Value Discount Stores

Value has a problem with customer service as indicated by the number of customer complaints they receive and a perceived problem with lost sales due to stock out conditions. Customer service is a broad term, but in Value's case, includes the level of knowledge possessed by their employees, the amount of time that customers wait in checkout lines, the availability of merchandise and merchandise returns. If the company is able to adequately solve these problems, the possible entrance of a competitor into the market will not be a significant issue because the company will have developed a loyal customer base and may benefit from the increased activity that competition would bring.

Value's main strength is that it is currently one of the few discounters located in the area. Because of its position as the dominant player in the discount market, the company has the potential to build an extensive and loyal customer base that could withstand additional competition. The best way for the store to do this is to establish itself as a place where consumers find what they want, when they want it, at a price that they are willing to pay.

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and computerized inventory control as well as hiring new part-time employees to assist with cashiering during peak periods, and undertaking an intensive employee training program to improve product knowledge. This alternative has the disadvantage of being expensive to implement and not providing enough feedback to adequately respond to changes that come about as various new strategies are put into place. The investment in hardware, software and training of an inventory system alone would be considerable, and would put the company in a financially weak position. Alternative #3: The company could embark on a well-thought out plan to improve customer service. This plan would include the same components as alternative #2, but would be implemented over a longer period of time. Employee training would be emphasized in the beginning, and the company could investigate which computer systems would best meet its needs. It could focus on a long-term strategy that will see the company through a period of growth and improve customer service at the same time. By incrementally improving customer service, the company should realize an increase in customer satisfaction from the time that this alternative is implemented. Recommendation It
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1336
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page)

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