I was talking to a good friend of mine who was on her way to the salon this morning. As she approached the salon, we ended our conversation as she clearly seen the lights in the building were on, and the “Yes, We’re Open” sign was on the door.

When I talked to her later on in the day, I asked how did the appointment go to which she told me that her stylist was late and the place wasn’t even open. The owner had came early to do some of her clients and left the salon locked up, albeit the appearance of the “Yes, We’re Open” sign. I was told my friend had to wait another 20 minutes before her stylist showed up and she was able to get her hair done. Not really surprised in the behavior of all of this, because there’s always something going on at this salon, so we laughed about it and looked at the situation quite familiar as we had in the past.

But as I got off the phone, I sat there and wondered how many times, specifically in the black community, do we put up with bad business and still continue to patronize? Have we been conditioned to accept and only know less, so we deal with it?

I’ve heard of several people talk about ceasing to do business with businesses that have served them up a bad dose of customer service. But in the end, end up right back in the same position they’ve been in before. It’s sadistic. Like a glutton for punishment I guess.

I knew of a pretty popular promoter in my hometown, and after a huge event that was shut down due to his negligence, I knew this had to be the end of his promoting career. But he was able to pull it off again. And the same people who said they would never attend another event after the shut down, found themselves giving their hard earned money right back to the same crook again.

And again.

And again.

SMH (shaking my head)

I’m not here trying to solve why people do what they do, I just wonder why is it that stereotypically in the black community, we’ll deal with it. Rip offs, constant late appointments, slow to pay associates, excuses and half-ass apologies over and over again.

I guess in the grand scheme of things these businesses who are patronizing these terrible trends may have something figured out, but I beg to argue that on the other side of the spectrum it’s imperative to not tolerate bad business on any front. As a business owner, or as the customer.

I don’t let my clients constantly call late, or miss appointments. And in turn I don’t provide them with tardy or half-ass service. It’s quite a good balance.

But I do often wonder what’s going on inside the head of those that consistently run back to bad services over again and again. And it’s too bad we find a lot of this in the black business community.

I tend to believe that there could be a change if people were willing to make an effort, but I guess when you really need to get your hair done, it’s worth the wait…maybe.

Just recently I had one of my website clients post on their Twitter page they were looking for a Wordpress Web Designer. One of my associates who follows this person referred me, and was kind of surprised because the associate knew the client was currently under my care (we were maintaining their website).

Interestingly enough the client calls and begins to explain the situation that happened on Twitter and providing sort of a “this is why” scenario for their post.

Now I’m going to pause right here and say that I’m not adverse to clients choosing new designers or new producers. In our business, you never know what someone’s situation is, and how moving on to another supplier sometimes is the best move for both parties. It doesn’t happen to me often, but when it does, I never take it personal. My only gripe is the clients that I’ve grown to trust and like who do this, and some how try to figure out the sneakiest way to do it as if they don’t respect me enough to tell me face-to-face.

Going back to the earlier discussion, after a quick explanation of the “why” (they assumed I didn’t do Wordpress websites), they quickly said to me “didn’t you say you didn’t do Wordpress websites?”, to which my reaction was simply, “I’ve been working on Wordpress for the past year and a half”.

It was almost as if they called to just verify I was still on the same competency level from years ago. No offense taken.

I had to recall my first meeting with this client. It was several years ago and I indeed was not familiar with the Wordpress platform. As in any business, keeping up with the times is a sure guarantee you’ll be able to keep up with your industry. So over time I’ve become real familiar with the Wordpress platform and currently have several custom Wordpress web templates to my name.

It was almost as if I was being asked about something I didn’t know how to do because they wanted to prove a point and validate the reason they put the post up. When you’re in business to do business and make money, personal points and feelings will sometimes hinder you from doing just that. They then began to say they had already set up a meeting with another designer under their assumption and would keep me posted on what happens. Then asked, almost as if they really didn’t want to know, a quick quote on what it was cost, and I gave them a good rate on a transfer. Especially since I was already familiar with their website and they were a current client. They paused for a minute almost stunned because they knew the other designer was not going to be able to beat that price, but didn’t want to have to deal with the embarrassment of continuing to do business with me.

What upset me about the entire situation is that they never bothered to ask if it could be done. It’s been years since we first put their website up, and they didn’t even bother to ask the current designers (us), if we were now up on something we weren’t years ago. I felt robbed at the opportunity to be able to serve. Mind you this client has been able to troubleshoot with us via email issues they would be having, and we would respond post haste and give the VIP treatment we give all of our clients. So I was hurt I didn’t receive the same respect in return.

I thought it was funny also how once they found out that we were able to do what they needed done for their website, they flipped the script on us and begin to complain that people weren’t able to send emails through their contact form as if we purposely were sabotaging it for them or incompetent of making something work right. I rapidly went to their site and sent them an email to which they got it immediately. If I could have seen the look on their face with their response of “oh…yeah…I got it”, I’m sure it would have been hilarious.

I wish them well on their endeavors and hope that they receive as good of service with the new guys as they did with us. I don’t take it personal when cleints leave. I take it personal when they try and act like they’ve gotten less than excellent service which I know is not true.

Good luck! You seem as if you’re going to need it.

I was just surprised as everyone else when I heard the news. In fact, I was so caught up and busy, that I really didn’t have time to see what was going on on the news. By the time I was able to sit down and really get an earful of Mike’s passing, the world had already mourned 16 hours.

And the black guy selling T-Shirts outside of Neverland Ranch was preparing for his best month EVER.

As the days went on, there were all kinds of vendors showing up and and individuals giving tributes and saying all kinds of “Thriller” related language to get you to come to their events or purchase their merchandise. I even seen a Michael Jackson related URL on eBay for $21 Million. Yes I said $21 Million. Of course no one was biting.

But as I sat back and I looked at all the people on the news gathering around man-made shrines and singing and dancing and partying pretty much, I couldn’t help but wonder if those same people would mourn the same for their closest loved one. Not taking anything away from Michael, because he was adored by millions. But was his passing easily a way for some of us to get a quick buck or a quick 15 minute news story on how bad of a Michael Jackson impersonator we are?

I don’t think so.

A moment of silence please. For Michael Jackson….and then for the dignity and respect that these opportunists have obviously turned on full blast.

I had the news on at my desk working the other day, and I overheard the reporter saying something about fans lined up from around the world at Neverland Ranch….then heard something about even vendors were here selling merchandise…..and I thought to myself, “please don’t let it be a black person, please don’t let it be a black person”……

*sigh*

As the camera zoomed in on this “entrepreneur”, I shook my head as he said:

“Everybody making money off of Michael. Michael was a business man himself”, to which I just kept shaking my head; knowing the money wasn’t going to Michael’s favorite charity, or even his favorite clothing store. Somebody, somewhere, capitalized on this man’s death. And probably doesn’t even own a single album.

There will obviously be more of the Michael Jackson death pillaging going around over the next few months, and even the next couple of years. It’s just too bad that we as African-Americans are the ones out there with no shame doing it.

And I know we aren’t the ONLY ones, but it doesn’t make it any easier to swallow.

Man I sound like such a hater right now.