• Hero Banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Buying or Selling a Practice
Hospital Design
Leadership & Personal Growth
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Technology
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Live Conferences
Conference News
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Running into great service

April 1, 2011
Kristi Reimer Fender, News Channel Director

A trip to buy shoes demonstrates the meaning of value ... in retail and in veterinary practice.

This past weekend I set out on a mission. Keys in hand, jaw set, I got into my car and vowed I would not return home without a new pair of running shoes.

Now, this shouldn’t have been such a difficult undertaking that I had to make a solemn oath to complete it. But I’d been avoiding the task for weeks. OK, months. In fact, I was completely intimidated by it. I’m not a hardcore runner, and the idea of facing that wall studded with endless configurations of rubber, latex, laces, webbing, and patented synthetic technology overwhelmed me. The only thing worse was the thought of dealing with some zero-body-fat marathoner salesperson who wanted to talk about things like propulsive force and the anaerobic threshold.

But I needed new shoes, and based on some niggling problems I’d experienced the last few times I’d been running, I needed an expert to tell me which kind were best for my foot and my gait. So I was headed to a store known for its service and expertise regarding all things running. If I had to deal with an obnoxious marathon-running beanpole, so be it.

Walking in the door initially confirmed my fears. The wall of shoes was vast, and in front of it scurried a beehive of employees carrying stacks of boxes to sock-footed customers waiting to try them on. Should I get in line? Take a number? Walk back out and order shoes online?

Fortunately an attentive manager spotted my hesitation and asked me to take a seat, assuring me that someone would be over to help me soon. I had to wait almost 10 minutes, but I didn’t mind because my presence had been acknowledged-plus it gave me a chance to watch the staff assist other people and get familiar with the process.

Eventually an employee seated himself in front of me, measured both feet, watched me walk to the end of the aisle and back, and diagnosed me as a slight overpronator. He brought me half a dozen pairs of shoes, explaining the features and benefits of each model (plus what other runners said they liked and didn’t like), and had me try each on, comparing one against the other. He was efficient but thorough as he guided the process, educated me, and answered my questions-he was definitely a running geek, but he never talked down to me. By the time I made my decision, I was confident I had the best, most comfortable pair of running shoes I could possibly find. And I couldn’t have done it without expert assistance.

Advertisement

A few days later I was describing the experience to a friend, also a sometime runner. She asked how much the shoes cost.

“Um ... ” I said. “They were more than a hundred dollars, but I can’t actually remember the exact total.”

What I did remember? The excellent service. Becoming a more educated consumer. The thrill of knowing I’d made a very well-informed decision about the care of my feet. The knowledge that I would return to that store and that store only for all my future running-related needs.

Hmm. See any connections to what you do every day in your practice?

Related Content:

BusinessTechniciansClient Relations & Marketing
Can our Pride panel answer these LGBTQ+ trivia questions?
Can our Pride panel answer these LGBTQ+ trivia questions?
Creating inclusive spaces for the LGBTQ+ community in vet med
Creating inclusive spaces for the LGBTQ+ community in vet med
Happy Pride Month, Hill's launches Prescription Diet ONC Care, and more
Happy Pride Month, Hill's launches Prescription Diet ONC Care, and more

Advertisement

Latest News

Humanimal Trust joins World Federation for Animals

News wrap-up: This week’s headlines, plus Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine presents Temple Grandin, PhD, MS, with an honorary degree

Can our Pride panel answer these LGBTQ+ trivia questions?

Creating inclusive spaces for the LGBTQ+ community in vet med

View More Latest News
Advertisement