City Beat: Bank clients confused by VIP product

Banks have various products all aimed at luring new clients and retaining those they have. A client will always appreciate being appreciated. Among these products there is the VIP (Very Important Person) one which some of our banks are offering. Though it may be difficult to accurately ascertain how the product has been received, City Beat sensed a certain degree of mixed feelings amongst some clients. In order to acquire VIP status, you pay about Rwf 5900 monthly depending on the bank. After this, among the many advantages, is that you will not pay for your bank statement when you want it, you do not have to join the queue like the rest, and you are served right away. Now there seemed to be the cause of the grumbling among the non-VIP clients. Some had queued up for as long as two hours. They could not understand why service was very slow. Then entered, at high speed, a gentleman dressed in a suit. Everyone curiously looked at him, probably wondering who he might be. He moved directly to the counter, ignoring the queue. If I said that he pushed aside the one who was being served, I would be tarnishing a VIP’s image, so I’ll leave that out. You didn’t read it. Our gentleman immediately pulled out bundles of cash. Without saying anything to those he found in the queue he pushed the money to the cashier. That was the beginning of the show. A client who had been in the queue for some time could not take it lying down. He went to the cashier to complain. This delayed the gentleman in the suit from being served as a quarrel ensued. “That’s not possible,” the vexed client who claimed to have been in the bank for two hours said. “I am a VIP, I am therefore entitled to better and quicker services than any other person,” the gentleman responded.Other people joined the fray and exchanged words that one can rightly call sharp. An official in the bank intervened and said, “But he is a VIP, it’s a product that gives clients the freedom to quicker and better services.” “Is that one of the best ways to advertise that product?” another apparently irritated client asked. “It’s our right to either buy the product or ignore it, but if you believe that you can use those who have bought it to oppress us, forget. We also have our rights.” “Suppose we all bought the product?” another asked.With more words exchanged, another suggested that the bank should indicate that “such and such a bank is for VIPs only.” “If you do that, it will be our mistake to come in here,” he said. Gradually, the sharp exchange of words subsided. This was followed by a very silent mood. The VIP was served and left while the other customers continued waiting for their turn. Come to think of it, maybe we should all apply for VIP status. Ends