Retail Customer Frustrations: A Ticket to Understanding

Take a Number!: A Tiny Ticket Dispenser

The customer is ultimately the one who gives you money, but that shouldn’t make them right. Customers should implore some common sense before they go asking inane questions to store associates.

The full quote is often considered to be “The customer is always right, in matters of taste,” which means that even if a customer’s preference might seem wrong, a business should still cater to it as it’s a matter of personal taste; this phrase is most commonly attributed to Harry Gordon Selfridge, a retail magnate. 

I worked in retail for a few years at Office Depot and it was quite frustrating to deal with some people. Most of the time people would come in asking for ink refills or typewriter ribbons. I would ask what model they own and they couldn’t remember nor would they bring the empty with them. They bought it at Office Depot, so I guess that was enough.

Of course on the other end of the spectrum, if you work at a place you should know your store and what you stock. There have been times when I’ve asked someone at Best Buy where a certain item is located. They are quick to reply they don’t carry the item and go about killing time until their break or shift ends. I always make it a point to find the item, locate the said employee and show them the item they don’t carry. Then proceed to order it from amazon from my smartphone.

Recommended website. Not Always Right