Hello again all,
I have been in outside sales for office equipment for the last 15 years or so. As a commissioned sales person, this is my livelihood, however, at times during competitive situations, I will lower my price on a product in order to secure the business, i.e. the customer has a competitive bid, or the pricing just won't fit within the budget.
I am proud to say that since becoming a Christian 3 years ago, I have to say that all questionable tactics that I once used, i.e. inflating the price to show a high trade value, trying to sell the product for more than the suggested retail pricing etc. have ceased.
Where this gets interesting is the condemnation email I received from a JW who I thought was a friend, but now I am having second thoughts after finding out his true perception of my profession:
When you call me, can you explain how artifical inflation of the price of a
copier to make a profit and pack as much GP as possible in it doesn't bother
your Christian trained conscience about lying? Why can you charge one
customer one price and another customer another price? As many now say:
"WWJD?" Would Jesus inflate the price of a copier and tell someone it 's the
best copier in the world to make as much money as possible from an
unsuspecting client and then lower the price on the same copier for an
educated buying client? Please apply 1 Peter 2:21 since it states that Jesus
is the model we should follow so what would he do? WWJD Lou? Would Jesus be
dishonest to squeeze a profit?"
The ironic thing is this guy has been a dub for about 12 years or so, and he worked for the same company as I did selling the same stuff for 2 years or so as a dub!
I left him a voice mail that I found it interesting he would call me a liar and dishonest, and then I threw a question back at him: If Jesus as carpenter were approached by someone who wanted his services, but couldn't afford them, WWJD? Would it not be the loving thing to lower the price, rather than arrogantly say this is the price, take it or leave it? And then I pointed out that what he was saying is that any JW for that matter who is in any type of sales position where there is flexibility on pricing is considered a liar and dishonest! I told him that it would be interesting to get "Brother So and So's" feelings on the matter (a mutual acquaintance in my industry who I have known to be a JW, but I am almost positive my friend is unaware that he is a JW because he only knew this Brother So and So through work). I mentioned to him I wonder what Brother SO and So's elders would have to say on the matter if he happened to take offense to his accusations. HE WOULD BE A VICTIM OF A JUDICIAL COMMITTEE!
Just another perfect example of a JW not thinking of the consequences of their actions.