[PrintOwners] RE: Donations, Customer Loyalty and Merry Christmas to me (a rant)

Wed Jan 2 11:32:15 EST 2008

Greg et al ... feel free to use all or any part.

Happy New Year!

Sonya
Legends Printing
Dodge City, KS

On Dec 28, 2007, at 3:27 PM, Greg Weinfurter wrote:

> ***** This is a PrintOwners List Message *****
>
> Sonya, that is beautifully worded.  May I use it?  Whether good or  
> bad, it is pleasing for me to know that I am not alone with this  
> one.  Too much work goes out of my area.  This is very fitting and  
> wish to use it.  Just maybe, I can get the point across to at least  
> a few of the many that are so naive.
>
> Greg
>
>
>
> On Dec 28, 2007, at 11:14 AM, Sonya Hughes wrote:
>
>> ***** This is a PrintOwners List Message *****
>>
>> I have to weigh in on this issue. Living in a remote rural area,  
>> keeping our dollars here to spend with one another is extremely  
>> important.
>>
>> The following is something we circulate from time to time. This  
>> whole process is so convoluted. I know people who sell advertising  
>> for the radio station who drove 150 miles to Wichita to buy their  
>> new kitchen cabinets to save $, when EVERYTHING they do - is  
>> dependent on the business they get from their locals.  The  
>> community college, or school district, or city and county  
>> government offices ... they all go outside of our community to do  
>> the bulk of their business. They have the perfect rationale, when  
>> asked why. Because they can save $,  and that is part of their  
>> job!  And they are frequently right. We cannot do some of their  
>> stuff as cheaply as a specialty house can ... especially if we  
>> have to job it out. Now with the internet ... where does that  
>> leave us? As for this list below, they all expect us to still do  
>> these things.  And if we don't, that emboldens them to go  
>> elsewhere. Frankly, I don't see how we can win this one.
>>
>>
>> I am a business located in Dodge City ...
>>
>> As a member of this community, I pledge to do as much of the
>> following as I can:
>>
>> •	I will serve on your boards, your committees and task forces
>>
>> •	I will donate goods and sevices to local causes
>>
>> •	I will support school carnivals and buy Girl Scout Cookies
>>
>> •	I will discount my services to people or projects with special  
>> needs and circumstances
>>
>> •	I will volunteer for worthy causes
>>
>> •	I will mentor your children
>>
>> •	I will hire your children
>>
>> •	I will strive to protect what is morally right and just, with my  
>> vote, with my community involvement, and with my business practices
>>
>> •	I will pay my taxes
>>
>> But I can do none of these things without your business. I cannot  
>> always compete with traveling salesmen, with catalogs, with the  
>> Internet, with the “big city experts” who “work” our town. Those  
>> people probably
>> attend to their own communities, but rarely participate in ours.  
>> One thing is certain: If you don’t give me an opportunity to serve  
>> you on an ongoing basis — I won’t be here. Nor will the people who  
>> work for me. Your patronage is particularly important in our rual  
>> area where we are more dependent on one another.
>>
>> Please remember me when you need something. I will do my best to  
>> serve you promptly, professionally and personally. But keep in  
>> mind — that even when we are not working together, I am fulfilling  
>> my pledge every day to help Dodge City.
>>
>> Sonya Hughes
>> Legends Printing
>> Dodge City, KS
>>
>>>
>>>> ***** This is a PrintOwners List Message *****
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I know this is a subject often raised on this list, but here is  
>>>> a new
>>>> angle:
>>>>
>>>> I have been a loyal and active member of my small, local church  
>>>> for more
>>>> than 25 years; giving lots of dollars, donating printing and  
>>>> serving on
>>>> various committees, building repair, etc. Guess what arrived in my
>>>> mailbox this week? A full color booklet put together by a church
>>>> volunteer but not printed by my company. No bids, no request to  
>>>> help out
>>>> or have some input. And, of course, the brochure asks for a  
>>>> generous
>>>> donation from me.
>>>>
>>>> Another church in my town, same denomination, does a nice amount  
>>>> of work
>>>> with us, sends us a handwritten, personal thank you note every  
>>>> year and
>>>> has NEVER asked for a nickel in donations, even though their  
>>>> church roof
>>>> collapsed this year and they are having Christmas services in a  
>>>> barn!
>>>> So, as my General Manager often says: "there is no loyalty
>>>> anymore...it's all about price."
>>>>
>>>> My Christmas gift to me and this other church: I am transferring my
>>>> membership there. They already know what loyalty means. And, I  
>>>> hope my
>>>> former church saved a nickel on printing costs this  
>>>> year....because they
>>>> will have to make up my contributions in some other way.
>>>>
>>>> Personally, it's not the money, it's the lack of understanding  
>>>> by some
>>>> that printing services is what puts food on my family's table.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Best wishes for a safe holiday season to all on the list.
>>>>
>>>> Ray Sziber
>>>> President
>>>> Capitol Copy Service NAQP NAPL GAA
>>>> 116 West State Street
>>>> Trenton NJ 08608
>>>> 609-989-8776
>>>> www.Capitol-Copy.com
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>
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>
>
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