There’s a recurring incident that we chuckle about in the Business Today cockpit every so often.
You make a call to a retailer for information. The reply comes across like a winter cold front: “We’re not interested in participating in any story.” Sometimes you get a bonus: “Corporate won’t be interested, either.”
Although cooperative retailers greatly outnumber that level of rudeness, it happens surprisingly often.
Now, left-leaning America-hating scalawags that we media types are (Warning: sarcasm alert), we nonetheless find humor in these little beatdowns.
Because, media folks have money. We’re consumers, too – consumers who take note of these little eruptions of rudeness and cross these businesses off our shopping list.
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Once you stop laughing and crossing retailers off your shopping list, maybe you could imagine yourself on the other side of the conversation and consider WHY a retailer might react this way. Concern that one comment selected from a substantial conversation may be quoted out of context? Wariness of being unfavorably contrasted with an Eagle favorite, or with a competitor who exaggerates or fabricates, while one merely tells the truth? Concern that misrepresentations live forever online? Do you pull your kids from USD259 or turn off your water because school and city employees are prohibited from talking to the media about some things? If these few questions are considered rude in any way, you get the point.
They’re not considered rude.
There are a variety of civil ways to say, “No comment.”
Civility is a dying art, apparently.
When you call them up, what is the first thing that you ask?
Just curious?
First thing you do is tell them the story you’re working on, actually.
It seems to me that a business – especially a small business – would jump at the chance to have their skill and knowledge high-lighted as a source in a story. That could raise their profile in the community without spending money on advertising.
Many busineses treat us purchasers with disdain. We’re already a problem when we call. If you ask a question they responde like you’re attacking them and they are automatically defensive. Corporate communications are poor.
You would think, fellas. However, it’s most assuredly every source’s right to offer a no comment.
It happens daily, and it happens far more often with some degree of civility.
However, I – and others – would be a fool not to recognize the anti-media bias that exists. I have my own ideas about the reasons why. Bias or not, it doesn’t exclude rudeness – which in the retail sector comes at a price.