HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT FROM US?

[GingerBiscuit]

News-flash, opticians have some of the highest mark-ups out there. We have less of one. Glasses don't cost much to make, although when you take into account wages and business costs it goes up. Lenses cost us like- 50p, or something. Still, again when you take into account business costs- which is something SCS never take into account.

Oh, I want two for one on these designer glasses and 30%off cause I'm over 60, and I know it won't cost you anything cause it only costs about £3 to make the actual glasses, even though you aren't charging me for the basic lens fee and you're only charging me for the upgrade to get them varifocal, and even then in ONLY ONE PAIR...

Yes, but with a store our size I also worked out it costs us about £3000 just to OPEN every day so if you want to be able to buy them you'll buy them and give us a healthy profit too, thanks.

Seriously, with the recession it's like people think 'this company should be willing to make a loss to keep my business'- why? What's the POINT in that? We want to make a profit, and if we give you everything you want we won't! WE ARE A BUSINESS! Despite what you thing, we do not exist for YOUR happiness.

[RootedPhoenix]

Why take a loss when there's 10 more people in line willing to pay full price? That one person's money isn't any shinier or more wondrous than the next person's is!

[AirHostess]

They want blood! Despite the global recession people just get greedier and greedier. Funny thing is, that greed has got us into the recession! People never learn.

[GingerBiscuit]

Oh, god, I know.
'I think you should work with us! Cause of THE RECESSION'.
The recession is affecting businesses too. We are desperately trying to cut costs, and people like them cost us. That simple.

And besides, with my opticians, you are already getting a TWO nice pairs of glasses with lenses cheaper than anywhere else short of a factory shop- and good luck getting any comeback if things are screwed up at a factory shop. The glasses are already faulty there.

[sms001]

I used to run into the same thing at the convenience store. People plain and simple don't know the most basic economics. Yes, that costs more at a c-store. Because we only sell two a week! Not because they're more expensive - because most shoppers purchase them elsewhere. C-stores are also commonly found on expensive (high-traffic) properties. They have a big insurance cost ratio. When I first started I found the markups high, but when I saw the net to gross I was stunned. And this was a big chain that could buy many stock items in bulk - I can't imagine how mom and pop operations hang on

I wish there was a magical way of knowing where some of these "cut me a deal" SCs worked. I'd love to stroll into their law firm/ hospital/ whatever and enjoy the look of shock on their face when I ask them to return the favor.

[HawaiianShirts]

Oh, god, I know.
'I think you should work with us! Cause of THE RECESSION'.
The recession is affecting businesses too. We are desperately trying to cut costs, and people like them cost us. That simple.

Had that this weekend. Some radio station recently did a bit on the remarkable value of the words "Is that the best you can do?" when making purchases. I had three people use that phrase on me on Saturday.

When I told two of them that, yes, the price on the tag was the best I could do on those computers they were buying, they graciously accepted my answer (I would have been stunned if we weren't so busy).

The third gave me that same rant about the "bad economy" and how we should be "so grateful" for his business that we should be "throwing" discounts at him. I said, "Well, until Corporate comes up with the funds for a Customer Bailout Package, my hands are tied." He then told me that Corporate must be a bunch of slackers (which I almost agree with) and bought the computer at the tag price.


And I still say, as I said this weekend to a friend as I was leaving work, "You go shopping on a Saturday afternoon or go out to a restaurant on Friday evening and tell me the politicians and the media aren't exaggerating this recession thing." With the amount of revenue we generated on Saturday and with the amount of customer traffic in our store, I've started to wonder if some companies aren't just playing up the "recession" theme to cut labor and save more money than they could if we were still running at full-economic-steam-ahead.

[siead_lietrathua]

I've started to wonder if some companies aren't just playing up the "recession" theme to cut labor and save more money than they could if we were still running at full-economic-steam-ahead.

i wouldn't be surprised if this was true, at least for individual stores. i know we are up from last years sales and yet because sister store is doing poorly, we have to cut back our hours >.< stupid head office.

[GingerBiscuit]

our income during the week is down, but at the weekend is almost doubled. I guess whats happening is people aren't going out for their lunch so there isn't so much incidental 'ooh, I really should buy my glasses' at lunchtimes.

[wagegoth]

As mentioned several times before, I work in a law firm. People are always complaining about how much lawyers charge. A guy the other day on the bus made a comment about it after I told him I was a legal secretary. I responded that, yes, they do, but you have to figure that out of that hourly rate they have to pay for everything, including all the non-billing staff, rent, power, computers and all the tech equipment, other office equipment, supplies, and so on. He didn't say anything else after that.

[fireheart]

I'm just glad my insurance covers most of my glasses

[dalesys]

Here in Utah we call that the "Brethren" syndrome:
You have to give me that at 10% under your cost because *I* go to church.

Not that they're religious, but EW's & SC's will jump on any pry bar they can imaginate.

My dad (bishop twice) really snarls about that attitude.

Yes, I really am a son-of-a-bishop