Snobbishness Is Not Attractive

What is more annoying than a bad, rude, irate customer?  That would be a snob.  And as you know we are on the business owners side but that does not mean there are not some bad businesses out there. 

Just a few weeks ago I went to a store that I had actually never been to before and heard great things about.  I had the chance to see it and visit with the employees and I loved the atmosphere at this place and the employees were awesome.  If you are familiar with our “business spotlight” section then you know that we love to spotlight companies that we think others should know about.  Well I wanted to spotlight them and talked it over with a few people there and with the manager and he said that would be awesome.  After hitting it off with everyone and putting up the information, blogging about the place, and telling others about it I wanted to eat my words.  I got a phone call from the owner about spotlighting his store on our site and he was mad that he was not asked or aware about being on the site.  He said he did not want to be associated with it etc. and I said okay no problem I can take it down but may I ask why though?  He first says “I don’t want to be associated with “the customer is not always right.”  And honestly I can totally understand this (even though his employees and customers in the store that day loved it).  He goes on to say that our reviews are “neutral” and we are only 2 years old and basically that he would consider it down the road.  So what else does this say?  Well it boils down to that in his mind we are not big enough for him…hmm in my book that is a snobbish remark.  We simply gave him free advertising, great word of mouth and more.  Who turns that down?

Our site is focused on problem customers yes, but the site is a way to work out situations before going to court or litigation etc.  Businesses pre-qualify customers everyday and we are another tool where they can pre-qualify them basically.  But not all businesses and business owners are right or perfect (nobody is and we admit that).  If business owners act like this to their customers or those who try and reach out to them while spreading the good word, you are only hurting yourself.  I was ready to let a TON of people know about this place but now I don’t even want to step foot in it.  This is sad, a great business, employees, atmosphere but a too good business owner that has his nose turned up ruined it.  I’m a business owner too and know what it takes to run a business but I am also a consumer too so when business owners act like that, yes it’s wrong.  My advice to fellow business owners is don’t be a snob because it is such a turn off to consumers.  That’s a deal breaker.

Have you ever dealt with snobs as a consumer or business owner?