Do people in your company take pride in getting a good deal? Does your team judge a good deal solely on the basis of price?
This policy can result in a lot of wasted time, energy, and sometimes money. It can create a big mess that you may have to spend a lot of time cleaning up. Let’s Clear the Path of this problem through a lesson from my TV News days.
Back then, I would sometimes enjoy a hair and makeup allowance from my employer. It was a nice perk.
But at one station, the only way on-air staff could get their hair expenses covered was to go to a stylist who happened to be a friend of the General Manager.
My hair is pretty flexible, there’s not much to mess up, and I hate to pass up a deal. So I made an appointment.
When I arrived, at the woman’s home, I could tell that something was wrong with the stylist. She seemed to be having trouble seeing me. I asked if everything was okay.
She looked at me and said, “I can’t find my glasses anywhere and I can’t see a thing without them.” Without missing a beat she added, “Oh well, let’s cut your hair.”
As I shrunk into the seat, I realized that sometimes free stuff comes at a price. The haircut wasn’t a disaster but I’ve had better ones. The good news is that my hair grows quickly.
I never returned for a trim because I learned that sometimes when you buy something, you’re not just buying the product but the peace of mind that comes from experience and expertise. I still love a good discount or free stuff but sometimes I can’t afford the price (stress, low quality, unreliable service) that can come from it.
If your company is buying low quality supplies and services because they are a great deal, you’ll likely pay for them in other ways. Keep in mind that a vendor or service provider who relies on being the cheapest, may not have any other virtues.
