As consumers, we encounter different kinds of traders almost on a daily basis as we engage in buying or selling, meeting our daily basic needs. While some traders possess the right characters to approach their customers and retain them, others do not, leading to bad encounters in many ways.I have had both experiences, a nice encounter with a trader and a bad one as well, with lessons learned anyway.
Relocating to our new environment a few years ago wasn't too easy for me to adapt to many things at the beginning. Of course it is expected, but sometimes we meet strangers who, through their empathy, make things look easier for us. That was my case with the encounter I had with a very good trader. Then, I had a new baby, and I needed to process baby food for my child. I finished packing the baby food and off to the market without any idea of where exactly they blend the baby food. I only got the name of the market and headed there, keeping on strolling up and down and asking questions without getting any clearer answers. Most sellers were busy attending to those who were patronizing them, and since I was only asking them questions, they didn't give me any attention as such.
But then, this woman sighted me from afar; it looks like she was observing me and guessed I was searching for something. She waved to me that I should come closer, which I did. She inquired what I wanted from the market, and I explained to her. This woman left her shop, where she sells all manner of food ingredients, and took me to a place I could get my baby food blended. It didn't stop there; she took me around many other places where they sell things in the market, showing me around so I don't have to struggle with the market should I need to buy anything.The nice gesture I got from her automatically pushed me to shop for all the food ingredients I needed in her shop. You needed to see how calm this woman is, attending to me as if I am her sister.
I remember picking one item, and she said I should drop it and get it from a neighboring shop as the item isn't healthy enough. It was wrapped in a local leaf 🌿, so I wouldn't know until I got home to unwrap it, but she was sincere about this product. This is really exceptional of her, and I marked it.
I continued to patronize her over and over because of my first nice encounter with her. It didn't stop there; she requested that since I am always in a haste at the market because of my baby, I could choose to send her a list of items I wanted while she get them ready for me before I reach the market so it could be faster for me. Even products she doesn't sell, she still steps out and buys them for me during those periods when my baby was still tender.
I know that it's not necessary that everyone behaves like her to be a good trader, but her actions show empathy, consideration, and concern and are good enough to maintain healthy customer relationships.
On the flip side, I had one bad encounter with this trader, a church member who is very close to me. I should have known better, but then, I trusted her so much to be sincere, but then, it was the other way round. Imagine patronizing this woman for almost two years before I realized that a particular product I had been buying from her was twice as much as what other stores sell. Really, I went to the market and got straight to her shop as usual; unfortunately for her, she didn't come to the market that day. I was left with the only option of buying the same product from another store. Surprisingly, the price was much lower. I couldn't believe it; I moved around to check 3 other shops, and still, I got it much cheaper, like half of the cost I had been buying from our church member.This realization was so devastating. I mean, how could she cheat me for that long and still claim to be my friend? Of course I confronted her, and she lacked words to explain herself, imagine doubling the price for me. It was the last time I visited her shop to date.
These two scenarios taught me that in business, which involves serving the public, people are the shortcut to your success, and so maintaining good customer relationships can help your business thrive. On the other hand, being sincere is one of the traits to retain customers, especially for future benefits and recommendations.
This post is in response to the #hivelearners community contest on the topic titled, Just Another Trader
Images were taken from canva
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Not every trader out there is honest but that doesn’t mean good people still don’t exist, they do.
I’ve also encountered same experiences as you but what can we do, everyone is trying to survive.
Of course good ones exist oo
It's a survival of the fittest 😍
That’s right!
Wow, that woman who sighted you from afar, did a great job. God bless her. People with this simple heart are there but they are scarce. I'm happy you learn from this. The bad encounter with your church member is not encouraging but you forgive her and move on and get your things from other stores that are selling cheaper things. God bless you
Thank you for sharing with us.
Yea..the first woman heart is simple and kind...I have many reasons to keep going back to her store
It's unfortunate that the second woman lost a customer because of greed
It's a life lesson
Thanks for engaging
God bless you too♥️
Alright, Ma
I have always come across some traders like the first woman, though not like how yours was. Many of them would show concern and attend to you in the best way and make you want to keep patronising them because of their niceness and ability to attend to customers in the best way.
Now, for the other trader who is also your church member and you said she's close to you. What do you expect? She has seen you as someone she could easily cheat on because she knows you'd pay but people like them forget that such act can never go on forever, someday, the truth will suffice and that could ruin the relationship. Some people like to take people's good looking status for an advantage and it's wrong.
My look is only deceiving them princess 🤦...me that is still a Hustler, they want to send me back to village... lolz, I jump and pass
It's really not nice taking advantage of your fellow human because u can... nothing lasts forever..now, she stopped seeing me for ages including my friends I may have recommended to her..shame!
Your experience with your friend is what made my dad to teach me to ask prices elsewhere before coming to my customer or friend. I have lived by this and more often than not, my customer/friend would try selling higher but then I insist on getting it at the normal price because I know what it is.
Hehe 😃..that's the way to go
Nowadays..I buy things from friends but only products I know the price to avoid issues with our relationship 🤦
There are good and bad people everywhere an in case of traders it's also the same. But in case trader I hardly trust too much on them because at the end they think about their own profit.
!PIZZA
Yea..most traders think about their own profits not minding if they do things right or not
The first woman was really kind hearted and considerate whilst the your church member could have done a lot more better, and people like them will always say “it’s because I know you o”… and they still end up cheating you terribly.
My dear..I have suffered terribly from people that knows me oo
That’s Nigerians for you o
That doubling of price is why one of our church member doesn't even talk to me till date. I do greet her, when she like she answer. Something that is been sold for 10 naira and you call yourself my friend and you are giving it to me for 40 naira. You will even swear and join.
Omo... this kind people hiding under church doing the unspeakable 🤦
I have policy of not patronizing one person for too long because of my past experiences, they tend to be nice for some time but at some point they start cheating you because they feel you are now relax with them
Wow...one of my friends have this policy too
Really..it makes sense to be alternating things oo
Your first meeting with this very good mother became your loyal customer, this is really amazing for me, this mother is willing to take you to other places in the market, even though she is selling, what a noble heart this mother is.
Indeed she portray character worthy of emulation not only in bussiness settings but in life generally
That woman is very nice to have left her shop and take you round the market. This is very interesting.
Thanks for sharing
Yea. Her type is rare
!LADY
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The woman has the fear of God, no one selling will ever tell you to drop their products that isn't good, they will persuade you to buy it and you would blame yourself, for that your church member I guess she has build her house on water with her billing.
Hahaha...she indeed built her house on water... it's been over with us.just greetings and that's all
The first woman was transparent enough
Once a trader treats me nice, I am coming back again and again. I automatically become a regular customer..
It's that simple and natural my brother
Insightful lessons. Relationship and sincerity are two fundamental truths every business owner should possess. Thanks for sharing
Yea.... insincerity in bussiness could damage a built relationship and distrust
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