Is the customer really always right?

Question

I work in retail, and of course, I've had to deal with my fair share of B.S. from customers. And not too long ago, I met a woman who once worked at a bookstore. She told me that she had facial piercings at the time she worked there, and that one day, as she was serving an old woman, the old bag told her that she couldn't stand to look at her face! The old woman's behavior was clearly unacceptable and she should have been confronted by a store employee (a manager, perhaps). Being a retail employee doesn't make someone a human punching bag!

Answer 1

I worked retail full time for a company for 2 years and I too have seen my share of uncceptable behaviors,on the part of customers.I think the hardest thing was to ignore it and continue working with them and no less with a smile on my face....I always felt in those moments like they were intentionally serving me a plate a poop and salt and making me eat it.All thanks to the retail GOLDEN rule that the customer is always right....
No it isn't true and if it happens to you,you have the right to defer them to a Manager.And its always a plus if you can learn how to diplomaticly put them in their place with a smile on your face...Its something I feel if you're in retail you MUST learn....
For instance the old woman in your example a good response would've been to each his own ma'am I'm sure some would agree and others would disagree with you, after all Creator gave us freewill and variety so we don't all look alike.And at the same time ma'am I am sure there are people who feel the same about your face.A huge smile and a little giggle and the insult was just delivered right back in a way that left no room for chatisement from management.And then simply completing the customer transaction with a smile a nod and oh don't forget the *You Have a Nice Day Now* ending ;)
Who says we should have to eat poop and salt and not share?

Answer 2

I used to work in retail, and I hated it. That is bad when you need to work because your family depends on it. At the place where I worked we could not, literally, could not come against the customer. Where I worked, I had seen good cashiers let go because an a&s-hole went to management and told ficticiouse things to them. It could have been a great place to work at but the the customer was allowed to walk all over us. I finally was able to leave and go to work somewhere else....but not before it put a very bad taste in my mouth for the way people treat you. I therefore have chosen to be the nicest to cashiers that I can be.. I am different then before; when I was just like any other customer. I do think if everyone had to work retail for just a week or longer, they would be a better customer, themselves! I gave all you ladies a thumb up for knowing myself what you went through......God Bless!!!

Answer 3

No. The customer is not always right, but I think the point of that saying is to make staff behave as though they BELIEVE the customer is right. If the customer thinks you believe they are right, they will be more easily pacified.

Answer 4

Of course the customer is not REALLY always right, but in retail they are always satisfied. However that is business rule...and you are talking personal attack. Some folks are just rude and thats that, if they woman felt threatened or like she was being attacked she could have excused herself and gotten someone else to finish with the lady. Being in retail doesnt make you a punching bag, your right, but it does put you in the public arena with all the dimwits it has to offer. Better conform, or get thicker skin.

Answer 5

Not necessary. I used to work in the retail industry and that saying means that they are always right in prices and how they spend money. There was a store in the San Francisco Westfield Centre called the Warner Brothers Studio store in the mall anyway I saw a fleece that was marked down, but when i tried to pay for it , the cashier told me that it wasn't marked down in their register, but I told her that what I see is what I pay for, so she confronted her manager and the manager had no choice, but to sell me the fleece in which wasn't on sale and to give me the lower price. So, it means talking about prices not about customers talking to the person who happened to be working in the retail industry like a punching bag.

Answer 6

I don't think it's right for workers to have to put up with an arrogant and mean customer, it just makes those people think they can treat you anyway they want. That's why when I see a customer treating someone in a store or restaurant badly, *I* mouth off at the customer. Hey, I don't work there! So I tell them off because as a fellow human being I don't like to see that crap.

Answer 7

My motto is, "the customer is always an a$$ hole." I manage a restaurant...yeah, nice job, eh? It pays the bills though. I have to put up with angry people and complaints all the time. People will order food, and then tell you that's not what they ordered, and you have to just smile and give them what they want and not make a scene, when in reality you just want to jump the counter and choke the life from the bastards. Customers suck.

Answer 8

The customer isn't always right, is eldom right, But they are the reason for your job and that is where your money comes from
I don't think either of you should be in retail. Find another job.

Answer 9

OK, the saying "the customer is always right" is attributed to R.H. Macy. He supposedly said it at a board meeting of Macy's department store.
BUT...this may make you feel better.
an additional part of the story, one you seldom hear, is that the entire quote is actually: "the customer is always right, because you can't win an argument with an idiot!!"

Answer 10

Can I relate to that!!! I am in automotive retail and they say salespeople are liars... customers are the biggest liars, everytime they open their mouth. The phrase "customers are always right" is only that we have to accept their BS, because we are supplying them with the service... by far does it mean that they are always right... woosh!!!