Do you or should you treat people with whom you do business inside the hobby differently than people you deal with outside the hobby?

The past couple of weeks I've weighed in on some posts where there were disputes about hobby business.

When I got to thinking about it it struck me that it appeared in many cases people were treating business partners differently inside the hobby than out.

I try to build relationships on mutual trust and respect even if it is a one time deal. You never know when the other person may be in a position to help you again. And friends make better business associates than enemies.

I do this inside and outside the hobby. It never occurred to me to do it differently.

In fact because what is exchanged inside the hobby is so personal and intimate and because the information is readily shared by both sides to some extent I often take greater care with hobby business than with other business.

Your thoughts? Your practices?

That is how it should be.
I treat everyone with equal respect at least until they don't deserve it. I am also the same person behind the keyboard as I am in person.

That is how it should be.
I treat everyone with equal respect at least until they don't deserve it. I am also the same person behind the keyboard as I am in person. Originally Posted by TemptationTammie

Agreed

H.E. when you say "business partners" are you talking about someone with whom you have a joint ownership/enterprise or do you mean "partners" in the "socially correct" usage of persons or entities with which you transact business in arms length relationships?

In my business there are three tiers:
1. Joint owners
2. Suppliers/Vendors
3. Customers

I'm not making it complicated, but those three have different applied standards.

Within each one I think if one follows the general rule of ...

.... "treating others as you would like to be treated" as in one of them..

... then it is good. Regardless of what some providers may say ...

... they treat "regulars" differently than others.

LL. Fair question. When I wrote the thread I meant vendors and customers but it could also apply to joint owners as well although I suspect very few of us have experience with a joint ownership situation inside the hobby. Thanks for asking. Thanks for playing.

As to "regulars" being treated differently i assume you mean better but i don't know that is always the case. But doesn't that happen in outside hobby business as well as inside? I would admit to treating high volume customers and suppliers differently than low volume? Is that right or fair?

I treat all business transactions the same, always with respect. As soon as any business treats me disrespectfully, I walk and never look back. Plenty of other businesses out there, no reason to put up with any disrespect.

Aside from the obvious - the product- I am always respectful etc both in and out. The main difference is when the product hoes south or is not as expected. Not like I can say, "let me talk to your supervisor" and request a refund.

SMH

LL. Fair question. When I wrote the thread I meant vendors and customers .....


As to "regulars" being treated differently i assume you mean better but i don't know that is always the case. But doesn't that happen in outside hobby business as well as inside? I would admit to treating high volume customers and suppliers differently than low volume? Is that right or fair? Originally Posted by Houston.Epicurean

Yes it happens inside and outside ... the "hobby" .... that is my point.

A given business or person doesn't treat every person the same. To tweak the point and talk about "respect" requires one to engage in defining "respect" just like one should define "partner" ... in this context .. you did.

As Leon Russell sings " If you treat your woman like you treat yourself, everything's gonna be alright".

As Leon Russell sings " If you treat your woman like you treat yourself, everything's gonna be alright". Originally Posted by Oralist

Some would consider that standard too low.

I have regulars I've been seeing for 3 years and I have never invited anyone in my business life all the way into my personal life..... We do communicate frequently but never anything close to like "hey come have dinner with me and my kids" personal type level.....

When the lights go down I live my "normal" life and Vicki aka mzluvly is nowhere to be found its replaced by"mom".....

Like the song says "these hoes ain't loyal" lol.....

I get nekkid in all my business activities ... ijs.

Last time I checked it was still called The Golden Rule. Should apply to everyone, except people like Bin Ladin, Hitler, etc.

The Hobby is built on an unstable foundation of fabrications, deceit, and lies. It's very existence is frowned upon and practiced in confidence by those of us who's moral compass does not point due north. Neither hookers nor tricks should ever be trusted or relied upon for anything beyond the BCD activities the Hobby implies. Looking for honor among thieves is a dangerous business.