More and more, it appears as if the old adage of "the customer is always right" is being taken in the most literal sense possible. It seems as if there is no longer any limitations to this phrase, and the customer is in the right, even when they are very clearly incorrect. Where is the line drawn between proper customer relations, and becoming a door mat in an attempt to keep the customer happy? Where is the line drawn between being respectful to the customer's needs, and being spineless to appease the customer?
Here's a news flash for customers - you are not always in the right.
Take fast food for instance; there probably isn't a person in the world who frequents fast food restaurants and has not received a substandard meal, whether it be an incorrect item, an incorrectly prepared item, or the wrong item altogether. Naturally, a complaint would be in order. After all, you paid for the meal, and it was delivered incorrectly.
There are two kinds of complaints in the fast food business; the polite complaint ("excuse me, my order is messed up"), and the world-owes-me complaint ("hey, dumbass, you got my order wrong!"). Both complaints will be addressed and the situation remedied, but which customer will receive the better, more polite service?
Retail in general is a great example of this issue. Mistakes happen, people purchase the wrong item, or purchase too many, or the item is defective in someway -- there are an abundance of issues that could occur. Many stores have policies concerning returns and customer service, posted visibly near or at the customer service desk. Many even outline their policies on the receipt, especially during the holiday season.
Countless times, however, will you see a particular person complaining to the high heavens about the terrible quality of service, demanding to know why their complaint cannot be handled in the manner they specify. This just in - the store sets the policy. Not the customer. Why does this not seem to sink in? Asking for the manager does not change the store policy, either.
Even in an online business, the phrase "the customer is always right" seems to echo as literal as ever - perhaps even more so because the customer can hide behind a certain level of anonymity. The internet seems to bring out the worst in customers, whether it be service through vocal, or electronic means. Many readers may laugh this off and generalize, "Well, that's kids for you," so here's an observation that may shock you: many of these rude customers are older than thirty.
That's not exactly fair, actually. That observation doesn't just apply to online businesses, but retail stores and restaurants as well.
Here it is again: the customer is not always right.
Regardless of the poor service you claim to have received, regardless of the substandard meal, regardless of the return policy you neglected to notice - a customer should still be polite. You can get your point across without calling the kid behind the counter a dumbass. You can still attempt to make a questionable return without telling the poor lady behind the counter that she must be more stupid than a bag of bricks. You can even attempt to sort out an error in online merchandise without accusing the company owners of being emo teenagers in their mothers' basements.
As a customer, rudeness gets you better service like dropping out of high school gets you a scholarship into Harvard. No matter how rude you are, no matter how loudly you yell, you will not receive your desired result. Respect is a two-way street, ladies and gentlemen, even when dealing with the poor souls whose job it is to attempt to cater to your needs and wants.
Introduction ^-^
So I figured that if I wanted to get a leg up into writing, I should start writing reviews and stuff of that nature. Just a caution, I'm pretty opinionated about everything, so don't be surprised if my opinions are not the same as yours. If you don't like, don't read. =3 Thanks!
