GUEST POST from Don – Anheuser-Busch

ANHEUSER-BUSCH

Quite the kerfuffle there, ‘eh!??  

What it illustrates is the problem of businesses concentrating on their OWN interests instead of the interests of their customers.  It happens all the time, if you think about it.

My doctor’s office WANTS me to use the patient portal.  They tell me it will help ME.  Truth is, it simplifies paperwork for THEM.  It saves THEM money and time.  

My big box store WANTS me to sign up for their credit card.  I don’t need another credit card.  I don’t want another credit card.  Been there, got a lousy t-shirt.  I get no benefit (except a one-time discount on today’s purchase).  They get a tool that allows them to soak in more money for every purchase AND send advertisements to customers at no additional cost.  Thus, I get ZERO, they get $$.  It benefits THEM.

Some music site wants me to download their app.  OK.  You get the idea.  I get nothing, they get $$.

Over and over we, the consumers, are being shorted.  We “benefit” because these things are convenient.  The problem is that 1 app may be convenient, but 75 apps … not so much.  1 extra credit card may be convenient, but 6 … not so much.  1 online portal may be a benefit, but 18 becomes a pain in the rear.  We accept it because it is easy.  We accept it because “whadyagonnado.”  

But it should stop.  We should rebel.  At least we should demand MORE than a teeny bit of convenience.

I’ve said it before, all the upgrades at the fast-food restaurant have neither improved the quality of the food, nor sped up the line.  They seriously lack benefit for the consumer.  The apps, the kiosks, the merging order lines … none of these help you or me.

I wonder when we will stand up?  

I already have.

I no longer order at a restaurant which has no physical menu.  I refuse to use my phone to get a menu…in fact, I don’t even carry my phone into restaurants.  “No menu?  Have to use a phone?…that’s not convenient…well, you’re going to have to loan me a phone then.”  Pffft.  A minute later a paper menu appears.

Cars have touch-screens, a recent article revealed, not because you want them.  Although they cost the manufacturer less $$ to install than all the physical buttons and knobs, the car manufacturers up-charge you for the “convenience.”  They aren’t convenient.  Customers have been complaining for a decade.  Manufacturers have been promising more connectivity, bigger screens, more do-dads.  We are not interested.  We WANT knobs and buttons.  

The question I am always asking…”Does THIS benefit me or the business?”  The answer shines light on this subject.  Apps, touchscreens, and portals…none of this stuff really benefits the consumer.  So, why are so many people fooled by these sales tools?  Is it because we think we are getting something for nothing?  That would be foolish.  There really is no such thing as a free lunch.  These are all worms at the end of a fishing line.  Our interest is on the free worm and we ignore the hooks, lines, and sinkers.  Over and over we get reeled in.  And we will continue to get reeled in until we start looking intelligently at the “BAIT to BENEFIT” scale.

What is the “BAIT to BENEFIT” scale?  I think you can figure this one out.  But if not, I’ve got a free app that you can use to determine if there is enough benefit to be worth taking the bait.  (That’s a joke, ‘eh?)

As I said above, we need to DEMAND more, because we are not slaves bowing to our masters.  We need to RECOGNIZE bait for what it is.  Further,  if we are going to take the bait, make sure the bait is WORTH taking.  

I want a benefit more like a sidekick (Uncle Charlie on “My Three Sons,” or Robin on “Batman”); less like the miniature Allen wrench that attaches to my key ring for which I have never had a use.  “I downloaded this app and ALL it does is take me to a restaurant’s menu.  I still have to order, auto pay, and pick up my food.  Big DEAL!  Saves me, what? 20 cents and 9 seconds.”

I had a co-worker who signed into an app for a fast food place.  Using the app for the first few months he could get a free hash brown with a breakfast sandwich purchase.  That appealed to him.  Then it morphed into a few cents off his breakfast.  It was no longer worth having the app and it took up screen and memory space.  He deleted the critter.  Unfortunately he did not really learn from the experience, so he will be reeled in next time they offer a free hash brown.

I’m learning to use my “NOPE!”  A few years ago I did not realize this was a God-given part of my anatomy.  Now I use it all the time and I feel the healthy glow it provides.  It is organic.  It is free-range.  It is non-GMO.  It is sanity-restoring.

I speak up.  I actually say it out loud: “Is that all the bait you are offering?  Double it and I will think about it.”  They never do and neither do I.

Copyright 2023 Donald Whelpley

[PLEASE NOTE that Don is always open to discussing the thoughts and opinions he shares here and welcomes comments as shared in the comment section. He doesn’t use other social media platforms, as I do, and won’t see whatever you’d like to share with him elsewhere. ~ Sherry]

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Weird Forgiveness III ~ Weird Forgiveness II ~ Weird Forgiveness I ~ Classified Documents ~ Future You Needs A Friend ~ Feeling Understood ~
~ Starting The New Year Right ~ Awe! Aah! Ooh! ~ Christmas As A Poor (Rich) Child ~ Bigger Problems ~ Blessing ~ Climate Change – 2 ~
~Medical Science Too Far? ~ Gravity and Light ~ Travel Fun ~ Fascinating People: Gloria Hartman Doughty ~ Sadly Magic Words ~ Mulberries ~
~ Climate Change? ~ SPURIOUS UBIQUITOUS NOISE ~ TEW ~ Credit Card Debt ~ Insect Oddities ~ DATA ~ Cities Got Name? ~
~ The Bible Does Not Say That! ~ Too Old?? ~ Be My Guest ~ IN-CRE-MEN-TAL-ISM ~ Bad Friends & Broken Tools ~ Pools Are For The Birds?? ~
~ Animals Hindering Your Financial Freedom ~ The Chicken ~ Finding The Exit ~ Allegheny Blackberries ~ Romantic Sunset At The Beach ~
~ Fun Facts About Carpenter Ants ~ Bad Habits ~ Doing Faith Wrong ~ ~ Quirky! ~ Ten-Foot Trestle ~ Settling Estates ~
~ Living In High Horse Country ~  The Dying Generation ~