Went for coffee the other day. Was meeting a good friend over a cup of java. We stopped in at one of the local establishments. There was no reason to suspect somethng was amis. The magnate sign outside was bragging about their lunch specials, great to hear, but all i was really after was an engaging business discussion, and a good cup of coffee. No such luck, yet.
They were closed... for the month. And the sign on the door was so small i didn't notice until i got out of my car and walked up to the door. This is bad, and the fact that the owners have not considered this is disapointing.
Firstly: it IS annoying to go somewhere out of habit, only to find it is not open. Maintaining consistent predictable hours is a must. Basic. A sense of being let down ensues,a feeling of broken expectations. Your signs say you are open... just open up already. No problem, things happen... but for a month??? At least have the decency to take down both of the magnate signs inviting customers, save yourself this money for the coming long customer-less period you have ahead of you. i would not enjoy surveying the customers as they leave the parking lot having not been sold a coffee. No one likes to be let down. How many people refuse to go back if they are mistreated by a server or ambassador for a company? Now magnify that to every single customer who arrives over the course of the next 30 days. The lost revenue will effect your bottom line longer than your days closed... no?
And this brings me to my Second issue: What on earth are the owners thinking? Is this merely a step in their eventual giving up on their business? Is it that bad?
A month or so previous to this week, a MAJOR national competitor opened up within walking distance (and within eye-sight from the locked door of this coffee shop). In fact, that is exactly where i then sat with my friend for coffee.
It's coffee, they are both good cups of coffee, no doubt.
21 days to a habit, right? We'll a lions share of the customer base from the closed coffee shop will be forming a very strong habit, drinking coffee somewhere ELSE. How hard will the now closed business have to work, how much marketing money will they spend trying to get me back, to earn my trust again, after breaking it so recently?
WOW... i do not for a second think that i am the only person who is seeing this, am i?
i tried very hard to NOT name names on this post, tho i have no doubt that locals will know where of i speak without much deductive reasoning. Feel free to post your thoughts on this thread... this is a topic deserving of a discussion.
