To show how infuriating and exhausting it can get, Bored Panda has compiled a list of clients that seem to have no bounds when it comes to cluelessness. Scroll down to find them, and be sure to share your own experiences down below.
While you're at it, don't forget to check out a conversation with website optimization consultant, customer experience specialist, and developer Chérie Oduwole, who kindly agreed to share some tips on how to deal with rude customers.
#1 If They Get Bigger, I Would Start Worrying. Possible Food Spoilage Or Alien Infestation
#2 A Customer From Florida Parked In Front Of The Cart Return, So I, The Cart Pusher, Started A Line Beside Their Car, And Now Customers Are Leaving Carts All Around Their Car
Since this list is blatant proof that customers aren’t always right, let’s look at how the opposite of this phrase came to be and why it’s so important in the realm of customer service.
The slogan is believed to have been coined by Marshall Field, who introduced this idea when he established Chicago’s first department store in 1893. Then Henry Gordon Selfridge took this concept overseas to London, where he popularized it further.
The original quote was actually longer, saying that "Right or wrong, the customer is always right." Almost 100 years later, César Ritz introduced this mentality to the hospitality industry when he founded The Ritz Carlton Hotels.
His was a bit different, stating that "Le client n'a jamais tort," which translates to the customer is never wrong.
#9 A Restaurant Review I Stumbled On. The Customer Is So Many Kinds Of Wrong
Before this phrase was introduced to the customer service industry, the client wasn’t exactly treated well. In fact, it was the opposite. The person who bought the product was fully responsible for inspecting its quality and reporting any problems before the item was purchased. It wasn’t up to the seller to reveal anything about the commodities they offered or provide assistance to the customer.
#11 Customer Bought Wheels And Tires Online. After Advising Multiple Times That The Tires Are Too Small For His SUV He Insisted For Us To Put Them On
#12 Scrolled Across This Gem Someone Posted Today At A Local Grocery Store
So when business introduced the concept of ‘customer is always right’, they flocked to them, as they weren’t used to being treated with this level of consideration and care. Over time, many variations of this philosophy became popular globally.
#13 Standing In Line At The Bank, And The Current Customer Chooses This To Be The Perfect Time To Paint Her Toenails
In Germany, it became ‘Der Kunde ist König,’ translating into ‘the customer is king.’ In Japan, the slogan reads ‘okyakusama wa kamisama desu,’ or ‘the customer is god.’ Spain has the phrase ‘El cliente siempre tiene la razón,’ implying that “the customer always has a reason." All of them ensure fair trade practices and build great relationships with clients.
#17 Lady Goes To Self Checkout, Makes Attendant Unload Her Cart, Scan And Bag Each Item
This mentality doesn’t necessarily mean that customers can do no wrong. Instead, it comes from a place wanting to ensure customer satisfaction by making them feel heard and valued, says website optimization consultant, customer experience specialist, and developer Chérie Oduwole to Bored Panda. "It was put in place to encourage businesses to prioritize the customer's experience.
Customers have the power to make or break a company, so it’s important to meet their expectations. If not, they can quickly take their business elsewhere. That’s why even the most difficult customers deserve to feel seen and heard.
