njones99

TL;DR The customer is not always right, but the original phrase is an important business practice to keep in mind.

The answer is not as simple as yes they are or no they aren't. The intent behind the phrase 'The customer is always right' is to make the customer feel special. A business that prioritizes customer service above all is a business that follows the phrase. Following this guideline is not a bad thing, as companies should uphold the wishes of the consumers. As difficult or annoying as it may be at times, the customers are spending their hard-earned money, and they have the right to act and speak however they want, so businesses should try and be accommodating.

However, this phrase is not literal, and problems arise when people take it as such. This phrase can give consumers a feeling of entitlement that can lead to rude or abusive behavior towards employees. 'The customer is always right' is an idea, not an excuse. There should be a line between respecting the customer and needlessly taking abuse from them.

So, is the customer literally always right? The answer is no, the customer is not always right, and there should be a limit to what employees have to take from customers. However, companies should keep the original intent of the phrase in mind when conducting business to keep customers satisfied and returning for more.