These days, every retailer or service provider wants to sell more than the nearest rival. As a result, today's world is marked by unending clashes to be the most popular brand among product and service providers. And how do they ensure that their sales revenues rise higher than those of their nearest competitors? Well, they do what the snake tried to do in the Garden of Eden. Instead of the apple that Eve was tempted to take a bite of, the companies of today offer freebies every time they get a chance. From free gifts to discounts and sales, customers today are a pampered lot.
A prime example of how companies try to pamper their customers is visible in the world's department stores. Walk into a decently large department store, get a bill of more than a certain amount, and prepare yourself for a barrage of discount coupons and freebies of all kinds. From beauty products at bargain-basement prices to electronic goods with a whole lot of free add-ons, to discount coupons to the newest restaurants -- these are only a few of the many incentives that consumers are given. The primary aim is to buy the loyalty of the consumers.
A very good example that shows how the providers of various services try to entice customers is that of credit cards. If you look at it objectively, a credit card is at heart nothing but a loan given on the basis of one's income. Yet, credit cards have now attained the position of status symbols. Like cars and houses in posh localities, the greater the number of credit cards that you have, the higher is the salary that you keep drawing. Yet, is it really fair to describe credit cards as being a true indicator of one's wealth? Just look at all the discounts that they offer to make sure that more and more people avail of their services.
First of all, credit cards are no longer available to only the richer classes. Middle income groups also feel the value of these deals. Moreover, the options of cash back credit cards make it a viable option for people who are not likely to spend more than a certain amount on their credit cards. Some cards sell themselves on the basis of being interest-free for the first three months. Such offers are great for luring in customers who will not to waste too much time doing research on the best buys in the market. Providing incentives does go a long way in getting customers.
