# Things that most business owners know to be true that just...aren't **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 7, 2011, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-most-business-owners-know-to-be-true-that-just-arent/566802 "2011-01-07T22:52:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-most-business-owners-know-to-be-true-that-just-arent/566802/121 "2011-01-13T15:30:15Z")
> [@eclectic\_wench](#): > > … Somewhere along the way, some genius decided that in winter, I the shopper want the shop to be kept at a minumum temperature of four thousand degrees, while in summer, I want it to be sub-zero… My mother was bitching about this very thing to me, yesterday. This seems to be a very common complaint. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-most-business-owners-know-to-be-true-that-just-arent/566802/122 "2011-01-13T15:30:50Z")
> [@eclectic\_wench](#): > > This is pretty bad in Ireland, but in my experience it’s even worse in the US: > > Somewhere along the way, some genius decided that in winter, I the shopper want the shop to be kept at a minumum temperature of four thousand degrees, while in summer, I want it to be sub-zero. The same goes for buses. I keep things warm in winter and cool in summer, but that is more for me and my employees’ comfort. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-most-business-owners-know-to-be-true-that-just-arent/566802/123 "2011-01-13T15:54:41Z")
Heh. There are plenty of pet peeves in this thread (plus lots of general misogyny - “How _dare_ people greet me enthusiastically!!”), but very little of the thread title. Offering upsells to customers makes money. Automated phone systems save money. Insurance is a huge cash cow for car rental companies. Of course the big gaudy signage outside the car dealership won’t increase the overall market, but it may increase that dealer’s share of it. Bars with loud music are usually packed full of customers. Sad but true, folks. Businesses are there to make money, and I think most know that people who are so curmudgeonly that they’ll actively avoid a store that greets them at the door or uses their name are few and far between. ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-most-business-owners-know-to-be-true-that-just-arent/566802/124 "2011-01-13T16:26:11Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Heh. > There are plenty of pet peeves in this thread (plus lots of general misogyny - “How _dare_ people greet me enthusiastically!!”)… [Misogyny is the hatred of women.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misogyny) ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-most-business-owners-know-to-be-true-that-just-arent/566802/125 "2011-01-13T16:31:05Z")
> [@Ace309](#): > > [Misogyny is the hatred of women.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misogyny) D’oh!! :smack: Misanthropy. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-most-business-owners-know-to-be-true-that-just-arent/566802/126 "2011-01-13T16:51:04Z")
Someone in another thread mentioned the common belief that prices ending in .99 (or .95 or .97) make people think things are cheaper, and presumably buy more. This was The Law when I worked retail. Do people really think, “Wow, this table is $289.99 — nowhere near $300!” ? I would imagine that it would only take a few trips through the register, where the total to pay is $313.92, to cure people of this idiocy. And yet it persists. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-most-business-owners-know-to-be-true-that-just-arent/566802/127 "2011-01-13T18:42:54Z")
I really don’t see what the big deal is about answering the phone with “XYZ company; this is MLS, may I help you?” It actually bugs me a bit when I don’t get this on a business call. I don’t immediately recognize the voice of everyone I call, even when I call them a lot. It’s embarrasing to say “May I speak to Joan,” and hear, “This IS Joan.” Also, in case of a wrong number, it lets the caller know right away they have made a mistake. Finally, in the case of businesses we deal with a lot, it gives a chance for some pleasant interaction. If you insist on short and terse answers, you will have difficulty working with businesses in the American southeast. The standard interaction is generally along the lines of: “Good afternoon, this is XYZ company, MLS speaking.” “Well, hi there, MLS. This is Mary Jo from Whatsit. How y’all doin’?” "Oh, I’m just fine Mary Jo, how’re you? Hope you haven’t been bothered too much by that \. “We had a bit of trouble, but we’re all good now.” “I’m glad to hear that. So, what can I do for you today?” \ Yeah, it drives New Yorkers crazy. ---
**Author:** ![rogerbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@rogerbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogerbox)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-most-business-owners-know-to-be-true-that-just-arent/566802/128 "2011-01-13T19:27:45Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Someone in another thread mentioned the common belief that prices ending in .99 (or .95 or .97) make people think things are cheaper, and presumably buy more. This was The Law when I worked retail. Do people really think, “Wow, this table is $289.99 — nowhere near $300!” ? I would imagine that it would only take a few trips through the register, where the total to pay is $313.92, to cure people of this idiocy. And yet it persists. Yep. When one member of a couple would ask me when I worked retail how much something was, I would often say “24.99” and then the one who asked would say, “Wow honey, it’s only 24 dollars!” I noticed it was more often women who would do this, but men also. It’s an amazingly stupid psychological trick that apparently works on some people. Then I also had idiot customers who after I said “24.99” say “Why didn’t you just say it costs 25 dollars?” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![stretch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@stretch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stretch)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-most-business-owners-know-to-be-true-that-just-arent/566802/129 "2011-01-13T19:43:46Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Someone in another thread mentioned the common belief that prices ending in .99 (or .95 or .97) make people think things are cheaper, and presumably buy more. This was The Law when I worked retail. Do people really think, “Wow, this table is $289.99 — nowhere near $300!” ? I would imagine that it would only take a few trips through the register, where the total to pay is $313.92, to cure people of this idiocy. And yet it persists. I know this worked on my ex. We’d see something on sale for $7.99 and he say “We can get that for 7 bucks” where I’d say “That thing costs 8 dollars and will tax it’ll be 10.” He always went with the first number, I always round up. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-most-business-owners-know-to-be-true-that-just-arent/566802/130 "2011-01-13T20:38:49Z")
> [@Lord\_Ashtar](#): > > I have no problem answering these questions. My phone number is always \ 123-4567 and my zip code is always 90210. My phone number is always 867-5309. It is my little contest to see if I can deadpan it to the point that the clerk doesn’t notice it. My email address is [nyfb@pissoff.com](mailto:nyfb@pissoff.com) ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-most-business-owners-know-to-be-true-that-just-arent/566802/131 "2011-01-13T20:54:18Z")
> [@MLS](#): > > If you insist on short and terse answers, you will have difficulty working with businesses in the American southeast. The standard interaction is generally along the lines of: > “Good afternoon, this is XYZ company, MLS speaking.” > “Well, hi there, MLS. This is Mary Jo from Whatsit. How y’all doin’?” > "Oh, I’m just fine Mary Jo, how’re you? Hope you haven’t been bothered too much by that \. > “We had a bit of trouble, but we’re all good now.” > “I’m glad to hear that. So, what can I do for you today?” > \ > > Yeah, it drives New Yorkers crazy. I’m not a New Yorker, but there is a line between a pleasant greeting and someone who is simply _unable to state his business_. This thread seems to be mostly about retail, but I’m pissed off about magazines that offer subscriptions for $X “plus postage.” What do they think “subscription” \*means? \* Do I have the option to go pick it up myself? If Midwest Living costs $14.97 for two years plus $4 postage, just fucking say it costs $18.97. Or were you hoping I wouldn’t notice that small print? ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2011, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-most-business-owners-know-to-be-true-that-just-arent/566802/132 "2011-01-13T22:49:53Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Heh. > Of course the big gaudy signage outside the car dealership won’t increase the overall market, but it may increase that dealer’s share of it. When EVERYBODY has huge signs, though … ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-most-business-owners-know-to-be-true-that-just-arent/566802/133 "2011-01-14T02:03:38Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > Had there actually been seeds, I would have kept it to plant them. Japan has figured this out. In winter, they hand out packs of tissues with advertising on or in the package, so that as long as you have the pack the ad is staring at you. In summer, they hand out hand fans with advertising on them. Sometimes they actually have a decent picture or cool design on one side and the ad on the other. You want people to carry your ad around? Put it on something they want to carry around. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-most-business-owners-know-to-be-true-that-just-arent/566802/134 "2011-01-14T02:21:04Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Related to that, something which comes up frequently in my current job, where people can post “suggestions” and they will be answered publically. The thermostats are set at 25ºC, always, because some study somewhere deemed that the bestest temperature to do office work at and that’s it. > > But people do not wear the same clothes when we have mins of 34ºC and when the max is 15ºC - so people keep posting “could we have the thermostats set at a higher temp in the summer (just use it to keep people from melting, without setting a 20ºC differential which the poor system can’t reach and which keeps a/c vents blowing all day long) and at a lower one in the winter (when we all have jackets anyway and wear our thick trousers)?” > > But no, someone did a study and deemed 25ºC the perfect temperature and the one at which people are most comfortable, so 25ºC it shall be. 25? Seriously? I would die at 25. We keep our house around 18. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-most-business-owners-know-to-be-true-that-just-arent/566802.md?page=6)