I am always amazed about how “gently” some businesses explain their price increases to their customers. While some businesses worry about raising their prices during difficult times, monopolistic businesses (like utilities, cable service, etc) just raise them when they want. Attached to one recent increase (without notice of that increase) which I received today by mail [MY COMMENTS IN BOLD]
“Ever increasing operational costs and environmental requirements [PRICES HAVE GONE UP- WELCOME TO THE CLUB] have reached a point where we need to adjust your rate to permit us to recover our costs and to maintain a reasonable return on your account [AGAIN OUR COSTS WENT UP AND YOU NEED TO PAY FOR IT. IF WE DON’T MAKE MONEY, WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN PROVIDING YOUR THIS SERVICE]
“Please be assured that we continually review our operations to address cost pressures [WE CONSTANTLY REVIEW WHAT OTHER PEOPLE CHARGE US SO WE CAN RAISE YOUR PRICES WHEN WE CAN] and provide you with high value service [OUR JUSTIFICATION FOR RAISING YOUR PRICE IS GOOD SERVICE :-) NOT)
Should we be able to raise our prices- yes! Should we be able to raise our prices our costs go up- yes, over the long run, but just don’t pretend you are raising it to provide me better service. You are raising it to keep your profit margin (which is okay too).
