In response to Tim’s communication
First of all I think it would be appropriate for us to acknowledge that Tim has taken the time to put together some responses in answer to concerns that we have raised on the forum, history would have dictated that he might have ignored this in the hope that it would go away. Instead he has opted to make himself available to us, which is commendable.
I think Tim has made some extremely valid observations, many of which we all know too well. I think however in some instances the point has been missed somewhat.
With regards to the subject of
Support for instance, you are correct in saying that we have an amazing support group, and we are extremely proud of the support this group of strong, positive women provide each other, however, this has come about through
necessity and not desire. Had we received the support that we require to complete this program successfully from the clinics we attend, there would be no need for us to provide such a high level of support to each other online. The support we require, doesn’t necessarily come in the form of a phone call or the answer to a question “can I substitute this for that”, the support required on this program is far more complex and not as tangible as many think, you are more often than not dealing with people who have eaten
incorrectly for a long period of time, these habits need to change. Sometimes we don’t even understand what we are experiencing. There is a psychological impact that is not acknowledged, supported or addressed at the clinics, and it is imperative that this be addressed for people to be ‘winners’ as you put it, also to ensure that they maintain and understand not only why they are where they are, how they got there and what they need to do to change,
permanently. It is simply not a case of handing over an eating plan, and telling someone “finish this and you’ll be a winner”, the behaviour that got many of us to where we are today, is not behaviour that can be changed overnight or without adequate counselling and direction. I personally don’t feel the clinic consultants are equipped to provide this level of support.
Correct Info was the next subject addressed, and I think I can speak for all of us in saying that we live and die (not to sound too dramatic) by obtaining the correct information, I believe you will find that the information shared on this forum is well thought out and investigated, it is provided not only with the best intentions but also with strong supporting evidence of it’s accuracy, the information is also
not mandatory to use, it is, like any other support group, there for the taking, people can decide to use it or not. I personally have not had the necessity to ask many questions of the team at the clinic, however, the one time I did regarding cough suppressants, you personally provided me with good information and a definite level of comfort and confidence that this too will pass, and I’d be back on track in no time, which I am.
Opinions, a sticky one given the forum we are using to communicate is of a public nature, and the whole freedom of speech theory etc. However that’s not the tack I wanted to take here. The comments made on this forum about some of the treatment we have received and the support we haven’t received from our clinic is our personal opinion, based upon our
perceptions of the standard and quality of treatment/support provided. I don’t believe that anyone who owned their own business would actively go out of their way to treat their customers in a way that could be perceived as inappropriate or unacceptable. Unfortunately, that is the perception that many of us have, and even though it may not be your intent to have us see you in that light, that is our perception, and as a responsible and successful business owner, I would go to great lengths to change those perceptions. I would consider it paramount that my customers perceived me in as positive light as possible. We ALL agree 100% that the Cohen program is a winner, we ALL know if we stick to it, it works, better than any we have tried. There is absolutely nothing derogatory to say about the plan, any derogatory comments or perceptions have come about due to the above subjects, lack support and inappropriate and belittling treatment of us as paying customers.
As for
Blood Tests and
Pricing, both of these I think are actually driven more so by Cohen head office than the local clinics. The blood test requirements are as set out by Dr Cohen, this can’t be argued with, the treatment of some who maybe don’t adhere to the requirements leaves a lot to be desired, however the requirements themselves are clear. The pricing is different across different countries because you obviously receive less in the states for your initial outlay, one would assume this is due to franchise development, it may well be different in other countries that Dr Cohen has set up businesses.
Tim our intention is not to run your name or that of your consultants through the mud, we only expect to be treated with the respect and understanding we deserve as paying customers who have decided to use a service
you provide. I think it all hinges on the support and treatment of people, this is a very emotional time for many of us, making this transformation can often leave you feeling, helpless and vulnerable, compound that with little support and the sometimes inappropriate and belittling treatment, and unfortunately, you will get negative perceptions.
A suggestion would be, to think a little more about the
emotional side of what your customers are going through, you can’t always rely on logic and common sense, it’s not like getting your car detailed and treating people like children and speaking down to them will get you nowhere. If you were to be able to provide some level of professional, trained emotional support through these demanding and stressful times, you would see an instant lift in customer satisfaction. This program is extremely difficult and it makes it no easier to adhere to when you have other external forces working against you. Providing adequate support as part of your service would go a long way towards changing perceptions.
Tim, much like you, I hope you see the positives in this post, we are
all trying really hard to make significant changes in our lives, it would be great for us to take this journey
with you and your team as opposed to against you or in spite of you. The positive feedback and free advertising happy customers provide is priceless, please consider this.
