TIME TO START OFFERING CONVENIENCE

An airline recently landed in Indianapolis, offering service to Branson, Missouri, a place that’s become a living wax museum for yesterday’s celebrities.

The airline’s publicity boasted about what a great value it offers – and at face value, it sure looks that way. Airfare is just $59. If you want to bring more than a change of clothes, you’ll have to add another $15 for the first bag, but that’s still a pretty good deal.

But what’s this? There’s an $11.95 “convenience fee.” Convenience fee? I have to pay extra for convenience? A whopping 20 percent of the ticket price? And just what kind of convenience is involved? The airline didn’t share that, although the fee looks suspiciously like it was created for their convenience, not ours.

Still, I think they’re on to something. Next time one of my clients asks for a project estimate, I’ll give them a very competitive number. And then, tucked away in the fine print, I’ll quietly add a 20 percent convenience fee of my own. I’m sure they’ll appreciate that extra convenience. Wouldn’t you?