When I found this quote at the Printing and Imaging Association of Georgia, it spoke so clearly to the ongoing discussion about price conversation that I had to get a copy for you.
Back at my desk I searched for John Ruskin and was fortunate to find this essay.
Here's Ruskin's thought stimulator:
It's unwise to pay too much. But it's worse to pay too little. When you pay too much you lose a little money, that's all. When you pay too little you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do.
The common law of business balances prohibits paying a little and getting a lot. It can't be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder it is well to add something for the risk you run. And if you do that, you will have enough to pay for something better.
There is hardly anything in the world that some man can't make a little worse and sell a little cheaper - and people who consider price alone are this man's lawful prey.
What are you thinking right now?
I'm thinking that our Best Clients get this. It's why they're our Best Clients.
And, I'm thinking this confirms why it's so important to include price in InfoMinutes.
You? What are you thinking?
Photo courtesy of sylvar