Trust your customers

Business principle: trust your customers, give them the benefit of the doubt. I think this is a good principle, unless of course you are a gun shop owner, and then it’s best to watch your back! This principle was brilliantly illustrated for me recently by Ian of Ian’s Cafe in Willoughby. Here’s his business card. See below for the story…

Before church a couple of weeks ago, I went to buy coffees for me and a couple of other youth leaders. After they were made, I realised I didn’t have enough cash and that my card wouldn’t work in any of the local ATM’s. When I got back Ian, the owner, said I could pay him back later. I then told him that I wasn’t from the area and that I wouldn’t be back until church the following Sunday. I tried to give him my details, as I did he said not to worry because he trusted me.

Here’s why it was good business:

1. He’d already made the coffees and if I didn’t take them, he’d have to scull them or throw them out anyway
2. If I didn’t pay him back, $9 is not really worth his effort in chasing me down
3. I told a stack of people about his cafe over the following week.
4. When I went to pay him back, I bought another one (though ending in tragedy!)
5. He makes good coffee – I’ll probably go back again.
6. I’m now devoting a whole blog post to his business