A young saleswoman was on vacation in the depths of Louisiana.
She wanted a pair of genuine alligator shoes in the worst way, but was
very reluctant to pay the high prices the local vendors were asking.
After becoming very frustrated with the "no haggle" attitude of one of
the shopkeepers, the young saleswoman shouted, "Maybe I'll just go out
and catch my own alligator so I can get a pair of shoes at a reasonable
price!"
The shopkeeper said, "By all means, be my guest. Maybe you'll luck out and catch yourself a big one!"
Determined, the young saleswoman turned and headed for the swamps, set on catching herself an alligator. Later in the day, the shopkeeper is driving home, when he spots the young saleswoman standing waist deep in the water, shotgun in hand. Just then, he sees a huge 9 foot alligator swimming quickly toward her. She takes aim, kills the creature and with a great deal of effort hauls it on to the swamp bank. Lying nearby were several more of the dead creatures. The shopkeeper watches in amazement. Just then the young saleswoman flips the alligator on its back, and frustrated, shouts out, "Dang it, this one isn't wearing any shoes either!"
Moral of the Story: Whenever you have a potential customer who thinks they can’t afford the price you’re charging and they decide to make it themselves or become their own “sole” supplier remember to point out the true cost of their decision. Often firms going down this path forget their additional labor costs, the additional time involved in a new learning curve, their internal lack of expertise and most of all the additional risk to the company if they get it wrong.
The shopkeeper said, "By all means, be my guest. Maybe you'll luck out and catch yourself a big one!"
Determined, the young saleswoman turned and headed for the swamps, set on catching herself an alligator. Later in the day, the shopkeeper is driving home, when he spots the young saleswoman standing waist deep in the water, shotgun in hand. Just then, he sees a huge 9 foot alligator swimming quickly toward her. She takes aim, kills the creature and with a great deal of effort hauls it on to the swamp bank. Lying nearby were several more of the dead creatures. The shopkeeper watches in amazement. Just then the young saleswoman flips the alligator on its back, and frustrated, shouts out, "Dang it, this one isn't wearing any shoes either!"
Moral of the Story: Whenever you have a potential customer who thinks they can’t afford the price you’re charging and they decide to make it themselves or become their own “sole” supplier remember to point out the true cost of their decision. Often firms going down this path forget their additional labor costs, the additional time involved in a new learning curve, their internal lack of expertise and most of all the additional risk to the company if they get it wrong.
"The keenest sorrow is to recognize ourselves and the sole cause of all our adversities." - Sophocles
