Do You Use Your Own Product? Should You? Mini-Story
Posted on | February 7, 2008 | 4 Comments
This is a true story. I remember my friend telling me about one of his family friends. I don’t remember it 100%, but the idea behind the story is still clear.
I was browsing my oh so favorite hang-out spot, The University Kid, and came across a quote on one of the blog posts:
“I wouldn’t promote something, no matter how good it sounded unless I knew 100% that it worked”
Although I do agree in wanting to provide something that “works” for people, I was reminded of this clever story that was told by my friend. I commented on the blog post saying:
Great post. What stood out to me the most is:
“I wouldn’t promote something, no matter how good it sounded unless I knew 100% that it worked.”
Reminds me a story I heard and I actually agree with the story. Won’t post it on here since I’ll sound like an ass, but I’ll MSN it to you
. Don’t remember it 100% but you’ll get the idea.
There being a lack of decent news today (and the fact that I’m screwed with homework) I figured I’d take Jason’s advice and just post the story up for kicks. It might inspire or piss someone off. Reason I say this is some people truly believe that you should test your own product out and make sure it’s good before reselling it, but at the same time, I’m not sure. We have to make a living… and the story does make sense.
Once there was this guy who came from Russia. He brought some canned anchovies with him and when he got here, one of his relatives saw the can and freaked out. She said she’d buy it off of him and he agreed. One of her friends wanted a can also, and since he brought a couple with him, he said what the hell. He sold the two cans and made a profit.
His brother or another relative was then coming from Russia and he told him to bring the anchovies with him–as many as he could. He brought a lot of cans back and the guy took them from him. He went around telling people that they were really good authentic Russian anchovies and he sold all of them and made REALLY good money. He then managed to get a container of the anchovies and he started buying and selling this. He saw there was a continuous demand.
Later he had a son and as he grew older, the son started helping the dad with selling the anchovies. One day the son came to the dad and was like “These taste like CRAP. Have you ever had any?!”
The dad responded with ” NO! Why did you eat it?! ” The son said that he was curious why SO MANY people were buying it and just had to try it out. The dad said that he didn’t want to sit and tell people that he was selling a good product when he knew if tried it and didn’t like it. Without trying it, he was just selling his goods. If he tried it and didn’t like it, it would be lieing.
Moral of the story? Don’t try your own shit!
Comments
4 Responses to “Do You Use Your Own Product? Should You? Mini-Story”
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February 7th, 2008 @ 6:52 pm
Hi,
There is a fellow in my neighborhood that owns a beer store.
He does not drink beer- ever!
Good for the bottom line as he won’t drink up the profits.
However his customers buy beer, like beer and drink beer.
As long as you are not misrepresenting your product,
I don’t think you have to try or like the product
as long as your customers like it.
Patrick
February 7th, 2008 @ 7:48 pm
I’m all about quality, but sometimes what YOU don’t like, others like… so it would be hard to try promote something you don’t like. But if you don’t try it, then as long as the customers are coming back, promote promote promote… as quality!
Nice story, Patrick!
February 8th, 2008 @ 8:09 pm
“Moral of the story? Don’t try your own shit!”
Lol, I thought that specific part of the article was hilarious.
I was waiting to know why the people bought the anchovies from him…
February 8th, 2008 @ 8:33 pm
Probably an acquired taste