Customer Is Not Always Right!

If someone tells you the customer is always right, they haven’t worked in Namibia.

It’s either the business owner who is not involved, or the customers themselves. The truth is, not all customers are right, and here’s why.

Some customers are downright unreasonable. For example, a customer will buy three big bones from a street vendor in Katutura, and after eating for five minutes, they’ll complain that there’s no meat. They’ll even shout at the vendor, who did nothing wrong. This type of customer is either a bully or can’t read the sign which reads “Ovitupa!”.
They sell bones and you must expect bones. Dammit!

Then there are those customers who believe they’re entitled to everything. They’ll demand free items and throw a tantrum if they don’t get their way.

One time, a customer demanded a free coffee at Fast Brewers because they had to wait for five minutes in line. Without fear of being cancelled, the manager explained that they are not a charity, and cannot give away free items just because someone is late for work.

“This is not a movie scene, this is Namibia. Tsek!” he shouted while clapping hands to each word, clicked his pink shoes and disappeared into the back room.

The problem with this is you should expect to wait if you are joining a line of 20 people ahead of you queuing for coffee. I mean, how long does it take you to make your own coffee at home? Now multiply that by 20 and wait, or go home.

Then there is the breed that will insist on seeing the manager just because they go to the same gym. Once, a customer demanded to see the manager but the employees themselves hadn’t seen the manager in two weeks. They explained the situation but she didn’t seem to care.
Sometimes, both the customer and the employees want to see the manager urgently, but the show must continue.

It’s always the cheap ones who negotiate for discounts that end up causing more trouble than they’re worth. They’ll haggle for a lower price and then cause issues later on. Or they will beg for a discount and just as you agree in defeat, they will scratch their head and pretend to have left their wallet in the car. They then walk away to never return, leaving you wondering how the devil picked you on such a beautiful day.

It’s as if they have all the time in the world and we are just there as supporting acts in their drama series roles.

Don’t get me wrong, they might save five dollars in that moment but, but at what cost? This costs more than the transaction is even worth, fussing over the tiniest crease and demanding refunds and exchanges.
There are also those who refuse to accept responsibility for their own mistakes because they are spiritual beings. They’ll blame the store and make an effort to crucify you rather than merely apologise for not paying attention. Because of the abuse they inflict, you decide not to assist them.

One day at Grove Mall, a shopper purchased the incorrect book and asked for a refund after having opened the book and clearly paged through it. They were uninterested in the teller’s explanation of the refund procedure.

The fact that the book cannot be returned once it has been opened and left the store is stated on the price tag on the back of the book.

“Please make sure you are taking the proper book,” said the paragraph underneath it.

If not for reading, why did you purchase the book?
Don’t let these price-gouging customers demoralise you, traders and service providers. You shouldn’t give somebody a discount just because they are cheap; keep in mind that your time is valuable. Never give up, never budge, and never be scared to refuse these seagulls of the retail world.

To the customers: We value your business, and that makes you family. But even family gets a ‘moerse taai klap’ in the face every now and then.