Life could be so easy.
The customer is always right, they say. If you're in just about any sort of business - food service or otherwise - you know just what nonsense that is.
But have you ever thought just how easy life would be if it were true? We could do exactly what our customers wanted, EXACTLY, and they'd all love us to bits. They would praise us to the high heavens and recommend us wherever they went. We would be paragons in their eyes; we'd be able to do no wrong.
So why don't we?
Professional pride, that's why.
Frequently - you'll probably find the same thing - a client will ask for something that you'd strongly advise against; fried Mars Bars, ice in a single-malt whiskey, chocolate-covered veal cutlets or whatever. But you have professional integrity and you're not going to do that. You know that it would ruin your reputation eventually, that the customers wouldn't truly be pleased with the results and, if you're a restaurant, that your chef wouldn't last another five minutes.
So you'll understand that I ARGUE with clients who ask for something that's wrong for them. I wouldn't be fulfilling my role as a professional if I glibly agreed to their every suggestion. (I'd have more money, admittedly, but I'm old-fashioned, I'd rather have that professional integrity).
Suggest something to TSDG that we believe isn't right for your project or for your company, and we'll say so. Oh, how easy life would be if we just got on with your suggestion! Your website wouldn't work well for you, your printwork would be a mess but ... you'd have what you want. And just like that chap who found out that he really DOESN'T like chocolate-covered veal, you wouldn't be happy.
Analogy time:
Patient: My toe hurts. Please amputate my leg.
Doctor: No, that's not necessary...
Patient: I am the customer and I'm always right so please amputate my leg.
What would your opinion be of that doctor? What would your opinion be of a design company who doesn't advise you - even if it involves an argument - about what's right for you?
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