I got a lot of comments about this when I sent it out to my list, so if you haven´t seen it, here it is:
Maybe you sometimes think I’m talking piffle, but are too polite to say so.
Thank goodness I do get it right every now and then.
This is an unedited comment from a reader on what I sent you yesterday:
“You make excellent points in this email, and I have experienced this myself in my own business.
If you don’t mind I would like to share my own personal story.
I started out as a “discount” provider and it was miserable. I attracted the worst possible customers and the more I gave the more they wanted, but at no extra cost to them mind you.
My customer satisfaction rate was abysmal, my job satisfaction was non existent… along with my profits.
I was doing what I loved and hating every minute of it.
Finally I said enough’s enough. I raised my prices by 500% and established very clearly I compete on quality and nothing else.
I lost 90% of my customers overnight.
But the ones that stayed, and more importantly the new ones that suddenly appeared… attracted by my higher rates like moths to a flame, more than made up for it.
Before I raised my rates I was working 12 hour days 7 days a week for miserable people – impossible to satisfy who viewed not just my service, but myself as a commodity and losing money while I did it.
Now, since I raised my rates I have clients who view me and my service as something special, and feel like they are still getting tremendous value.
I work just 7-8 hours a day, 5 days a week (and am working hard to bring that down to just 5 hours a day 4 days a week) and the last 4 months have been the most profitable in the history of my company. In fact the last 3 months my company has earned more than it did in the 18 months previous to the price hike!
Thanks Drayton for all the wonderful insights – Ash Goodman.”
Well if you´d like some more insights from me and people who are full of practical ideas, just go here.
I know from personal experience I've bought things costing more just because I figure it MUST be better because it costs more.