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Neil, when a company and a group of financiers can offer the customer any product where the customer can buy a benefit without increasing his-her monthly cost then it passes the test of commercial viability. Everyone benefits while no one has to make any sacrifice financially.
Customer gets power, business pays people and makes money, investors get a return on their capital.
When the customer is expected to make a financial commitment base on a potential return at some time in the future, then you have the issue of predictions made by sales people that have a natural bias towards bending the facts to support their position. People in the position to make such financial decsisions are, generally speaking, acutely aware of the embellished sales pitch, and just consider it a "snake oil" sales pitch.
Bottom line is give me the facts, preferably by an independent source, with no financial interest in the success or failure of the product in real world markets, and let me decide whether the benefit is real and suits my financial situation.
Something out government has proven that it is not capable of doing on anything approaching a rational level. Every customer that walked into my door received the benefit of my knowledge and experience, including reaching the point where they should no longer spend money that did not pass the test of value received for service longevity achieved, a complete analysis of their vehicle and advice on whether is was truly cost effective to continue repairing the problems that would arise versus the mileage they would expect to continue driving.
As a thank you many of them would drive their old car to the shop, and sign the title over to us, with a thank you when their mileage had reached a point where is was not practical to expect any more without undue cost. I always considered that the ultimate testament to customer service. They did not want to sell the car to anyone because they could not look them in the face and honestly tell them everything that was going to come up in repairs to keep the old worn out car running reliably.
regards
Mech
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