of stuff to buy which was worth over #40,000. Her attitude to me that day made me free with her. She would laugh at some point, and it got to a time when it was all about us gisting whenever I went to her place. I usually stay longer because of her approach and how she accommodates her customers.
Little wonder many people would always patronise her because of her relationship with customers. That taught me one lesson that everyone should be treated nicely and welcomed in a better way. This would make a trader have lots of customers around when they can build and maintain that rapport between themselves.
Many times, it is not about the buying and selling process alone, but the long-term relationship beyond the shop is what matters. At least, I've seen most traders and customers become best of friends and even belong in their families.
On the other hand, I've met with another trader who I said won't patronise again because of his impression every time I go to him. The experience isn't once or twice but has been happening every time I am there and it has made me conclude to find another place where I would be treated calmly and respectfully.
The last time I visited the shop, I already had some heavy bags with me filled with things I'd bought in the market, and my plan was to visit his shop last so I could get other things remaining, then take a bike from there straight home. He had a young sales girl who was helping, but I noticed this girl didn't know the prices of the majority of the items. I saw the man leave and went to sit down inside his shop and was busy pressing his phone.
For every item I pointed at, the girl would call him and ask for the price which sometimes, he would pretend not to hear on time. I thought he could have come out instead to attend to me so the whole thing would be fast but he just didn't mind. I bought goods worth over #25,000 at his place and for those moments, the girl was attending to me but very slow. Not only me, he kept busy on his phone and was just answering other customers hesitantly, and that attitude was wrong.
He isn't someone who'd approach a customer even with a smile just to make them free around, but he just locked up his face as if someone forced him to open a shop. His way of attending to customers was so poor that day, and I just had to endure the moment, get my stuff and then never go back there again.
It made me wonder how some traders would act in the presence of their customers, not realizing that if we don't purchase from them, they won't make any sales, and that means there won't be money for food to eat. Just like the man, his approach was a no for me, and I feel he should learn to welcome customers and have their time till they are done purchasing their items. Maintaining customer relationships and showing a good attitude is the best in business and to thrive in it.
Both images were imagined with Meta AI
