Mahatma Gandhi will be undoubtedly remembered as one of the greatest Indians, rather Global Citizens of all times.
Some of the important principles practiced and preached by Mahatma Gandhi are non Violence and truth. And truth is a concept which extends into all the spheres of our life including business and commnerce. We mean where we play the role of a Buyer or a Seller.
Needless to say; Truth which gives rise to Trust is sacrosanct in all relationships. In Business, it is about the relationship between a Seller and a Buyer.
Whenever we as customerawaaz, speak about the Vendor and customer relationship, by no means we are saying that all Vendors are fradulent and that all Customers are holy sages!! At the same time, in India we are a part of an imbalanced sales and business cyclce where Post the Sale all the control shifts to the vendor.The customer if is in want of service, is mostly in a hapless situation or at the discretion of the vendor and his business practices.
So on the occasion of his birthday, we are bringing forward for you some of the pearls of wisdom shared by him that is so very very relevant to us, about business; which in itself is non existent without us; the customers.
It is wrong to think that business is incompatible with ethics. I know that it is perfectly possible for one to carry his/her business profitably and yet honestly and truthfully. The plea that, business and ethics never agree is advanced only by those who are actuated by nothing higher than narrow-self interest. He who will serve his own ends will do so by all kinds of questionable means, but he who will never sacrifice truth or honesty. You must bear in mind that you have the right to earn as much as you like, but not the right to spend as much as you like. Anything that remains after the needs of a decent living are satisfied. belongs to the community.
In the Business chain, the customers comes very last at the point of consuming the end product. Is it because of this they are often accorded the least importance?? How we wish then that all the Businesses (Business houses, Vendors, and sellers et al) should accord the highest importance to their customers and make sure that even if heavens fall, the customer gets the right support??
But will all this happen on its own? Did freedom come on its own when we all that our ancestors did was eat, sleep, relax and enjoy their luxuries? They had to leave their comfort zones and step out renouncing their luxuries, more importantly get together and united, and raise their united almighty voice against the wrong!!!
Can we take this as a precendence in our fight against freedom from fradulent and unethical trade practices that are affecting us as customers?? We hope this rings some bells and we the ultimate power wielders aka the Consumers in India, start raising their voice for their rightful due.
This piece of article, on the current status enjoyed by the customers who form such a quintessential link in the business chain is the first of the series and there are few more that will be published.
We invite your comments and views on this and request you to share the same within your circle so that our fellow consumers can also be benefited from the same.