Small businesses are finding it harder to compete in today’s market due to the prevalence of larger brands and higher quality requirements. Big firms may often create things at cheaper costs and provide them at more competitive rates because of their increased access to resources and economies of scale.
Because of this, small businesses have a harder time competing with their bigger counterparts on pricing. Not only have these aspects evolved throughout time, but so too have customers’ demands and requirements.
All merchants, no matter how big or little, must meet the high standards of their customers. Yet, small sellers may struggle to satisfy these expectations due to a lack of resources and a smaller sales force. Little bookstores are also having trouble keeping up with the market, and a recent Twitter story beautifully portrays their predicament in this competitive environment.
A Twitter user named Kashish recently purchased a book from Amazon and was taken aback when he received a copy of “Looking For Laddoo” instead.
Taking to Twitter, Kahish wrote,
“I ordered a certain book from Amazon but they sent me this random book called looking for laddoo along with this letter like bhai what is going on”
Although this kind of thing can happen in the world of e-commerce, it was the accompanying apologetic letter for the unexpected book that caught the attention of Twitter users.
Apologies for the inconvenience with your order. Please contact our support team by using this link: https://t.co/7kynV4OCmg for further assistance. -Abdul
— Amazon Help (@AmazonHelp) February 21, 2023
The shopkeepers apologized to Kashish in endearingly shaky English that the book he had ordered was not in shipping condition. Instead, they requested that he send back a copy of “Looking For Laddoo” and assured him that the right book will be on its way as soon as possible. In their letter, the merchants begged him to reconsider leaving poor comments.
Twitter followers listened to the appeal for tolerance and agreed with the call. The author of “Looking for Laddoo,” Aparna Karthikeyan, chimed in as well. She apologized for the mix-up and said playfully that her book may be a consolation prize for people who don’t receive what they first desired. Aparna referred to a tweet by Kashish, saying,
“Ah, I have just discovered I’m what you get when what you want is not available or is damaged! Sorry this happened, @kashflyy. I don’t know if Looking for Laddoo is your type (it is about dogs & Chennai, my first loves) Hope you get the right book soon. CC @vishakasarah”
Ah, I have just discovered I’m what you get when what you want is not available or is damaged! 😅🤭
Sorry this happened, @kashflyy.
I don’t know if Looking for Laddoo is your type (it is about dogs & Chennai, my first loves) Hope you get the right book soon 💛
CC @vishakasarah 🙏🏼 https://t.co/uNif5K9zFw— Aparna Karthikeyan (@AparnaKarthi) February 21, 2023
Even though it might be difficult for small vendors, it’s crucial to recognize the vital function that they play in the industry. In many cases, they provide specialization and customization that bigger companies just cannot match.
It’s a reminder of how crucial it is to have compassion for and understand the needs of independent vendors. Although bigger companies may have the means to prevent such errors, smaller vendors may not. In a world when criticism is the norm, it’s encouraging to see the widespread happiness that may result from a single act of kind.
