Repeat Customers Get Tuxed

My brother in law is getting married later this month. I'm an usher or groomsman or whatever they call it these days. Happy times.

So, I get an email with instructions to go get fitted for a tuxedo at the local tux shop in the mall. It happens to be the same place I used for my wedding and the same place my brother used for his.

So, this will make me a third time customer. Not bad.

The last thing I have time to do is drive to the mall and get fitted for a tux -- especially since I just did the same thing a year ago. So my lovely wife, who's always looking out for me, calls up the shop and asks them to just pull up my measurements from last year and order my tux based on those specs.

No go. Why? They only keep measurements on file for 3 months.

What? Are they trying to save hard drive space?

Just seems like a stupid inconvenience. And to think, it's the repeat customers who experience this. Instead, they should have a quasi-concierge service for repeat customers. Like...more flexibility on pick up and drop off times, maybe a little discount...a web site that stores your measurements and lets you place orders with a click. Alas, nothing of the sort. In fact, when I did go in they had no idea I was a repeat customer, nor did they care.

I mention this to caution you from making this mistake in your business. Walk through doing business with you in your customers shoes. You repeat customers' shoes. Try to eliminate those sticky, irritating points that run the risk of costing you a customer.

Comments

[Evolving Entrepreneur | Adam Dudley]

Someone should simply step up and buy a tux from their tailor...don't you think? :-)

[Travis Miller & Jimmy Vee]

Well...yes...except then that tux wouldn't match the style of the other people in the wedding. So I'd own a custom tux and still have to rent one. I'd be even more upset!! (Trust me, I thought about that.)