How to save Kinko’s? Candy, of course!
Here’s how I know FedEx Kinko’s is struggling, from a quick stop there the other day: none of the self serve printers were working; I couldn’t find someone who worked there for about three minutes; customers were literally yelling “hello, hello” and walking around behind the counter trying the machines; when an employee did appear, she had no idea how to put toner into the copiers; and of course, there was the candy rack at the check-out counter. I kid you not.
That’s right, Kinko’s is trying to win the big money by enticing you to make an impulse candy purchase at check-out time – that, folks, is what the MBA types call value-add. “I know, let’s sell candy at the counter! That’ll bring in the extra revenue we’re losing by being incompetent!”
dfbills Said,
August 10, 2007 @ 6:52 am
Sounds to me like they are trying to encourage shopifting…
The Steinblogger Said,
August 10, 2007 @ 7:13 am
Yes, it would have been simple to shoplift. Granted, this was the day we had all that rain in NYC, but the manager was actually camped out in a part of the store she couldn’t be seen, and only appeared once the employee running the counter arrived.
fwopstop Said,
August 14, 2007 @ 2:52 am
Here I was thinking the candy was left for people to eat while they waited….longer they wait the more candy they’ll buy.
The Steinblogger Said,
August 14, 2007 @ 5:58 am
Yes, that’s probably the right explanation. Concentrate on impulse buys because the wait is too long.
That same day I was at Starbucks, and the line was incredibly long (probably 15 people). But they had someone on headset taking orders at the door. The wait was short and the order was correct. Kinko’s should be innovating on shortening the wait, not milking their customers. That way they’ll get me to come back, like Starbucks!