Why Do We Accept Less?

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.