by keithold is a prodigal bagger on October 5th, 2007

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Is the customer always right?

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by Ocean is gone... on October 5th, 2007
No way... I get customers all the time that try and tell me that i'm wrong and soon find out that I'm actually right and they are wrong... I help about 300 customers a day... It gets quite old...
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by Aquatic Eagle on April 8th, 2009
My very first boss told me that the customer is NOT always right but the customer is always a customer and should be treated with respect.
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by Jade on October 5th, 2007
Only when they are within earshot.
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by Inquisitive minds want to know... on August 28th, 2008
No they are not always right. I have been a manager for 13 years.....when a customer uses deragatory language or a racial slur towards one of my employees....their money is no good in my establishment.
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by mother earth on October 5th, 2007
No, they are not always right. But it's a good business practice to treat all customers with respect and dignity. Sometimes this means agreeing with them even when they are wrong. Most of the time this attitude earns respect and dignity in return, not to mention return business.

There will be jerks though. Even when they are right they're wrong.
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by Galeanda on June 27th, 2008
No but often an employer would like you to pretend that they are.
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by Kitt-tastrophy on October 6th, 2007
NO! For example...I was working at a photography studio during the Christmas season (boy wasn't that fun!) A mother came in with her 2 sons who were ALL over the place, not listening, wouldn't sit still, no matter what I did these two were terrible, and I couldn't geta picture to save my life. Their mom got pissed at me because I looked at her and said this just isn't working ma'am (mind you, this is after almost TWO hours and the whole time she just stood there and never said a single word to her kids who were being little terrors) and she looked at me and said "YOU are the photographer...it is YOUR job to make them sit still, listen, and get a good picture taken" .......WRONG!! That is when I finally lost my cool and said "No ma'am, YOU are their mother it's YOUR job to control your kids and make them listen, it's my job to take the picture!" Of course after that she wanted a new photographer, which she got, and still didn't get a good pic!
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by I love my baby on October 5th, 2007
No. I was so wrong today to stand at the service desk for 20 minutes watching the guys stock the shelves. I should have walked out.
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by quack is whack on April 8th, 2009
Depends on the situation. If it's a matter of meeting the customers' needs, then yes, they're always right.

If they're trying to tell me I'm a boy named Sue, then they are most definitely wrong.
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by Ender is back.. And slightly confused. on October 5th, 2007
No. However, the customer is almost always stupid.
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by Anonymous on October 5th, 2007
If your business is strong enough to withstand the loss of a customer and his/her friends, then the customer isn't always right.

;)
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by American idle on October 5th, 2007
If you're on the clock, yes. :)
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by Nitroduck on April 8th, 2009
NO,

And while they might not always be right, they will always be the customer, and should be treated better than they are treating you. That doesn't mean I mind to tell one to "fu&$ off" if they get out of line with my people.

A customer will not be right when they do not know the specifics of what they are buying. In any business, you will always run into people who have completely unreasonable expectations. It is usually best, if you can't get them to understand your service or product to tell them to fu$% off too... Because when you deliver your perfect product, and it doesn't meet their delusional expectations - they will spread bad word about your business.
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by Sosueme on August 28th, 2008
That would be a big NO. Example "But shouldn't this case be worth $100.000?:". No m'am, you would be lucky to say hi to the judge.
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by MRSHINYSHOES on October 5th, 2007
With the way people are these days--they lie, cheat, and try to trick their way into getting a refund, discount, or just making a complaint--no way. They're only right when a business wants to make money and not lose a customer, but many times customers are so bad they are wrong in my eyes.
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by Kevisaurus is a Carnotaurus today on October 5th, 2007
Only in their minds but the customer usually is an under educated person hoping that they will select the right thing and they help that the sales force is competent to guide them into purchasing the right thing.
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by Lets Go Sharks on November 11th, 2009
hell no1They can be scumbags.
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by Mountain Momma on November 7th, 2009
No!
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by soulalonegirl on November 7th, 2009
No. I know stores want you to treat customers as if they are always right, but I have worked for a big discount store and had customers treat me like dirt and then try to tell management that I am at fault. Also, I have seen a customer recently trying to return an item and when the clerk tried to say she couldn't do that without management approval, this guy jumped all over her, swearing at her. It was infantile and an example of behavior I've seen far too many times.
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by RC loves ice cream on May 20th, 2009
The customer is usually wrong, but if you tell them that they won't be a customer for long, so convince them they're right, then gradually change their mind while keeping them convinced they were right all along.
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by kirababe on May 20th, 2009
heck no!
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by Sid on April 8th, 2009
Not always no. Usually it is best to let them think they are for the sake of business, but if they don't treat you with the correct respect then you are within your rights to put them in their place.
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by CatLover-The Original is Proudly Canadian on April 8th, 2009
I don't think they are always right but they should be treated like they were right. If you make it very clear that they are at fault, you will lose a customer. It's as simple as that. Let them think they are correct. No one loses.
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by Scifisuz on April 8th, 2009
No, of course not. But good business practices indicate that the customer should be accomodated if at all possible.
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by Karasu on April 8th, 2009
They are not but its best to make them think they are just to maintain business services I guess
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by Anonymous on April 8th, 2009
More often than not, the customer is dead wrong. They just use that old adage as a way of getting what they when they're usually aware that it's completely against rules or policy.
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by Scrappy on August 28th, 2008
no. their not. Keeping a customer satisfied is the goal but lets face it. there are some customers that you can NOT ever satisfy. ex) I was in a Cracker Barrel a while back and a lady was complaining like crazy cause the cook was incompetant and didn't know how to spice her food correctly. A waiter came over and told her 'well, maam I am sorry and we will get you any other dish you would like on the house if you just tell us what you want".. after he left she said "I don't want another dish..their cooks just need to learn to cook it the way I like it. (like she's a queen and they are supposed to cook JUST LIKE SHE WANTS IT and forget everyone else). My point being you cannot satisfy some people.

I worked retail for a long time and I had customers come in and DEMAND I lower prices on things because it was past expiration date or had a dent in the can or whatever.. I couldn't do that.. I was just a cashier. but then they are always supposed to be right..
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by BrokeDog on October 5th, 2007
That's how I was trained. But, later on, I learned about the ones who (supposedly) bought dresses, (to wear that night), and brought them back the next day, (never having removed the tags). And, the customers who ALWAYS ate 3/4 of their meal, then demanded to see the manager about mis-cooked food, or some other reason to get their food for free, (or next to it).
They really do ruin it for all good customers.
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by lizizhere on October 5th, 2007
Most of the time yes, but after trying unsuccessfully to accomidate them because they are just trying to get something for nothing then no. But as a customer service representive thats been doing this for many years I try to help the customers as much as I can but if they are just looking to steal & stiff you anyway then your not going to miss their business because their not bringing you any business anyway. Most of the time I can usually resolve most customer complaints by offering something for free if they've had a problem with one of our other services or products but sometimes you run into people that will never be satisfied no matter what you do.
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by Piggle on March 23rd, 2010
Yes - except when they are wrong!
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by suda44 on November 28th, 2009
not at all. :)
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by klkl on April 8th, 2009
Heck no we are not always right..but diplomacy is the name of the game when you are in business..
To be able to tell someone they are wrong and still keep them smilin at you is a great skill in retail..
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by Runs with scissors on September 27th, 2008
I own a business,a hair salon,I would never make that statement,I listen to both sides,if the client is very rude to my stylist,I have asked them to leave bef.not a problem with telling then either!
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by ATLguy4life on September 16th, 2008
The customer is always right......in a perfect world. But then in a perfect world the employee and company are also perfect and thus right.

In reality the customer is not always right. Its amazing how often customers take out their pain from personal problems on an employee simply because, and they don't like to admit this, they are helpless to fight back. Unfortunately I guess thats just the subconcious nature of many people. But to be fair, in companies that are unresponsive to public opinion, the service is so below par that the customer has every right to be frustrated and to express that frustration with company tools, also known as managers.

I guess I'd say no, but that doesn't mean the company/government/employee is right either. :)
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by Ramblin Ricky on August 28th, 2008
"The customer is always right" This is more of a philosophy than a fact. If you can turn an angry customer into a happy one, then you have a customer for life.
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by Stillme FBB on August 28th, 2008
When I'm the customer, yes.
To be serious, I would say yes. No one should ever argue with a customer, except the owner of the business.
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by ian on August 28th, 2008
lol to the first answer ive wrked in retail and yh thier not always right but should be treated as if they r with manners and niceness lol if they want a refund for a broken item u suggest a swap lol uum if they get violent just take it on the chin and calm em down lol
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by Kiss A Fat Babys Ass on August 28th, 2008
No but like a wife you have to make them feel like they are right.
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by Scooter on August 9th, 2008
No way...In order to maintain a customer base most companies have to operate under that theory. That doesn't mean that there aren't times when the customer is completely wrong.
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by lianaface on August 2nd, 2008
If I could take a test anywhere, it would be in a restaurant....because the customer is always right.

Except they're not. I'm a waitress. They're right about 2% of the time.
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by bnbianuni on July 1st, 2008
absolutely yes..THATS THE NUMBER ONE RULE YOU SHOULD GIVE OR BE TAKING BY YOUR BOSS..otherwise..no profets..although if you treated your customers strictly business..itll couse alot less trouble..no emotions!!
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by Tondoteottotote on October 12th, 2007
When they're also the police, maybe.
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by Zoan on October 5th, 2007
If I go into the store and say I should receive a brand new Ipod for free, am I right?
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by loveschimps on October 5th, 2007
This is store policy for most places and it is taken to the nth degree in my opinion. The customer usually wants to scam the store out of money or services.
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by peterpam on October 5th, 2007
Only in his own estimation. The salesperson needs to be aware that some purchasers are on the make and should never be allowed to get away with unfair trading. That applies in the reverse also!
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by Anonymous on October 5th, 2007
Only back in the good old days.
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by DorkPangs on October 5th, 2007
So long as I'm paid, the punter is as right as rain, so far as I care.

Now, are they actually right?

...

In my experience, rarely.
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by Kdmichaels on October 5th, 2007
In theory, yes, the customer is always right. But, when the customer becomes biligerent or violent or begins using foul language with me or any of my employers, that's when we ask him or her to leave. As long as the customer is remaining calm and courteous, I will do anything in my power to make him or her happy.
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by Scooter on October 5th, 2007
If you work in Customer Service and cherish your job they are. According to the suits in charge.
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by Thriftymaid on August 15th, 2010
No, the customer isn't always right. But, treating each customer like he or she is your only one is a proven way of providing good customer service. Some people can't be please; you have to recognize that.
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