63 REASONS TO LOVE CAPITALISM

Last week, my washer dryer announced its retirement by spilling a load of water on my feet when I opened the door after it was supposed to have finished drying the shirt I was going to wear for a job interview the following morning.  I phoned a repairman up to look at the machine, and when he eventually came, he said the main circuit board had gone.  This was trouble, because it wasn't a standard part, but one you had to get from the manufacturer.  He said he might possibly have an old one in stock, and he'd let me know - otherwise it was likely to cost something like £100 to repair the machine, in which case it could well make better sense to buy a new one.  That was basically the last I heard of him for a few days (when I phoned him, I kept getting his voicemail).  In the meantime, I decided to have a look at prices for washer dryers.  This Thursday just gone, I spent a couple of hours wandering round all the places in the area that sell washer dryers, and the news wasn't encouraging - the cheapest ones were getting towards £300, and I'm not at a point in my life where I can throw that kind of money around.  But then I visited a place in Droylsden called Cut Price Appliances (they also advertise around the area under the name Hotpoint form some reason).  I talked to the manager there, and asked him what the cheapest washer dryer they had in was.  He said the cheapest one was £270.  He could probably tell from the look on my face that it was a bit too rich for my blood, so he went into his office for a few minutes, did some research on the internet and came back to me with a revised offer - £207, which meant a saving of £63!  That's for a new machine, with a one year manufacturer's warranty, delivery and installation, plus taking away the old machine, all in with the price.  Brilliant!  I told him I didn't have the money in my account yet, and could he hold the offer open till the next day, when the pay from the job I was doing last week should be in my account?  No problem.

The next day, I checked my bank account and worked out my finances.  I could cover it, although it would still be painful.  Round about mid-day, I phoned up and confirmed my order.  The guy came to deliver the machine about 3.30pm, the same day.  He was in and out in about a quarter of an hour, very efficient.  I don't think I could have got better customer service.  I now have a working washer dryer and I saved £63!

This is why the free enterprise system works best - businessmen know that they have competition, so the Invisible Hand guides them to provide decent service for their customers.  Can you imagine if all washer dryers were provided by some monolithic nationalised industry?  You'd probably have to wait months for an overpriced, sub-standard product - and there'd be no room for haggling.  Long live capitalism!

 
28.6.08 16:32
 


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