Pexel
Isn't it amusing that we're all customers yet, here we are trying to dissect a notion which we may in one way or another have been guilty of?
Well, I am not a firm believer of that mantra especially if the customer obviously isn't. The question here should be, Are bumans always right? You know the answer to that.
I've barely had those customer is right moments. If something doesn't appeal to me in terms of product, availability, price, service, whatever, I just take my leave.
But I remember one time, years ago when I was probably in my first or second year in high school. My mother used to own a stall at this popular market here where she should garri(cassava flakes), oil, melon,drinks and occasionally, fruits.
One afternoon, I got back from school and joined her at the shop. She took my presence as an opportunity to go get foodstuffs for the house. I already knew the prices of the wares so it wasn't really a problem.
A short while after she left, this woman stopped by the shop and asked how much garri was sold for and I told her. She began to haggle the price - which is quite normal by the way - but since it just wasn't in sync with how much my mother asked me to sell for as 'last price', I told her. She asked that I go call my mum and I told her she wasn't anywhere around.
Next thing, she proceeded to tell me how the ware(garri) wasn't even sweet after taking several handfuls of it. That she was just passing and thought to buy even though she already had some at home. That she already had a garri customer but just couldn't go to her shop. That 'our' price is too expensive and it's sold for cheaper at other places. Now, if you visit the market regularly, you'll agree that the prices for foodstuff in various stores are the same. Worst case scenario, it's a #50 naira difference.
I was certain that the woman had visited different stalls but couldn't buy it at the price she wanted and maybe because she saw that I was a little girl, she felt she could outsmart me. That day was not funny. Really. She wasn't having the price, yet, she didn't want to leave to try someplace else. Now,, I've always been a very calm girl. I'll let you talk to your fill without uttering a word and you'll end up buying or not(same thing my mother does to unruly custoners, only she'll shrug but she'll never engage you).
She kept rambling on how I didn't know the price and I wanted to chase away my mother's customers. All I managed to say was, 'Ma, that's the price. That's how much my mummy said I should sell it for." I think it was at this point that she told me to Shut up!
All these while, my mother's neighbour had been watching the drama. If you visit the market often, you'll notice how these traders look out for one another and my mum's trader-neighbours were(are) the closest knit I've known.
My mum's neighbour yelled at this woman and asked her to leave. That she's been here for long, refusing to leave, refusing to buy yet disrespecting me and asked her if she thought the garri was stolen. She served her from the same plate she'd been dishing out to little me(you know, they're used to those set of customers).
At first and in response to our neighbour, the woman said that she didn't know how to speak to customers. That with her tone, how does she expect anyone to buy from her and that besides, I did not explain properly to her. What was I even supposed to explain? The processes involved in garri making?
Our neighbor was not having it and told her that no one brought her to the shop neither did anyone beg her to buy. She probably had been boiling the whole time.
The woman then claimed that she was only joking with me and that I am(was) her friend.
Finally, this customer bought the garri at my stated price after getting a dose of her own medicine. She went ahead to tell me how properly trained I am. Me! Well, that wasn't my business. Just buy and go. Finish!
They're so many instances where business owners have to tiptoe around their businesses because some customers are uncouth and insatiable. Do we even begin to talk of those who get physical with vendors just because a particular product is unavailable at that time?
I sometimes feel the plight of young hustlers and employees in corporate organizations who have to put up with these attitudes because they have to survive or are answerable to someone respectively.
Pexel
The 'Customer is King' mantra even when he obviously isn't is very incorrect. I'm not doing anyone any favour. I give value which is money and they give equivalent value which is their service. You're just uncivil and very unintelligible. But those who let you be 'right' are the intelligent ones cause they understand life better.
While they may end up retaining you as a customer and get more of your money, you? You may get the right service but also get market as rude, get a bad social image, even your morals and mannerisms will decline.
Well, what does that matter to you?
You know what you wouldn't like a customer do/say to you at the job. Don't be same to another person (vendor) you patronize.
For service providers, Customers aren't always right but the ability to make them feel valued and respected when disagreeing with them is a valuable skill. After all,
A man of patience is stronger than a skilled man in war.
That said, everybody should just be courteous and respect themselves. Simple!
Thanks for gracing this post.
Good day!