What Should I Do ?

[Flores]

Last week I went to this Ice cream shop to drop off some business cards on the counter. I placed around 50 Busines cards. Three days later came back to check on them and Guess what ? all cards were gone. My cards were removed and replace by a competitor business cards who does not have any certification, training or legal licenses to operate.

Should I report him to the local agencies for no having licenses ? Should I call him as a potencial customer and joke around ? or just let it go ?

Helpe me please !!

 

[ITinMIND]

Maybe, try to speak with the owner, offer him a free consulting check in exchange for a good spot with a message or something telling you are partner or something with the shop... or just let it go!

 

[Cornerstone Technologies]

I would let it go. It isnt worth the trouble or time to do so. Otherwise, do what the previous poster said and talk to the shop owner and strike up a deal.

 

[Method]

As tempting as it would be to "mess with him" I wouldn't advise to stoop down to his level.

 

[Xander]

Unless you had permission to leave your cards in the first place, you are just as wrong as he is.

 

[3 More Years]

It's up to the shop owner who's cards he displays.

 

[NYJimbo]

You don't say how this whole "I placed around 50 Business cards" thing was done, I mean is this ice cream shop a place where people normally do business card advertising ? Sounds unusual.

If you were the only computer repair tech who left cards and somehow three days later a new tech replaced you, I think the owner has a friend who is a tech and he threw out your cards and put his friends cards there instead because he realized its a pretty good way to advertise.

Regardless, just walk away, it's an ice cream shop.

 

[Cornerstone Technologies]

My mother-in-law has a shop and recently I was in the front of house working on a register issue. I noticed business cards for a competitor right beside his. It was quite a surprise, but it would have been childish to have just tossed them. Anyway, they are part of a business group and hosting others business cards is part of the deal to belonging.

 

[emsbronco]

This reminded me of an incident a few years ago. As a bit of background, When my wife decided to open her packing and shipping business, I decided it was a good time to move my business into a retail location and we shared (and still do share) the retail space.

Well, we setup a rack for business cards right next to the front door. My wife's business also does printing services, so when customers have business cards made up, we offer to let them put some on display in the shop.

About 6 months after opening the retail location, we had someone come in to ship a package. On their way out, this person stopped at the card rack. He removed my business cards and put his computer repair business cards there. Apparently, this Pizza Tech didn't look around and read the sign on the door with my business name nor the fact that 2/3 of the retail space was dedicated to computer peripherals nor the fact that I was standing at the other counter wearing my logoed shirt. I also had a customer at the counter dropping off a computer who noticed what this person was doing.

Needless to say, as far as I can tell, that person lasted in business less than 6 months. It was someone that I never heard of before and when I was doing a periodic review of local competition, he never showed up again.

What I'm getting at is that I believe in Karma in business. Treat your competitors with respect and never talk bad about them and your customers will notice that extra level of professionalism. So, just leave those cards there and, if allowed, put yours next to them. I'm sure someone will notice that your cards are disappearing faster (or might see your competitor playing dirty) and will assume you do better work.

 

[Flores]

Maybe, try to speak with the owner, offer him a free consulting check in exchange for a good spot with a message or something telling you are partner or something with the shop... or just let it go!

Thank You for your comment !

 

[Flores]

Unless you had permission to leave your cards in the first place, you are just as wrong as he is.

Thank You for your comment, but useless !

 

[nesrinamb]

Thank You for your comment, but useless !

Actually no it's not he has a good point.

If their are tons of other business cards from other people then your in the clear, but if you put them on the desk without asking then your just being rude to the owner and the manager. Plus if you strike up a conversation and try to make a deal then you might get the store as one of your clients.

I partner with local restaurant and in exchange for letting me put MY business cards at their front desk I give them 20% off any service and even some software.

They call at most once every 2 months and I get 1 new client per month from each restaurant. So its a pretty good deal for me, I have seen the occasional local pizza tech take business cards and put his but they take them down for me and next time I'm in the area I go chat with them and drop some more off.

 

[Xander]

Is this a thread or a pity party?

Thank You for your comment, but useless !

If you don't want opinions, don't start a thread asking for them.
If you didn't have permission to leave cards, you shouldn't be when they get thrown out or get replaced by a competitor's litter. And since you still haven't said that you did, it sure sounds like you didn't. You even go so far as to consider ratting him out to the authorities because of it.

 

[OzzyGeek]

I agree with Nesrinamb, a better approach may have been to give the owner of the shop your business card and a flyer with an offer of 20% of his first repair. He may or may not contact you but if he does then do a good job for him and let him spread the word for you.

Just let it go and move on.

 

[Flores]

This reminded me of an incident a few years ago. As a bit of background, When my wife decided to open her packing and shipping business, I decided it was a good time to move my business into a retail location and we shared (and still do share) the retail space.

Well, we setup a rack for business cards right next to the front door. My wife's business also does printing services, so when customers have business cards made up, we offer to let them put some on display in the shop.

About 6 months after opening the retail location, we had someone come in to ship a package. On their way out, this person stopped at the card rack. He removed my business cards and put his computer repair business cards there. Apparently, this Pizza Tech didn't look around and read the sign on the door with my business name nor the fact that 2/3 of the retail space was dedicated to computer peripherals nor the fact that I was standing at the other counter wearing my logoed shirt. I also had a customer at the counter dropping off a computer who noticed what this person was doing.

Needless to say, as far as I can tell, that person lasted in business less than 6 months. It was someone that I never heard of before and when I was doing a periodic review of local competition, he never showed up again.

What I'm getting at is that I believe in Karma in business. Treat your competitors with respect and never talk bad about them and your customers will notice that extra level of professionalism. So, just leave those cards there and, if allowed, put yours next to them. I'm sure someone will notice that your cards are disappearing faster (or might see your competitor playing dirty) and will assume you do better work.

Thank you for sharing this !

 

[Flores]

If you don't want opinions, don't start a thread asking for them.
If you didn't have permission to leave cards, you shouldn't be when they get thrown out or get replaced by a competitor's litter. And since you still haven't said that you did, it sure sounds like you didn't. You even go so far as to consider ratting him out to the authorities because of it.

FYI.. I had permission to leave the cards and once again your comments and opinions are useless.

 

[Vicenarian]

FYI.. I had permission to leave the cards and once again your comments and opinions are useless.

wow newbie, they're not useless. He made a valid point; if you didn't ask to place your business cards there, you have no right to complain that a competitor replaced them with his own.

 

[LosAngelesTech]

FYI.. I had permission to leave the cards and once again your comments and opinions are useless.

Then why didn't you state that when people asked you earlier? Your silence in the matter seemed incriminating.

These people are giving you good and reasonable responses and you come out attacking them for replying to your situation... That seems to say that you are immature or guilty and acting innocent.

Either way, if you aren't willing to listen to honesty, this might not be the right forum for you.

Let The Attack Begin Now!

 

[Carl]

About 6 months after opening the retail location, we had someone come in to ship a package. On their way out, this person stopped at the card rack. He removed my business cards and put his computer repair business cards there. Apparently, this Pizza Tech didn't look around and read the sign on the door with my business name nor the fact that 2/3 of the retail space was dedicated to computer peripherals nor the fact that I was standing at the other counter wearing my logoed shirt.

And you Let him get away with it instead of:
"Hey Jerk Who said you could do that - Get Outta Here and Don't come back"
Teach them some manners.

Too many People worried about being "Politically Correct" instead of speaking up.
Its simple "You wanna promote your business here - fine - Check with me first I Pay The Bills - THIS IS MY HOUSE"
Else - Don't let the door knob it ya on your backside on your way out.

Alt: Ask for $50/Mo to rent the spot on your counter....

 

[npinc]

Hehe. Tough crowd.

To me the answer is ego. We get our egos engaged too easily. After all, we're good at what we do and we want people to know that.

At the end of the day...it doesn't matter. It won't make you or break you. If it does, your problem is bigger than that stack of business cards. Do you ever go up to a rack and go "Oh, I wonder what business cards I'll pick up today?".

Of course not.

However, you'll ask a business owner "Hey, do you know someone that does such and such?" and they'll go "Well yes, as a matter of fact here's their business card. Give them a call".

Which carries any/more weight?

Karma...Meh. Whatever. Business cards in random places are just a waste of money. Why? Because they have NO value unless the client has some exposure to you personally. A referal, an ad on the radio or already done business with you. Do you know the owners of the ice cream shop? Have you done business with them? If so ask them if you can give them some cards. Offer their referals a discount if you want. Do a swap. Repair your computer, get a free ice cream. Get a tub of ice cream, get 10% off your repair.

Otherwise, go through your wallet and see how many business cards are in there that you just picked up at random, wondering if some day you might need them. Exactly.

So smile. When you go by there make a joke of it to yourself. Think of all the money that's draining out of his pockets and into the nearest garbage can. And buy yourself an ice cream while you're at it.