customer is always right

[cathy37]

It was her mistake so she should have to pay to have another card made.  I have learned that the customer is not always right.

[6265AT99]

One of the things I have learned is get all the specifics BEFORE the deal is closed - otherwise you are bound to run into snags such as yours.  I really think, under the circumstances, and since it was the "customer's" fault, you could tell her you will make the second card at a "discounted price" and see how she reacts.  If she squawks too much, you might just want to "eat" the first card so as not to lose her as a customer.  Either way - good luck!

[vickysue]

she should have told you up front that she wanted a funny one.
Right now i am  pressing K-mart on a problem they have, I wanted to order a couple of mattress from them and when i went on line i found out i couldn't order them unless i lived more then 50 miles away, Well i went to the store to get them ordered and the  manager said she would order them, well she didn't. Went back and  their was an acting manager in to straighten somethings out (manager is young and dumb). any way i am now waiting to see if he will get it worked out. Am sure he will . He was going home to a large city and said he would bring them back with him or they would be ordered into the store. One way or another i will have what i want.

[sak4kat]

I ran a repair business at one time.  I had a legal document that both myself and customers would sign.  In the document it states that if anything additional requests leading to more work were made than an additional document would be signed and agreed upon to include additional labor and supplies.  Now I'm venturing a small farmers market business.  Personalizing edible treats.... once I start.. modification can't be made or it could cost me.  I just learned that lesson with a 120 ct cookie order this last weekend.

[braggin]

I agree with most of the people who have already responded. She is obligated to pay you for the card you already made because you did make it to the specs she gave you. If she wants another one that is funny now, she should have to pay again.

[sdenimandlace1]

She should just buy another one from you and save the other one for another time.

[Gerianne]

the customer paid me for making her another card.
she still had the other one, the one she didn't like.
I was able to pass it on to a housekeeper who works in our building.
good came out it all around. yay.

[autumnsparklemom]

She made the mistake not you. She should have been happy with the first one you done.

[SherylsShado]

Having worked retail for a number of years in all different settings, I know that very rarely is the customer "right" from the "business eye" of things.  But, the customer only sees the business through the "customer's eye" and it's important to take that into consideration.

It's about treating customers the way you'd want to be treated (we've ALL been customers with various problems on at least one time in our lives.)  Excellent customer service is what keeps us going back for more...

Excellent customer service is what makes us feel like telling people we know to shop there.  (And with social media these days, no business wants an upset customer on Facebook letting their 700+ "friends" know how poorly they were treated.......)  Facebook or not, word gets around.

I've worked retail in every setting from fast-food, to gas station to Walmart, to Ebay & flea markets (& others).  I've seen people pull stunts to get free food, saw them drive off claiming "they forgot to pay for the gas after they pumped it" (and the police brought them back), and the stuff that happens in Walmart with customer "complaints" is so crazy--it stays at Walmart.  But every business insisted on making every customer that left, a HAPPY customer. 

I was a seller on Ebay and I've had booths in flea markets with customers that I KNOW lied about items to get items for free (or at a discount).  Businesses CAN take the cost of an item and claim it as a "business loss"...so usually, it's just "good business" to make the customer happy.

Glad everything worked out alright...usually it does.   

[camellia0]

Hopefully you told her that you would make her another card...if she paid for it. Customers are not always right.

[dsawan]

just d best ya can to please.

[teresa3200]

I hope you can get it straightened out. I also own a small business and I know you don't want to make her upset either, because you may lose future business along with word of mouth prospective business.It's hard when you try to make people happy and make money at the same time.

[betlynjua]

I hope you can get it straightened out. I also own a small business and I know you don't want to make her upset either, because you may lose future business along with word of mouth prospective business.It's hard when you try to make people happy and make money at the same time.

Yes, sometimes, it is a very challenging balancing act.  My husband and I have found that being honest, firm and at the same time kind and respectful really does go a long way.  Many people do understand and are willing to comply when things are explained in a quiet manner. 

If they don't want to be understanding then we didn't need their business anyway, there are plenty of other clients for us to work with.  At least this is how it has gone for us.

[rjem55]

The role of the thumb is that 'the costumer is always right. whatever they want or wanted to know about the stuff you s should hear or listen to their demands, that is we can measure if a person has a good costumer service.

[pmagalei]

Sometimes that goes both ways. I know you took your time in making that first one. What if she was trying to cheer up someone who is dying? When she came to you the first time, she wasn't sure? Sometimes what you do out of love is more important. Who knows, after that she will always come to you. Or will tell other people about your business? You might not know now, but the LORD put people in our path for a  reason. I would say, you should do what you need to do out of LOVE!