So I told you about the bank in Dumb Rules and about Another Dumb Rule at the car dealership.

Lost customers. Lost revenue.

Here’s a dumb rule I created.

During my university directory publishing days, we had a special edition with limited circulation for townspeople. Each customer could get one directory for free; additional ones for $1 each.

One day a real estate broker called to request 25 copies – one for each of his agents. Our receptionist explained that the charge would be $24, since the first one was free.

The broker didn’t like that answer and so he called me. He explained that these 25 directories were for his agents…that it seemed different from other situations…and that perhaps I could make an exception. I supported the information our receptionist had given him. The charge would be $24.

About an hour later, I looked out the window and there was a caravan of cars in the circular driveway of our building. I went into the lobby to see what was happening. One by one, 24 agents came to the front desk and asked for a copy of the directory. At the tail end of the line was the broker. As he picked up his free copy, he looked at me and grinned.

I remember the day the rule was created and it was for a very smart reason. But on that day it became a very dumb rule.

Compared to the bank and the car dealership though, we were lucky.
We only lost $24. Plus we gained very valuable insight into dumb rules.

What about your business?
Does it have any dumb rules?

copyright 2009 – Jan Bolick, Business Class Inc