Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-09-04
Various Kinds OF Customers.

! men are accustOmcu " icSoSH, ~
classes Of customers, those VINO kho"
what they want, and those VINO 90 not. III
the first Is to be found that customer VINO
is so rare and so perfect that we VIII can
| him the ideal customer. lie exists as u
sort OF fond dream in the nina OF the
sherman. sometimes, but all too seldom,
realized He knows what ne wants, anu
he knows the price, he asks for 1t, pays
for II, and takes it away Heaven prosper
him on his way. He is modeI 10 all
customers. -
Now if the shopkeeper did not possess
the article required by the ideal customer,
no would inform him so, and the Gus
toner would leave the shop. In this re-
spect, and in this only he differs from the
obstinate customer, who, although quite
as clear on his requirements, gives far
more trouble. For he is no sooner In
formed that the article he wishes is not
kept. than he betrays belief that IT is,
and that only laZiness or lack OF under
derstanding prevents his obtaining it. He
therefore institutes little search on his
own account throughout the shop, natur-
ally infiicting annoyance on the feelings
of the shopman.
We will suppose the Obstinate Gus
toner enters chemists shop, and asks
for pair of washing gloves. lie is told
that 1--WE do not keep them.'
"Don't keep them?' he exclaims, gaZ-
ing keenly around the shop; dear me,
that's very awkward! What is that pile
of things on the shelf just above your
head therey"
He is told that they are chest-protec-
| Ors.
"Oh, indeed! chestprotectors, eh9 They
wouldn't do then-thcy-wouldn't do"
This is said slowly as the speakers eye
wanders searchingly around the shop.
Presently he says again, probably point
ing rudely and officiously with his UNI
brella:
'Isn't that pile of things there with the
red borders to them washing gloves? l
think they must be-"
They are accordingly taken down and
shown to be something quite different to
washng-gloves. A glimmer of intelli-
gence will then, perhaps shine upon him,
and he will say, "Well, if you haven't got
them can't have them-can ?" And
then casting suspicious glances around
him, he leaves the shop slowly, and the
shopman NAV think himself fortunate if
something in the window does not attract
his notice, and bring him back again.
A customer much to be avoided is the
Indiscreet customer. He orders readily,
and speedily finds what he wants. But
he never thinks about price, and generally
never inquiries until the parcel Of goods
is packed up. 1t most frequently happens
that the price is three or four times what
he expected or can afford, and an awkward
; dilemma is the result 1t generally ends
in the parcel being opened, and goods ex-
tracted until the amount is reduced to
within the reach of the Indiscreet custom
er's pocket.
This customer is the more annoying, as
the mode of dealing with him is so diff
cult If it be attempted to discern the
probable worth of the individual by his
dress and appearance, there is the utmost
danger of confounding him with the I'm
known customer, who is at once the hor
ror and delight Of shopkeepers. We Will
narrate fact we came across to illustrate
this.
Ashabby old gentleman walked into 8
jewelers. shop, and asked to be allowed tt
look at some topazes. Three or four were
accordingly shown to him, and he quick
ly selected the best, which he said was
hardly good enough "Ah, but you see
these stones are expensive" said the jew
eler, rather patronizingly. 81 can assure
you the one you have chosen would an
swer any ordinary purpose"
The old gentleman looked around him
in dissatisfied way, and presently caught
sight Of a large and beautiful stone in .
corner Of the jewelers. glass case.
"That looks more like what l want,
said he; ''let me look at that one, will
your"
ut will be very expensive, sir; very
indeed-more, | dare say, than you would
like to give. The stone you have is very
good. sir'
In quiet voice the old gentleman
asked if the stone was for sale or only on
view. AT this rebuke the jeweler pro-
duced it, naming high price. 1t was
Immediately chosen; and his customer
taking a sketch from his pocket, said:
"Get that cOat-ofarms engraved upon
it, and send me word when it's DONE"
He gave his name and address He was
noble earl, and the shopkeeper had com
mitted the grevious error of treating him
as an Indiscreet, when he was an I'm
known customer.
One of the most remarkable specimens
is the Communicative customer. This
person, 1t appears, will with the slightest
| encouragement tdHu SOmetlWeS WltnOutD
converse freely about his personal and
private affairs over shop-counter, to an
individual he has never seen before in his
life A gentleman of this class, on the
simple introduction occasioned by the
purchase Of half pound of figs, told the
grOcer's assistant that he should have been
in the grocery trade himself If he had
stopped down in the country where he
was born; but that he always had fancy
to come to London; so he ran away, and
came.
~ wasn't worth much when ] first ar.
rived" said the Communicative customer,
"but I'm worth few thousands now. l
bought house yesterday that cost me
over fifteen hundred pounds; and I'm
going to furnish it, and let it furnished
never could get on with unfinished
houses. One of my tenants" &C., &C.,
&c.
i Another instance was man who, with
in five minutes of entering the shop, in
formed the shopman where he was going
to dine, what he was going to have, and
what his balance was at his bankers!
OF course the most troublesome of all
customers are to be found amongst those
i who do not know what thew want Fore