Chad has some excellent points too. I couldnt agree more.
As a whole, many consumers have developed a mentality of discount prices, 50% sales, buy one get one free, free shipping, online promotions, coupons, we'll beat anyone's price, ebay auctions etc etc. Everyone is looking for a bargain on everything. Can you blame them ?? That stuff is everywhere.....we all get bombarded by it every day.
I see it in veterinary medicine every day. We get dozens of calls shopping on vaccine prices and prices for the exam or spay/neuter surgeries etc etc. We do our best to describe what they get for their $$ and why we are more expensive, but the best value because we do the best job.
If you've never went to a different store because you found the same item cheaper....you're either the tiny minority or a liar. We've all done it.
Customer service has become the secondary factor, not the primary for the majority of consumers out there. Thats why you get more automated phone customer service and fewer people to directly talk to..... people want stuff cheap and they cant have the best of both worlds. The company can offer the product cheaper if they have less overhead. That spills into the car business too.
The real issue of this thread....at least I think so.....is don't take up alot of extra time and effort from the business by asking tons of questions and taking advantage of their customer service and then go buy the same item somewhere else just because its alittle cheaper. Thats just wrong.
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