Relax ! Ma fi follow up pa mi !!!
Are you even my guy if you haven't voted for me?
Wait first…I have been nominated in the JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons Awards under the Business, Economic and Entrepreneurial Achievement Category, please if you are yet to vote, here is the link https://toyp.jci.ng/vote/. Thank yoouu!
Now that we have voted, let's dive in. I'm sure you can tell from the topic that I'm very passionate about what I'll be sharing with you today. A few weeks ago, I shared this story on my social media pages, and I'm sharing it with you now because I feel the need to not only vent my frustrations but to also delve deeply into the lessons that can be drawn from the funny situation.
I had just finished speaking at an event and, in my usual manner, had to do a round tour to visit the SMEs exhibiting. Everyone knows I love my small business people. I have a soft spot for young people who give their best to survive, make ends meet, and scale their businesses. I usually would not just attend a speaking event without engaging with at least one small business owner.
Ahha, I forgot to greet you (courtesy of the story's urgency). Don’t mind me, jare. I trust you and your businesses have been good.
Back to my story…
So, in my usual practice, I bought a pack of peanuts from this vendor at the event, just to show my support for the business. I paid via bank transfer, got debited, and showed her the receipt.
She was not convinced I made the transfer, I was shocked and showed her the debit alert just to fulfill all righteousness.
I understand the growing wings of the fake alert chronicles and Anini in suits. The bank system also doesn’t help the matter.
To clear further doubts, I gave her my complimentary card, yet she literally harassed me throughout the event, saying that she was yet to receive the alert…
I was baffled.
I found it a bit awkward. I mean, I literally was a speaker here and I have done all there is to show that I have paid and will be available in case of a reversal. Anyways, she requested that I make the payment again. I did.
To cut the story shorter, she got both payments eventually after we had left, and refused to refund. She insisted that she sends me a product instead and that I send additional money for delivery. I refused, and after an awkward back and forth, she said she would deliver it. I asked why she couldn’t refund me, and she said because the money was received into a corporate account and it would be hard to make a refund. Honestly, I was confused. First, you harassed me about payment, and now you can't give me the money you harassed me for…I operate corporate accounts. Never heard of such an issue.
I found it ridiculous and told her to keep the money because I don’t see any reason to pay for the delivery (mainland to the island) of a peanut I don’t need. She eventually delivered it.
I find it infuriating to force your products on your clients because I believe that is what she did to me.
Now the plot twist about this story is that she then spent the rest of the entire morning spamming my WhatsApp with how customer satisfaction is their business’ priority. Ni yen iwo, What rubbish … Mtcheew
She asked that I follow and engage with her business on Instagram, briefing me about her real estate dealings and all. I thought to myself: “How is following and engaging you on Instagram equivalent to customer satisfaction?”
You refused to refund me even after I categorically insisted several times that I preferred getting my money back. Anyway, I blocked her.
It was a sad thing to do, but I was left with no choice.
To my CLSME tribe members (our WhatsApp community members call themselves the jamborees - lol cos we are always celebrating something), especially small business owners online and offline. Please, let’s maintain professionalism.
Please and please, learn how not to adopt desperate sales methods and avoid becoming a nuisance to customers and potential customers.
Now to the premium gist!!
You thought I was done?
Dey play, just dey play ooo
To help our community members mitigate the risk of losing existing or potential customers, we’ll be having a physical training workshop early next month for 30 of our most active community members on our WhatsApp platform. Others can join online. I will share the link at a later date.
I know you may be yet to join our WhatsApp community. What are you waiting for?
Endeavor to join so you can access timely information and opportunities that’ll help you in the process of running your business.
Join us by clicking here.
https://chat.whatsapp.com/HUzkPe2Vh862aNdL8BCqzg
Thank you for reading.
See you next Wednesday!!