Posted on Aug 31, 2015
A recently released survey of Real estate agents has concluded that the Countdown business model is likely to lead to financial oblivion for the supermarket chain. The Countdown business model relies on locating stores near to customers, in convenient locations with large parking lots, advertising opening hours, and pricing products so that customers know whether products are available for sale or merely on display.
In the survey, real estate agents were asked to compare the Countdown model with the real estate industry model. The real estate industry conducts auctions in difficult to access locations, with no parking, at very vague times, with no prices. Additionally, often properties are advertised for sale, but are not actually for sale.
The overwhelming response from Real Estate agents was that the Countdown model was hopelessly behind the times, whereas the real estate industry model was admirably suited to the advanced technology prevalent in the 21st century. Several agents commented that Countdown couldn’t survive by “pandering to their customers”, and that the real estate industry was leading the way by making it difficult for customers to actually buy anything.
Pollsters sought comments from those surveyed. One respondent (who does not work for an old established family owned realtor ) said “our internal research shows that most buyers attending auctions come from countries where they don’t use watches, so it doesn’t matter that we advertise the auction starting at 11 am, and then don’t start until 2 pm. Anyway, agents don’t place a value on their own time, so why should they value client’s time? “
There were some outlying views however. One agent pointed out that Countdown relied on regular returning customers, as “most people had to eat”, but the real estate industry could burn customers as “the next time they need to deal with us they will have forgotten the last experience” (Footnote: the agent concerned no longer works in the industry)
Another revealed that his agency has a deal with ATEED whereby they receive a kickback for luring punters into the central city, and that each additional hour they hold them hostage waiting for auctions to start resulted in a bonus payment.
We await with interest Countdown’s response. Will they sell off their carparks? Will they remove all pricing? Will they close the doors at random times? Perhaps elimination of checkout operators is an indication that they are planning to follow the real estate industry lead?
