What is one thing that you won't compromise on when it comes to your business?

[Minion]

Good morning fellow Sellers! Happy 🐫 Day!

One of the services I offer in my business is vehicle undercoating/rustproofing. I have seen and dealt with many types of vehicle frames and bodies.  From brand new and shiny to flaking rust and wondering how it is still on the road. 

I have a few products that I use from a rubberized semi-permanent to two different rustproofing oils.  Each one serves a specific purpose, and depending on your vehicle and its condition then dictates which product I would suggest on using.  

One thing I will not do, is apply a semi-permanent undercoating to a vehicle that is not brand new.  I have lost sales because of this but I am okay with that, because in a situation of rust present a semi-permanent undercoating will do more harm to your vehicle not having anything applied. 

My question for all you sellers out there is 

What is one thing that you and or your business will not compromise on?

Whether it be a more expensive ingredient or product that you use to create something in your business, or even as simple (simply said) not being available 24/7 to your customers.

I'd love to get your input and perspective  on this from different types of businesses. 

[Lovewell]

This is SUCH a good question. 
We constantly have chats about staying true to vision but truly sometimes you have to become more flexible (not compromising) just having more of a broader view on things. 

So if there was one thing we would never compromise on it would be… 

choosing speed or automation over quality and humanity. 

We value human connection so deeply. Not only to each other and our customers but as a coffee shop to what we are physically doing. Pouring our lattes, walking a drink out to someone, and taking orders. 

We have been to coffee convention where they feature fully robotic baristas (mind you there were like 6 people to man these 2 robots 😂) but it was just honestly sad to see. So we can confidently say, no iPads or kiosk ordering, and no “starb*cks” fully automated machines, and definitely no

robots 😂

this one bright be crazy but- we are closed on Sunday. We started this from the beginning and we’ve really stuck to our guns on this one.  

[CareyJo]

You know... that's why Chik-Fil-A is so successful about being closed on Sundays!  They started it that way and will never change.  Good for you!!!

[Lovewell]

Haha we do always say that! Of CFA can do it - so can we. 

[Minion]

I remember when I first started my own business, any lead I would get regardless of day or time I was LL over it trying to get that sale.  As of maybe 2-3 years ago, my business phone goes into silent mode at 5 pm on weekdays, and it gets shut down on Saturday night until 6 am Monday morning.  I work enough, and life is to short.

[willowsky]

Love this response and how you value human connection!!

[CareyJo]

We're an HVAC company.  One thing we will never compromise on is touching equipment outside of code.  We had a call the other day where a customer asked us to see about fixing his propane problem - the unit is not working properly and he doesn't know why.  Upon inspection, we found that he has installed improper venting that is not only illegal but highly dangerous to his home and family.  He got very angry when we refused to work on his system and figure out what his problem is.  If we are the last company to work on it and then his house burns down.... well....

The guy tried to argue with him, in front of the man's wife and we refused to touch it and stated out loud why, right in front of her.  If he had asked us to make the proper repairs before working on it, that would have been different.  But he didn't want that.  He expected us to leave it that way and still fix it.  We had the right to hazard tag that unit and shut it down/disable it.

We will never put ourselves at risk and will always tell a customer when they have something hazardous.

[Minion]

I commend you and your company for not just getting that going.  I see that sort of thing a lot in my area.  People just half....butt it and call it good.   The sad thing is they will most likely call someone who doesn't really have standards and want to make a quick service call buck and get it "fixed". 

[DinaLRosenberg]

We are a metaphysical/crystal shop- one thing WE will not do is play to people's fears of being "cursed" or having "dark magic" on them. There are so many predators out there that prey on people who are down on their luck or going through it. They'll tell these people that they are cursed and need to spend $1000s to turn their luck around. It is my life's mission to ruin these people. 

I REFUSE to allow people to think this is true- that people have anything less than free will over their lives. Sure, sometimes the consequences of our actions cause a mess- but we are certainly in control!

[Minion]

I could never understand how people or businesses for that matter could operate like that, and still got sleep at night.

[VanKalkerFarms]

Cashing in on trends.  In the Garden Center, basically since Covid, there has been a gigantic surge in house plants and "rare" ones that bring $1,000+ just for a cutting and other plants selling for 100s if not 1,000s.  Other friends and aquantices are loving it cashing in on huge sales, I get making a buck, but it doesn't need to be 100x regular price for a rare pink princess or whatever.  And then they get so mad when the giant propagators get 100s. or thousands of these pumped out a month at $100 and say they are killing small businesses.  I feel it is just dirty money and I would rather have no part in it.  My business is making more than ever I don't need to take advantage of a lady for the $1,200 she is putting on her credit card probably anyway and paying interest on in our just buy-it mentality America.

[Minion]

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@VanKalkerFarms wrote:

Cashing in on trends.  In the Garden Center, basically since Covid, there has been a gigantic surge in house plants and "rare" ones that bring $1,000+ just for a cutting and other plants selling for 100s if not 1,000s.  Other friends and aquantices are loving it cashing in on huge sales, I get making a buck, but it doesn't need to be 100x regular price for a rare pink princess or whatever.  And then they get so mad when the giant propagators get 100s. or thousands of these pumped out a month at $100 and say they are killing small businesses.  I feel it is just dirty money and I would rather have no part in it.  My business is making more than ever I don't need to take advantage of a lady for the $1,200 she is putting on her credit card probably anyway and paying interest on in our just buy-it mentality America.

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I actually picked my GF up one of them Pink Princess ones some years back.. I'm not sure what they go for now, but I think I paid around $60-$80 shipped with a heating pad for one. Which of course is still a crazy price.  She generally props most of her plants, and has so many of them , that I lose track of which one she is talking about.  

Its crazy some of prices i've seen on plants, but even more crazy that people are buying them at those sky rocket prices. 

[schaefferjosh]

So we operate a cottage food-based seasoning business and will never mislead someone with our ingredients. Most of the time big name companies (and even smaller ones) use the term "spices" on their labels and why they are perfectly allowed to do this, I do not like it. If someone has a question about a specific ingredient or knows they are sensitive to a certain spice I do not want to hide it. Having it listed also allows people not to HAVE to ask the question. Some people get nervous asking questions and we want to make it as easy as possible for our customers. We pride ourselves on transparency and stick with it! Plus if it's in the jar, it's there for a reason. No fillers here 🙂 

[Bronze_Palms]

I would not compromise on our primary product. Spray tan solution for example, because it impacts the longevity of the final product and color. I would compromise on cleaning supply brands and events we commit to however; like trade shows and wedding shows.

[Minion]

Standing behind a certain product says a lot!  I have used the same Bedliner for 8 years, and the same undercoating for 7.   I have tested a few other ones, and while they were good and comparable, in order for me to make a change, it would have to completely blow my current products out of the water. 

[JUYBoutique20]

Since I started my business, I've never been opened on Sunday.  That is my family day and my reboot time.  

[willowsky]

I am not up for compromising on customer experience because it's the foundation of everything I do. My customers are the heart of my business, and I believe that going the extra mile to make them feel valued and heard is what keeps them coming back. Great service doesn't just create loyal customers – it creates advocates who will spread the word naturally, which in turn helps my business grow.