'd argue that's the actual mindset that makes it frustrating to professionals. They can't compete on price, but they *can* compete on quality. And they *can* compete on service. It's just an expectation of compensation that makes it harder, and they have to look at the long game.
As you said, its happened before and will happen again. In many cases, it's just that the professionals have become used to an inflated value of the product.
-wraith808
That might be true in some cases - and up to a point. But seeing how readily 'mediocre' drives out 'quality' is far from being a matter of "mindset." It's much more an observable phenomenon. At least speaking from my perspective gained from operating (and in two cases owning) professional service firms.
I think "quality" as in "the people demand and respect top quality" is more wishful thinking on the part of the service provider. Because virtually all of us went into our industry with the goal of providing responsive and top notch service to the discriminating customer who recognizes quality when they see it.
Guess what? We
were responsive. And our service
was top notch. And we had customers who
recognized quality when they saw it. But they seldom if ever
appreciated what we did. Appreciation and gratitude were handled by the check they sent us as far as they were concerned.
Everybody will tell you they insist on quality. But NOT when it provides more than they minimally need AND costs noticeably more than the next guy. Your reputation and the buyer's inertia may allow you to command a somewhat higher price than a competitor for a similar service. But despite nearly every professional's ongoing efforts to educate their clients and raise expectations, the sad fact is most clients could care less how "good" something is as long as it is "good enough" to get the job done.
Because here's the thing: when somebody is
buying something from you, most times they just want the product or service - with no strings attached. They do
not want to
go into business with you. And pricing and quality are
your business's concern. Not
theirs. Because if they don't like what they get from you, they'll ask for their money back (or not pay you at all) and go elsewhere. Acceptable quality and pricing are a
given from the average client's perspective. They wouldn't be dealing with you otherwise.
Which becomes a a business threatening problem when you're trying to raise the bar - and some other provider is coming in with a lesser offering at a very low price point. Even a significantly lesser or marginally acceptable offering - if at a very low price point.
Much as I wish it were otherwise, "
Good enough" is the rule. No matter what I want to think. And no matter what 90% of my customers tell me.
"Good enough" drives out quality 90% of the time. Those businesses unwilling or unable to deal with that find themselves in increasing competition for that 10% (and shrinking) segment of the market that actually
does insist on quality
in excess of their requirements and is willing to pay a premium to get it. The rest of the market is increasingly getting scooped up by the "no-frill" providers and bottom feeders - as the changes in the style and
quality of medical care over the last decade so clearly demonstrates.
Maybe 'good enough' doesn't automatically drive out just plain good. But it definitely marginalizes it to the point of where it may as well have.
