Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1873-11-19
Odd CusfOmers....The Tricks
ana Their Manners.

Odd CusfOmers..- Trick
anu Their Manners.
One would naturally suppose tina
every person who enters q shop is awar
Of what he requires. Our experience
however, shows that shopkeepers an,
shopmen are accustomed to recogniz
two classes of customers, those VIII,
know what they want and those who d.
not. In the first is to be found tha
customer who is SO rare and 30 perfec
that we will call him the ideal custo
mer. He exists as a sort of fond dream
in the minds OF shopmen. sometimes
but too seldom, realized. He know
what he wants, and he knows the price
he asks for it, pays for it, and takes j
away. Heaven prosper him on his way
He is model to all customers.
Now, if the shopkeeper did not pos
sess the srticle required by the Gus
toner, he would inform him so, and the
customer would leave the shop. Ii
this respect, and in this only, he differ,
from the obstinate customer, who, al
though quite as clear on his own re
guirements, gives far more trouble
For he is no sooner informed that the
article he wishes is not kept, than hs
betrays q belief that it is, and that only
laziness and lack Of understanding pre-.
vents his obtaining it. He therefore
institutes little search on his own &C.
count throughout the shop, naturally
inhicting annoyance on the feelings OF
the shopman.
We will suppose the obstinate GUS
toner enters chemists shop, and asks
for pair Of washing-gloves. He is told
that I'VE do not keep them"
Don't keep them?" he exclaims,
gazing keenly around the shop; "dear
me, that's very awkward What is that
pile Of things ON the shelf Just above
your head there?"
He is told that they are chest-protec-
tors.
ooh, indeed chest-protectors, eh ?
They wouldn't do then-they-wouldn' 7
do" This is said slowly as the
speakers eye wanders searchingly
around the shop. Presently he says
again, probably pointing rudely and
otficiously with his umbrella:
"1sn't that pile Of things there with
the red borders to them washing gloves?
l think they must be u
They are accordingly taken down and
shown to be something. quite different
to washing gloves. A glimmer of intel
ligence will, then, perhaps, shine upon
him, and he will say, "Well, if you
haven't got them, can't have them
can II" And then, casting suspicious
glances around him he leaves the shop
slowly, and the shopman may 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 gene
rally never inquiries until his 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 extracted until the
result is reduced to within the reach of
the indiscreet customers pocket.
This customer is the most annoying.
as the mode of dealing with him is so
difficult. Ii 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 unknown customer, who is at
once the horror and delight OF the shop
keepers. We will narrate a fact We
came across to illustrate this:
A shabby old gentleman walked into
a jewelers. shop and asked to be allowed
to look at some topazes. Three or four
were accordingly shown him, and he
quickly selected the best, which he said
was hardly good enough, "Ah, but you
see these stones are expensive" said
the jeweler, rather patronizingly, 81
can assure you the one you have chosen
would answer any ordinary purpose.
The old gentleman looked around him
in q dissatisfied way, and presently
caught sight Of large and beautiful
stone in q corner of the jewelers. glass
case.
"That looks more like what want"
said he, "let me look at that one, will
your
"It 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
produced it, naming a high price. 1t
was Immediately chosen; and his GUS
toner, taking a sketch from his pocket,
said: "Get that coat t-of-arms engraved
upon it, and send me word when it is
DONE"
He gave his name and address. He
was a noble earl, and the shopkeeper
had committed the grievous error OF
treating him as an indiscreet, when he
was an unknown customer.