Calling it free when it's paid. People leave not because of the 'method,' but because of the 'mindset.'

The other day, I got a call saying,
You can list it for free.

But when I listened closely,
it was actually,
Pay X amount monthly, and we'll return it after a year.

At that moment,
something in my heart felt a bit off.
Sure, in the end,
the money might come back.
But is that really
what 'free' means?

This sense of discomfort
isn't just a matter of words,
it's a matter of trust.

More than whether the money is returned or not,
it's about the sincerity of the person—
whether they were honest with me.

When you blur that line,
no matter how impressive the system is,
it feels cold somehow.

For example, in the restaurant world,
similar things happen often.

Saying 'this is on the house'
when it's actually included in the set price.
Saying 'for the customer's sake'
when it's actually just to clear out inventory.

Customers might seem oblivious,
but they actually pick up on it.

When words and reality don't align,
people's hearts naturally drift away.

I believe truly trusted shops
make an effort to eliminate
those small discrepancies.

Like saying, 'Today's lunch is a bit more expensive than usual.
In return, we've upgraded the ingredients by one rank,'
and being clear about it.

A shop that can say that
is sincere and puts you at ease.

Even if the price goes up,
you feel like you want to come back.

The 'free' story is the same;
what matters is 'how you communicate it.'

If they had honestly said at the start, 'You will have to pay for one year,
but it's a system where you get a full refund at the end,'
the impression would be completely different.

Well, even then, the content is still a bit questionable...

By communicating sincerely,
trust is born, and you think, 'Oh, this person is reliable.'
People are creatures who
would rather choose peace of mind over a bargain.

This peace of mind
cannot be measured by numbers.

However,
whether in restaurants or business,
it is the most important thing.
More than taste or price,
what ultimately moves people's hearts
is 'trust.'

Customers remember things well.
They remember, 'That shop was honest with me.'

They remember, 'They didn't try to force a sale on me.'
It is the accumulation of such small memories

that builds a shop's brand.

Conversely, if you say something is 'free'
but there are hidden costs,
or if you say it's a 'great deal'
but it actually comes with conditions,
people will lose interest, even if the content itself is good.

People don't want to be deceived.
More than wanting to gain an advantage,
their true feeling is that they don't want to be betrayed.

One of the staff members working for me now
writes a handwritten message on every wet towel
so that the customers might feel a little bit happier.

That isn't a duty,
nor is it something that directly leads to profit.
But that 'visible care'
is conveyed to the customers.

Every time someone says,
'I came back to see that girl's smile again,'
I think that the essence of business is trust and character.

In the end, words like 'free' or 'great deal'
have the power to move people,
but sincerity is even stronger than that.

Rather than presentation or advertising,
it is about properly conveying 'the intention behind what you do.'

If there is a disconnect there,
no matter how good the system is, it won't last long.

Rather than refining your methods,
make your way of communicating sincere.

I believe that is
the shortest path to cultivating trust.

The reason I felt uncomfortable with the phrase 'You can post for free'
was because I sensed whether or not there was sincerity behind it.

Business,
in any industry, is something that is 'built on trust.'

Rather than gaining a short-term advantage,
being trusted for a long time is far more valuable.

More than the 'method,' it's the 'mindset.'

I think that is where
people's hearts are drawn.

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