Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

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January 27, 2010

I Asked for Hot Fudge and Cool Whip but I Got Skittles

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 8:34 am

The Gesture Was Lovely

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It was a mission. The task was simple.
On the way home from dinner, he said “I need to go to the store.”

We hired a taxi to place him at his destination.

On the way out of the car he asked, “What for you?”
I said, “hot fudge and cool whip.” I was thinking hot fudge with the butter pecan ice cream we had for a late night sundae. I was thinking Cool Whip for an early morning “blogger’s latte.”

Didn’t get the hot fudge or the Cool Whip.

What he brought home was Skittles.
I like Skittles, but Skittles — they are his favorite!

The gift was lovely, but … he got me what he liked, rather than what I asked for. It was nice thought and I said, “thank you.”

Still uou can’t make a blogger’s latte with Skittles, no matter how much anyone loves that candy …

Ever been there? How do you respond when someone — maybe a favorite company — gives you what THEY want.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
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Filed under Customer Think, Marketing, Successful Blog | 10 Comments »




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10 Comments to “I Asked for Hot Fudge and Cool Whip but I Got Skittles”

  1. January 27th, 2010 at 9:12 am
    soultravelers3 said

    Ugh. I don’t think anyone likes that. Was it really a nice gesture?

    If it’s a company that gives me something totally different than what I ask for, I usually don’t do business with them again.

    A good business knows that keeping a customer happy and giving them what they want is what is all about.

    Good food for thought!

  2. January 27th, 2010 at 10:49 am
    CT Moore said

    Well, just imagine how Skittles felt when they asked for a microsite and got a Twitter feed :P

  3. January 27th, 2010 at 11:04 am
    Bret Simmons said

    This is a question I have been struggling with about my own blog. I stay on topic, but I blog about the topics that concern ME right now and in the way that I need to understand them. I know by doing so I am NOT serving up fudge and cool whip to the masses, but I am getting the self-improvement that I need. Some days I show up with the fudge and cool whip, but it’s only because I eat a lot of skittles in order to be ready.

    I write for readers like me, even though I know we are a smaller group. I subscribe to blogs that get a ton more traffic than I do, but I think the content is watered down.

    I know many will disagree, but ultimately you do this for the tremendous self-improvement you get, even if very few read what you have to say.

    Thanks!

    Bret

  4. January 27th, 2010 at 11:33 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Chris!
    Awesome comment!!

  5. January 27th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
    Eleanor Edwards said

    Three Christmas’ ago, I asked for roller blades but got a chocolate fountain instead. Two Christmas’ ago, I got the roller blades. A year on, both are gathering dust ;)

  6. January 27th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hey Eleanor,
    Guess sometime we don’t get what ask for and sometimes when we do, it’s not really what we wanted. Great comment. Thank you for adding that perspective. I got my cool whip and had blogger latte this morning. heh heh

  7. January 27th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
    --Deb said

    Hmm, I read this as a total failure, because it doesn’t matter how thoughtful it might have been, the follow through was dreadful! (grin)

  8. January 28th, 2010 at 3:19 am
    rosebelle said

    In my 19 years relationship with my hubby, I’ve successfully communicated to him: If I asked you to buy me something and you can’t find it, let me know. I think most people unconsciously buy things they like so therefore they think you would too. I find myself doing that when I grocery shop.

  9. January 30th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
    Barb Hartsook said

    Hi Liz,

    I have a friend who, every year for Christmas, gives me little things for my home and personal use that would fit into her home and personal usage. I hug her and thank her and pour her coffee. After she leaves, I put her gifts in the closet, in the bag they came in. After a year or so I toss them. I love her so it doesn’t matter.

    But if a store or company gives me what they want at my expense, that would be a different story. I’d smile, but no hug. And I’d not go back. (I don’t argue much — I just retreat. I show them! :) )

    But I must add, had Wes given me Skittles when I needed cream for my morning coffee, I’d have sulked and pouted, and probably have gotten in the car and driven to the store myself in the middle of the night. Haha!

  10. February 1st, 2010 at 4:50 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Barb,
    I read this and thought of a friend I have who does a similar thing. No changing folks who can’t see us, is there? Love survives the little things.
    I also have had that experience with a storekeeper who just didn’t get it. When the wrong thing came, he tried to explain why what he sent was better. No dice. We didn’t have the relationship for that kind of a substitution to be right.

    PS we still had some other cream for my coffee. :)

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