Why Businesses Should Allow Customers Charge Phones
How many times have you walked into a restaurant or airport with your cell-phone battery almost drained only to be told with obvious disdain by management that there are no charging outlets or chargers available. Even from the way the answer comes out, you can tell that management is tired of the nuisance of being asked to charge phones for customers.
I mean why can’t customers charge their phones at home? Don’t they know how expensive and cumbersome it is to be asked to charge a phone? I mean is electricity free? How dare a customer ask such a question?
But I beg to differ. Because what often starts out as a persistent nuisance to management often is a true customer need and a serious business opportunity. But rather than embracing the customers needs and harnessing the business oppurtunity, management instead works to push against it. Some restaurants often intentionally ensure that no charging outlets are placed within customer reach. Some even go as far as putting up signs that say “we do not charge phone here” But what if…
What if restaurants and businesses that get bombarded with the phone charging question actually listened? What if they sat down and thought about satisfying this customers need? What if they set up a charging booth in a secure location at their store? What if more outlets were provided for the customers to charge their phones? What if customers were allowed to pay for their phone to charge while waiting at a restaurant, so that after their meal they receive a fully charged phone? What if businesses even offered to charge customers phones for free? What will happen?
I will tell you what will happen…customers would be more satisfied and less frustrated because their needs have been satisfied. And the result of their satisfaction will be more support for the businesses that listened. I mean can you imagine having to pick between 2 restaurants? One will guarantee you a full charge after your meal while the other won’t. In today’s mobile world, most people will choose the former. Because the world is now driven by mobile phones and those businesses that are set up to help the customer transition through this mobile world without skipping a beat are the ones that would fully optimize their margins. But only if they strive to embrace the mobile phone nuisance instead of fighting it.
Just a crazy idea.
Ofili is an award winning anger management coach motivational speaker, author, success coach and cook entrepreneur who blogs about life, success and entrepreneurial excellence. Follow him on twitter , facebook or subscribe to his blog for more success TIPS!” To bring Ofili to your school or organization as a speaker simply go here.
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Wishing You Extreme Success,
a crazy but truth worthy idea!
Yes o =D
Great Piece, the charging point will attract allot of customers and will sometimes persuade the customers to do businesses with them(the business itself). This is an Idea that works so well in West Africa and Central Europe.
Are you saying it will work well in West Africa and Central Europe or that it is already working well?
btw: thanks for the comment =)
Okechukwu Ofili latest post is Draw Like A Six Year Old
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Idea on point!, however as much as this goes a long way to satisfy customers, some customers can also take it for granted and be a prick.
That’s why you should put a price on it.
Yep! Pay for it…you can be a prick all you want…but you have paid.
Okechukwu Ofili latest post is Biafra: When I Turned 30
As crazy as you may have thought it sounded, it is really a great business idea. Imagine going to a restaurant or recommending one to someone just because they allowed free charging? That’s priceless!