Without any doubt, the sole purpose of investing in any business is to make profit, build your finances, and lead a more financially free life, as any business that doesn't aim towards profit is either a charity organization or will definitely experience loss and, with time fold up.
We can't also neglect the roles customers play to any business, as they are the pillars that hold a business standing, Their ultimate satisfaction is what every business owner takes as an important part of their business as it is this satisfaction that encourages continuous patronage and keeps the business going. But sometimes in a bid to gain more or the greediness of some business owners, they tend to go overboard with how much profit they add to the service they provide or goods they sell, which sometimes can be traumatizing to their customers.
The question of whether businesses should consider ethics or profits comes into play. In my own opinion, I think every business owner attaches an amount or profit to their goods or services based on the standard they provide and customers also choose what they can afford. In the fashion industry for instance, we see top designers place exorbitant prices for their designs that can be gotten in a much lesser amount from another designer, at this point, it's no longer about what they are selling but the brand name and package, would you say these business owners are being unethical, no, they aren't, because these customers or consumers know what they want, wanting to be associated with a brand or designer for the sake of it.
The thing is, they know they have a choice, but still choose to spend more, and the business keeps cashing out, providing the luxury and staying in business.
The unethical part of business is when the customer pays for a service or goods and the businesses try to play a fast one on them to gain more profits, Our eastern brothers in this part of my country are more guilty of this act, Imagine buying a sealed bag of rice only for you to measure and realize it is one paint bucket lesser than the normal measurement, what these seller do is punch the bag with a funnel like instrument, fetching a paint out of every bag in stock to sell them for more profit, because they believe people who buys in bag hardly have the time to measure the whole bag. This is so unethical of these businessmen or women involved in activities like this.
Overall, the best approach between making profit and considering their customers is for businesses to create balance and try to accommodate as many clients, irrespective of their social status, making everyone feel included. This way, the business is sustained, and the customers feel happy as well and not overburdened whenever they patronize you. Ultimately, a business that values both profit and ethics will reap the benefits of a loyal customer base and a reputation for integrity.
All images used in this post are mine