Here's a cautionary tale about how not to win customers. So here's the deal.Today after work I'm hungry like most men are after work. So I went scouting around Anjung-ri (Outside Camp Humphreys) for something to eat, and to be frank nothing is making me happy, the price vs value of the local restaurants wasn't working for me, so I decided to go to Casa Burrito. Casa Burrito is your typical Korean/Mexican style restaurant which had the cheapest burritos in the area, and to be honest they are good.
So I went inside to order a steak burrito for $6.50. As I opened my wallet to pay for the burrito a coin fell out. As I bent over to pick up the coin the owner/operator saw my cash in the wallet, and said in his Korean accent, "I see you have a lot of money to waste." For a brief second that comment puzzled me. I was thinking huh? "What does that mean?"
Well as I picked up my coin a second thought occurred to me. "This is a waste of my money." So when I stood up I looked up at the owner and said, " You're right. This is a waste of money." and that's when I walked out. The owner with a look of shock and amusement said "No!" and slapped his forehead with both hands, but I had already opened the door and was out.
That's when I went back home, and ordered some fried chicken with green onions on top (One of my favorite styles of chicken here) from Hoolala Chicken. The order will cost me about W18,000($16.50), but all I have to do is send them a text message and they'll deliver. In fact I'm waiting on it now.
So here's the point. At Casa Burrito, logic says just get the burrito and go home, however I have to admit I was annoyed by his comment, so I'll end up spending more money for dinner, but I'm pretty sure nobody will be looking in my wallet and telling me that I have a lot of money to waste, plus hey it gives me something interesting to write about.
Finally, to all the business people wannabes out there don't be so stupid as to tell a potential customer that they have a lot of money to waste or something similar. All you are doing is insulting their intelligence, and signaling that YOUR product/service is a waste of money!
Now I'll find out if I made a good call when the chicken arrives.
