When a certain tyre company of the western world
was on the point of launching its goods on the
market, it ran an advertising campaign which
promised that “whoever demonstrated a real defect
in the tyres would win a prize of $ 50,000.” People
naturally flocked to buy them. If they found a
defect, well and good. If not, they had nothing to
lose, because they would actually have purchased a
good set of tyres.
The company did then actually receive a number of
complaints of which 20 percent appeared to be
genuine. The complainants were duly sent
invitations to a seminar, their travelling expenses to
be paid for by the company. This gave them the
opportunity to air their respective views as to how
the tyres could be improved. A concrete proposal
was finally arrived at by consensus and rewards
were distributed at the closure of the seminar.
By taking into consideration the suggestions of its
customers, the Company was able to improve upon
the quality of the original tyre. Although the cost
had to be increased considerably, the tyres sold far
outnumbered previous sales. Formerly the tyres
had been manufactured according to the company’s
own formula, while the improved version was
based on the opinions and suggestions of the
consumers as well. It was only natural that people
should regard the product as being far superior to
the original one.
In this world all people—not just manufacturers
and consumers—are dependent upon one another.
It is, therefore, only sharing and cooperation which
can lead to success in this life. It is the principle of
give-and-take which should be most active, like
two-way traffic. A system of benefits can never be a
one-way thing. Reciprocity should be the order of
the day.
Ref - The Moral Vision
- by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
