9/14/2019
There are a couple of subjects I want to address in this blog, maybe making it a little longer read. Hope it’s not boring. In between the two subjects I will insert the SIMH. Hope it’s not boring, either.
Over the last 64-65 years, I have had the privilege of being in many and various working positions. I’ve worked at lawn mowing when 50 cents was good pay for a normal lawn and $2 was for a huge lawn. I’ve worked (though not very many times) for farmers for $4 per day. Then, the absolute privilege of working in the “patent” drug store in my home town, a lady boss, for $1 per hour! She was a better teacher about how to work than she knew at the time. Her attitude with me was brusk, sometimes grumpy, sometimes poking fun an ineptness. But, one of the things I learned from those three examples is this: Who’s the boss! It is plain and simple, but not easily understood. The customer is always the right! So, the customer is the boss!
In a recent blog, I told the story about a farmer I worked for one day who didn’t pay me. A friend who read the story said he had just had breakfast with that man’s daughter who is a few years younger than me. He said if he had known the story, he could have gotten my $4 for me! We joked a bit about it because that would be a storied event, as well. But, the truth is this: I didn’t deserve the pay. He hired me believing I could do what he wanted me to do and I couldn’t. So, did he owe me? No, he didn’t. He was my customer, I hired out to him. I didn’t know then, but I know now, I owed him. Not money, but definitely an apology. Oh, I know he didn’t expect one, he just wouldn’t have made the same mistake again, nor did I. After working an amazing number of places in a short (19 months) after Barb and I married, I finally landed what I usually call my first real job—the rest of that previous 6 years from “pillar to post” and, in all about a dozen jobs, had been education—and now at Hamilton Cosco, the real world became real to me: 8-4:30, Monday through Friday, followed by knowing I needed more money and therefore, a second job.
For 2 years, I worked the day job and then evenings and Saturdays at Dalton & Payne men’s clothiers. I loved every minute of that—even the embarrassing mistakes became part of the lore which I loved. And, let me tell you, that’s how I learned to always view the customer as being always right!
Then came 4 1/2 years in jewelry, 4 1/2 years in carpet/furniture, all 9 years in a new town, Danville, IL. In both these experiences, it became outstandingly noticeable just how “right” the customer always was! In one case, I assured the man he was perfectly alright even though I was leading him by the arm out the front door! He was right about the product and we took care of it for him. But, he couldn’t talk to my ladies in the store in that manner (nor our watch-maker) and so I escorted him out and assured him I would do that again if he persisted. He continued to buy from us, but only if I was the one who waited on him. He was right and was satisfied. Over the second 4 1/2 years of that span, the customers all made much more expensive and often once in a lifetime purchases. It was harder to keep the principle, but we managed.
But in matters of monies owed to those businesses, the principle was set in abeyance until the money was received or the goods recovered. I repossessed some things and threatened some liens on houses, but we always got paid. Once had a builder who was putting up “tract” housing about as fast as was possible and we sold him the carpet for them. I was warned by my boss, the man might not automatically honor the pay at completion (he enjoyed using someone else’s money).One week, we very unusually put carpet in 3 houses—on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. He told me on each of the first two, I’ll pay you Friday for all three, but he had the invoices each day, signed by his foreman. On Friday, I went by to get the check and his secretary told me he was out of town till Wednesday next.
Interest on money was pretty good in those days, so on Wednesday I took him a new invoice. I figured the interest owed on the first house—6 days, second house—5 days, and the third house—4 days. I think the total interest was like $18.44. He wanted to know what that was. I simply stated, that’s for the use of our money for that many days. He stared blank-faced a few seconds and wrote the check. He said, don’t ever do that again. I smiled and said, I won’t if you won’t. He said “deal.” Money is figured tight on new house deals and he knew it, there was no favoritism there.
[The SIMH today was perhaps another one that I’ve had before, but worth a special note or two more (no pun intended.) It was Bohemian Rhapsody—by Queen. It is such a compelling piece of music and such a tragic story as to bring out the pathos of futility of life for unbelievers. Every time I hear it (especially played orchestrally, I have to listen.) I often think of some friends we’ve lost through tragedies such as murder or suicide and I feel for their families still. But, those are stories for another time.]
The years have rolled by faster than a weaver’s shuttle since then and yet the principle , the customer is always right remains in my mind. After another roughly 10 years in retail and two colossal failures, I found myself at a crossroads of life—did i really want to preach and teach God’s word or did I want to remain somewhat double-minded about it all? For the next 33 years, I preached and taught bible classes over a wide span of the states of Alabama and especially Texas. Even in bible classes or church settings, the principle was true. Those who sat before me and listened, even with comments, and some arguments, they were all precious to me. If we disagreed about doctrine, my intention was always to let the bible be the only authority.
But even so, there were times when someone obviously was not going to return, they disagreed so disagreeably. Most of the time, those were the saddest moments. If I was away from home (usually alone), I would drive away weeping, either openly or deep down in my gut. Not a pleasant way to go home. If the situation meant I was still with some folks, usually there was much conversation about the disagreements. I loved that particular thing to happen, because I knew I would learn from the others who were going to give me their opinion. I wanted the feedback. How could I have made the adversary to know the truth and keep the fellowship with the disagreeable one. And, if I needed to change, the Lord’s word would give me the right way to speak next time. So, you see whether in business or in spiritual matters, there is always a sense in which the customer is always right. Even if they are wrong.
Thanks for reading, the Elder
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