Of course, I have my own theory as to why men don't believe this. But I didn't realize that this phenomenon relates to all walks of live and not just the obvious one.
What can you do? A particular client ordered a small brochure. You know that I've ranted before about the fact that work orders must be in writing - well, the client wrote, twice, that the size required was 5.5" by 8".
The brochure was duly created, approved by the client and sent to the printer. The printer has now let us know that the actual size ought to be 5.5 x 8.5.
Knowing this client, who has been the subject of grumpy old woman rants before, he is going to insist on this change being made immediately. Well, that's not going to happen.
Another subject I have ranted about recently, in fact, as recently as yesterday, is that we have a schedule, like all businesses. We cannot down tools and ignore the schedule (which in some cases, is set up weeks in advance) to prepare a file which needs amendment because the client couldn't be arsed to give us the size correctly in the first place. (In the unlikely event of a file being incorrect due to a TSDG error, it would have been fixed right away - obviously).
I have a feeling too (and OK, I might be proved wrong) that the client is going to object to the additional fee added to his invoice for the additional work.
Let's put this into a restaurant context. A customer:
1. Hmm ... I know that I ordered the chicken, and very tasty it is too, but I think I'd prefer the shrimp.
2. That shrimp is good. But I really should have ordered the pasta dish.
3. Great pasta! But I'm not sure that it's what I want. Now I'd like to try the vegetable wrap.
4. This wrap is very nice indeed. But I think I'd prefer to try the mahi mahi.
5. Excellently cooked mahi mahi. Very nice indeed. But...
Exactly. You can't see that happening. Every day, millions of people eat out and every day, and they manage to order correctly from the menu.
Now another thing I can imagine the client saying (and I really don't like putting words into people's mouths but I've dealt with this guy before) is "but it's only half an inch".
Yeah, right. Look at it this way. You set up as a manufacturer of 12 inch rulers. But your factory turns out rulers which are 11.5 inches. When your clients complain, you say "but it's only half an inch". You'd be in business for five minutes, if you're lucky. And let's say that your clients insisted that the case of 12 dozen rulers they just bought from you are replaced. Now.
Well obviously you can't do it now. You have re-tool your machinery, or whatever it is these blokes do. But your client demands them at once "It's only half an inch" they say.
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