The President's Tender Trap

After a period of rectification and hard work, Zhou Qiang and Lu Ming's team finally saw positive changes in customer feedback. Customer acceptance of the new product gradually increased, and sales began to rebound. However, the pressure of market competition remained, and new challenges emerged, making the team face an even more complex situation.

At a regular meeting, Zhou Qiang and Lu Ming each reported on their market observations and customer feedback. Zhou Qiang spoke first, "According to the latest market research data, a competitor has launched a new product with similar functionality to ours, but at a more competitive price. This forces us to consider whether to adjust our product pricing to maintain market share."

Lu Ming frowned. "I don't think price is the only solution. We should focus on the uniqueness of our products and the user experience, emphasizing our advantages in quality and service. Price wars often lead to lower profits, which is not conducive to the company's development in the long run."

"But if we don't adjust prices in time, we might lose some customers," Zhou Qiang countered. "We can't ignore market changes, especially when competition is so fierce."

"I understand your concerns, but I don't think we can rely on price as our only means of competition," Lu Ming insisted. "We need to attract customers by increasing the added value of our products, such as adding unique features or services, rather than simply lowering prices."

The disagreement between Zhou Qiang and Lu Ming gradually became apparent during the meeting, and the other team members also began to discuss their views. Li Jing, as the team leader, decided to intervene. "I believe we need a comprehensive response plan that combines product pricing with market demand. We need to consider both market competition and maintain our brand value."

"I agree with Li Jing," Zhou Qiang said. "We can consider adding some additional services while adjusting prices, such as extending the warranty period or providing free training, to improve customer satisfaction."

"That sounds good, but we still need to ensure that our product has a clear competitive advantage in terms of functionality." Lu Ming added, "I suggest that we can communicate more with customers to understand their specific expectations for new features, and then make product improvements based on that."

After some debate, the team decided to combine Zhou Qiang and Lu Ming's proposals into a comprehensive response strategy. The team would conduct market research, gather customer feedback and competitor information, and adjust the product's pricing and features based on this.

Over the next few weeks, Zhou Qiang and Lu Ming each took on different tasks. Zhou Qiang conducted market price analysis to ensure the team was up to date on competitors' pricing strategies, while Lu Ming was responsible for communicating with customers to gather their needs and expectations for new features.

During market research, Zhou Qiang discovered that while competitors' prices were indeed lower than his own, customers still highly valued the brand recognition and quality of their products. He wrote in his analysis report, "Although our prices are higher than our competitors', customers prioritize product reliability and after-sales service. Therefore, I believe a moderate price adjustment is feasible, but not overly radical."

At the same time, Lu Ming also gained valuable insights from his interactions with customers. He discovered that they had specific suggestions for improving certain product features, such as a more intuitive user interface and a wider range of functional options. He concluded, "Customers place great importance on the product experience. If we can significantly improve the user experience, it will strengthen customer loyalty."

At a team meeting, Zhou Qiang and Lu Ming each shared their research findings. Zhou Qiang began by saying, "Based on my analysis, we can consider lowering the price by about 5% to attract price-sensitive customers. At the same time, we can add some training support to our product to help customers better understand it."

"I disagree," Lu Ming responded immediately. "While lowering prices can attract some customers, it may affect our brand image in the long run. I think we should focus on improving the user experience, such as increasing customization options and optimizing the user interface."

"But if we don't take action, competitors will further erode our market share," Zhou Qiang reiterated. "We must take measures in the short term to maintain our competitiveness."

"If we blindly pursue short-term profits, we may damage our value in the eyes of our customers," Lu Ming said firmly. "I believe that improving product quality and user experience is the fundamental way for us to meet these challenges."

The argument between the two escalated, and the atmosphere in the meeting room became tense. The other team members also began to feel confused and unsure which plan to support.

Seeing this, Li Jing decided to take the initiative to mediate. "We can't ignore any of these suggestions. Perhaps we can consider combining the two and develop a comprehensive plan that both preserves brand value and enhances market competitiveness."

"I suggest we first hold a customer focus group meeting and invite some key customers to discuss their opinions on the product," Li Jing suggested. "Through this meeting, we can gain a deeper understanding of our customers' true needs and, based on that, decide whether to adjust pricing and optimize product features."

Zhou Qiang and Lu Ming both realized that the customer's voice was the most important and agreed. After discussion, the team decided to hold a customer symposium next week, inviting some important customers to participate and collect their feedback and suggestions for the product.

Over the next few days, the team worked tirelessly to prepare for the focus group meeting, ensuring they could fully understand the client's perspectives. Zhou Qiang and Lu Ming each handled different tasks: Zhou Qiang was responsible for arranging the focus group meeting schedule, while Lu Ming prepared the relevant questionnaires and discussion outlines.

Finally, the symposium was held as scheduled. Customers actively participated in the meeting, sharing their opinions and suggestions on the product. Many customers mentioned that they hoped the product could be more personalized to meet their specific needs.

"We hope to be able to choose some customized features when purchasing, so that we can better meet our business needs." said a customer.

“I think your after-sales service could also be further improved, especially in terms of training and support,” added another customer.

Through this symposium, both Zhou Qiang and Lu Ming realized that customers’ demands for products go far beyond price and function. They hope to get better user experience and after-sales support.

After the meeting, Zhou Qiang and Lu Ming had an in-depth discussion, and their views gradually converged. Zhou Qiang said, "I understand that simply adjusting the price isn't the fundamental solution to the problem. Customers value the overall value we can provide them."

"That's right. We need to find a balance between pricing and product features," Lu Ming responded. "We can maintain the current price while adding some customization options and optimizing the user experience to enhance customer loyalty."

After this discussion, the team reorganized their perspectives and developed a comprehensive response plan. Without lowering the price, the team decided to optimize product features, increase customization options, and improve after-sales service.

Over the next few weeks, the team began implementing the new plan. Zhou Qiang and Lu Ming worked closely together to ensure every detail was addressed. Through customer feedback, the team gradually identified directions for product improvement, and morale improved throughout the process.

"I believe we can succeed in this challenge," Zhou Qiang said with a firm look.

"We not only have to cope with the immediate competition, but also lay a solid foundation for future development," Lu Ming added, full of confidence.

Thanks to the team's concerted efforts, the new marketing strategy gradually took effect, and customer feedback became increasingly positive. Zhou Qiang and Lu Ming realized that only by constantly listening to customers could they remain invincible in the fiercely competitive market.