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Is the customer always right?

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keithold thanks all baggers

by keithold thanks all baggers on October 5th, 2007

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Answers. 152 helpful answers below.

  • Ocean is gone...
    Ocean is gone... Oct 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...

    2 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • Jade
    Jade Oct 5th, 2007 Only when they are within earshot.

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • Aquatic Eagle
    Aquatic Eagle Apr 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.

    4 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • Inquisitive minds want to know...
    Inquisitive minds want to know... Aug 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.

    3 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • mother earth
    mother earth Oct 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.

    2 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • Galeanda
    Galeanda Jun 27th, 2008 No but often an employer would like you to pretend that they are.

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • quack is whack
    quack is whack Apr 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.

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • I love my baby
    I love my baby Oct 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.

    6 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • Kevisaurus is a Carnotaurus today
    Kevisaurus is a Carnotaurus today Oct 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.

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Oct 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.

    ;)

    2 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • American Idle
    American Idle Oct 5th, 2007 If you're on the clock, yes. :)

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • CatLover-The Original is Proudly Canadian
    CatLover-The Original is Proudly Canadian Apr 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.

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • Scifisuz
    Scifisuz Apr 8th, 2009 No, of course not. But good business practices indicate that the customer should be accomodated if at all possible.

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • Nitroduck
    Nitroduck Apr 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.

    2 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • Karasu
    Karasu Apr 8th, 2009 They are not but its best to make them think they are just to maintain business services I guess

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • Sosueme
    Sosueme Aug 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.

    2 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • Kitt-tastrophy
    Kitt-tastrophy Oct 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!

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • Ender
    Ender Oct 5th, 2007 No. However, the customer is almost always stupid.

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • Lets Go Sharks
    Lets Go Sharks Nov 11th, 2009 hell no1They can be scumbags.

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • Mountain Momma
    Mountain Momma Nov 7th, 2009 No!

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • soulalonegirl
    soulalonegirl Nov 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.

    3 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • RC loves ice cream
    RC loves ice cream 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.

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • kirababe
    kirababe May 20th, 2009 heck no!

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • Sid
    Sid Apr 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.

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • Dancin Nymph
    Dancin Nymph Apr 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..

    2 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Apr 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.

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • ujamaciamecrazy
    ujamaciamecrazy Sep 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!

    2 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • ATLguy4life
    ATLguy4life Sep 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. :)

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • Scrappy
    Scrappy Aug 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..

    5 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • Rambling Ricky
    Rambling Ricky Aug 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.

    2 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • Stillme FBB
    Stillme FBB Aug 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.

    3 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • ian
    ian Aug 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

    5 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • Kiss A Fat Babys Ass
    Kiss A Fat Babys Ass Aug 28th, 2008 No but like a wife you have to make them feel like they are right.

    4 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • Scooter
    Scooter Aug 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.

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • lianaface
    lianaface Aug 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.

    2 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • bnbianuni
    bnbianuni Jul 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!!

    2 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • 에가오노겐키
    에가오노겐키 Oct 12th, 2007 When they're also the police, maybe.

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • Zoan
    Zoan Oct 5th, 2007 If I go into the store and say I should receive a brand new Ipod for free, am I right?

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • loveschimps
    loveschimps Oct 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.

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • MRSHINYSHOES
    MRSHINYSHOES Oct 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.

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • peterpam
    peterpam Oct 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!

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Oct 5th, 2007 Only back in the good old days.

    2 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • DorkPangs
    DorkPangs Oct 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.

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • BrokeDog
    BrokeDog Oct 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.

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • Kdmichaels
    Kdmichaels Oct 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.

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • lizizhere
    lizizhere Oct 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.

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • Scooter
    Scooter Oct 5th, 2007 If you work in Customer Service and cherish your job they are. According to the suits in charge.

    11 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • suda44
    suda44 Nov 28th, 2009 not at all. :)

    2 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • druine
    druine Nov 21st, 2009 no, not always; but, you have to let them think they are.


    Dave
    http://thebeatspot.com

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • greens
    greens Nov 16th, 2009 No the customer is not always right. First off there are many crazy people out there. Just because they have a complaint does not mean that there complaint is possible. The workers job is to ensure that the customers complaint can either be fixed or explain why to the customer why they are wrong.

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

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