bkeep - 10:07 pm on Jun 16, 2009 (gmt 0)

You don't buy everything from office depot, sometimes quill is preferred.

I am not sure if that actually negates what I said though. If you had never purchased from Quill or vice-versa Office Depot, would you be more likely to purchase from the alternate vender you had no experience with?

Granted there will be exceptions such as you had a bad experience for one reason or another but if you had a satisfactory outcome you would shop at that location again. Would that be a fair assumption?

I know some who tried to target repeat customer bases, in vain

I am not trying to be argumentative and I would think that to be a failing of some sort or another depending on specific circumstances. Could you give me an example of the niche this type of model works for?

I can see that in some fields where the products are long term purchases. For instance if I buy a water softener I expect that to last for atleast 10 years. As a business you have to get a new customer tomorrow so you can eat. If however you also sell the salt for the water softener then I will make monthly purchases from you because of the previous trust that has been established.

imo once you get a customer you have passed the litmus test so-to-speak. Somehow in your message you have made them trust you to the point they are willing to give you money. Once you have established that trust it is easier to maintain it then to try and build trust with a new prospect or client.