Small Traders vs Large Corporations

[OldTimer]

This forum section is a good idea, but I can't help but feel that the best standards of customer service are offered by the smaller, local, owner-operated businesses. But it seems impractical to recommend them on a nation-wide platform such as this. As such I beleive you are unlikely to get too many posts here.
Anyone else agree ?

[Mekon]

Of course, you are right OldTimer, I agree in most cases local village shops will offer must better service than the shopping centres. However, the forum is based on issues 'Legal, Financial and Procedural' and as such any advise sought is generally for services surrounding that topic, which are generally offered (or at least backed) by larger, national institutions.
I suppose an expecption may be local Lawyers, Gestors or Accountants - but there is no reason that I can see why they can't be listed here ( Can a Mod or Admin plse verify ? .... )

[admin]

Correct Mekon.
The fact that in 99% of cases you are more likely to get a better standard of customer service when in the Fruit & veg shop, or your local hardware store was never called into question.

This section of the Forum is intended so people can ask for and offer recommendations for legal, financial and other associated services such as : Solictors / Lawyers, Notaries, Accountants, Gestors, Insurance Brokers or Companies, Architects, Banks, Financial advisors, and so on .....

Nobody said that they had to be natinal companies, although in cases like Banks and Insurance companies etc... it stands to reason that they probably will be, however Lawyers and Gestors etc... are almost always going to be operating on a local level (and can still be one-man operations !)

[MrGrumpy]

OldTimer : When a small business in Spain is run well I agree with you 150%, however it is not uncommon for a small business to be run badly. And when someone runs a small business badly they always seem to excel at it.

Have a look at my latest blog and tell me if I'm wrong >>http://www.tumbit.com/blogs/1463-how-not-to-run-a-business-in-spain.html

[Vetxpat]

I bow to the better knowledge of you seasoned expats, but in my limited experience (and in my area) it seems that there is a much wider variation between good and bad service with smaller companies, whereas the standard of customer service offered by larger businesses remain `average´ at the very best.

[MrGrumpy]

I bow to the better knowledge of you seasoned expats, but in my limited experience (and in my area) it seems that there is a much wider variation between good and bad service with smaller companies, whereas the standard of customer service offered by larger businesses remain `average´ at the very best.

Agreed.
But the main difference is that the small traders who offer Bad service generally go out of business very quickly, whereas the larger companies who offer bad customer service seem to be able to get away with it for years.