Monday, June 22, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
A series of not-so-fortunate events...
This has been a week filled with quite a number of fieldwork for me.
I did ten in-home visits in three days. It was a consumer work for an anti-dandruff shampoo.
On the first day, I had made a not-so-nice impression by being 30 minutes late from the scheduled time of picking up clients at a hotel in Makati.
The next day, my field partner and myself arrived early at the hotel but our translator was the one who was late -- reason: heavy rain causing heavy traffic.
Though we had a little delay those first two days, we made up for it during the interviews as the interviews went well.
On the last day, we started on time. I was determined not to be late again so as to redeem myself from the bad impression that the incident on the first day created. So off we go to Manila Pen an hour ahead of our scheduled time for pick up. We were there 30 minutes early and waited for the client to meet us at the lobby. When she arrived 30 minutes later, we started our trip to the first respondent's house.
Again, we came 15 minutes ahead of our scheduled time for interview. The respondent was still sleeping so our field partner had to wake her up. The mom was a bit hostile when we arrived - perhaps wondering why we had to come so early and disturb her daughter's slumber. Good thing the daughter was accommodating and let us interview her even if she only had a few hours of sleep. And so the interview went on. The beginning was fine but towards the middle of the interview we found out that she didn't have the correct profile that we were looking for. Despite this, we went on with asking her questions and showing her the things that the client would like to explore. It ended well.
In the van on our way to the second respo's house, I asked the client what she thought of the first respondent. The client was polite but admitted that it was not the kind of respondent that she was expecting and wondered why she passed the screening. I didn't have the guts to explain.
Same thing happened with the second interview for that day. The respondent didn't have the right brand usage profile we were expecting.
I wanted to shrink and just disappear that moment. This project has caused me a lot of bad impression in the client's mind. This is not paranoia. Although she was not saying it, I know a client like her would be disappointed after all such things.
I offered to find a replacement for those two interviews and just do the interviews myself. But because she was flying out to Singapore that same day, she thought it wouldn't be a good option. As she said, she isn't comfortable about the idea of not being there herself on the day of the interviews.
The resolution that we had later on was just to reduce the cost - deduct the cost of those two failed interviews from the total cost of the project.
It just feels sad - giving your all but for some things beyond your control your effort would just go to waste. I hate that kind of feeling.
I wish I will have another chance with this client someday - and I will redeem myself in a grand manner.
I did ten in-home visits in three days. It was a consumer work for an anti-dandruff shampoo.
On the first day, I had made a not-so-nice impression by being 30 minutes late from the scheduled time of picking up clients at a hotel in Makati.
The next day, my field partner and myself arrived early at the hotel but our translator was the one who was late -- reason: heavy rain causing heavy traffic.
Though we had a little delay those first two days, we made up for it during the interviews as the interviews went well.
On the last day, we started on time. I was determined not to be late again so as to redeem myself from the bad impression that the incident on the first day created. So off we go to Manila Pen an hour ahead of our scheduled time for pick up. We were there 30 minutes early and waited for the client to meet us at the lobby. When she arrived 30 minutes later, we started our trip to the first respondent's house.
Again, we came 15 minutes ahead of our scheduled time for interview. The respondent was still sleeping so our field partner had to wake her up. The mom was a bit hostile when we arrived - perhaps wondering why we had to come so early and disturb her daughter's slumber. Good thing the daughter was accommodating and let us interview her even if she only had a few hours of sleep. And so the interview went on. The beginning was fine but towards the middle of the interview we found out that she didn't have the correct profile that we were looking for. Despite this, we went on with asking her questions and showing her the things that the client would like to explore. It ended well.
In the van on our way to the second respo's house, I asked the client what she thought of the first respondent. The client was polite but admitted that it was not the kind of respondent that she was expecting and wondered why she passed the screening. I didn't have the guts to explain.
Same thing happened with the second interview for that day. The respondent didn't have the right brand usage profile we were expecting.
I wanted to shrink and just disappear that moment. This project has caused me a lot of bad impression in the client's mind. This is not paranoia. Although she was not saying it, I know a client like her would be disappointed after all such things.
I offered to find a replacement for those two interviews and just do the interviews myself. But because she was flying out to Singapore that same day, she thought it wouldn't be a good option. As she said, she isn't comfortable about the idea of not being there herself on the day of the interviews.
The resolution that we had later on was just to reduce the cost - deduct the cost of those two failed interviews from the total cost of the project.
It just feels sad - giving your all but for some things beyond your control your effort would just go to waste. I hate that kind of feeling.
I wish I will have another chance with this client someday - and I will redeem myself in a grand manner.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Shelfari
Have missed blogging in this site. Have recently created a new blog at i.ph. Same problem as before. I always fail to update my blog.
Shelfari was the only reason why I found myself blogging here again. Shelfari widget wouldn't upload in my i.ph site so I have to post it here. I want to keep track of the books that I have read and is currently reading. At the same time, take note of any comments, learnings or realizations that i get from them.
I hope I have internet connection at home. The Globe Mobile Broadband that i bought isn't just too functional. It never brings me far. *sigh* Can't even do blogging at home or check Facebook and answer quizzes. It's just too slow. And i always ran out of credit since it's prepaid.
Shelfari was the only reason why I found myself blogging here again. Shelfari widget wouldn't upload in my i.ph site so I have to post it here. I want to keep track of the books that I have read and is currently reading. At the same time, take note of any comments, learnings or realizations that i get from them.
I hope I have internet connection at home. The Globe Mobile Broadband that i bought isn't just too functional. It never brings me far. *sigh* Can't even do blogging at home or check Facebook and answer quizzes. It's just too slow. And i always ran out of credit since it's prepaid.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)