That's right. David Ogilvy was wrong after all. I see this happening every day. Don't agree with me. Then take this example. 




I go to do some shopping with my wife every alternate day. Not heavy duty supermarket or departmental store or mall or even mom and pop store shopping but shopping from the hawkers and the cart wallahs. Shopping for fruits and vegetables. 




These guys have fixed places or routes. They become familiar or are taken granted over a short period of time. We develop a nice relationship with them. But the relationship tends to become bossy sooner or later. Sample this:




Arre Bhaiya bhindi kitne ki dee? Kya 40 rupiye kilo? Abhi kal hi toh 30 thi. Accha mujhe dekhkar bada dee? Hum toh roz tere se hi lete hain aur tune daam baad diye. Acha chal jaldi se 1 kg de de par main sirf 30 rupiye doongi. Aur aloo kaise diye. Kya 30 rupiye, abhi kal.......and the cycle continues.




The poor man gets used to this everyday. Sorry did I say get used to? Nobody can get used to this everyday. Somewhere, sometime something will give. Either he will become rude with you, or stop serving you or worse jack up the price anyways knowing well enough that you will definitely bargain. Net effect, you will be looking for new vendors every few days.




Given the fact that one deals with him almost on a daily basis why can't we win his trust and respect? Why do we always believe that he is out to fleece us. Imagine a situation where the conversation goes like this:




Bhaiya, kal tune jo bhindi Di thee woh bahut badiya nikali. Aaj bhi waisi bhindi dena. Now ask him the price and I can assure you he will give you a good deal. Or if you feel that the price is still high, ask him for something else and then come back to this item. But you also got to win his trust. Don't just boss around with him because you have choice and can go to other vendors. Make him start to like you.

 

It's like an employee employer relationship. It works both ways. If an employer behaves like the Nakuri.com boss then the employee will sooner or later vanish. Same here. Treat your vendor like an employee ( ok, if you do not treat your employee or subordinates well, another blog will be on its way soon) and see the difference.




Don't you want to deal with a vendor who looks forward to your buys or you want a vendor who cringes on seeing you and wants to always squeeze you for more? It's not just him as a seller who has to win our trust but we as a buyer must do the same.  He will not only give you the best deals but will keep the best produce for you. It will not happen overnight but over a period of time, you will be getting the best produce at a great price and what's more you will also be seen as a nice human being. A win win situation for all.




Try it. And get back to me if you see the difference. Now the only thing left for me to do is convince my wife of the same.  Before she reads this and thinks that I called her a moron!