The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-05-18
Claims Customer
 Is Always Right
By SOPHIE IRENE LOEB


 "A small shop to inquire the price of
 a dress in the window. The young woman insisted on my trying it on, and while the style was all right, 1 needed another size.
 She immediately offered to get it for me and stated she would deliver it that week or the beginning of the following week. She took my deposit and that was the last I heard of it until I telephoned the following week to inquire why the dress had not been delivered.
 It was informed that she had trouble getting the size and she would have it ready for me in two or three days. Again I waited with no result. At this time explained to her that if she should not deliver the dress when she promised it the second time, would she kindly return the> money to me and l would buy something elsewhere.
 To this she answered she would posi- lively have it ready at the end of a few days. I received no word and had to telephone again to make inquiry. The saleslady then replied she would get it in couple of days, but realizing she had failed to carry out her promise | asked her to send back my deposit.
 
 it was hard to get the dress and she would not return the ,money-'th things could not be gotten so quickly" etc., etc. In short, she wanted me to wait Indefinitely.
 In few days I telephoned again and was informed that the dress had been. waiting there and as l had said I wanted the money back the young lady had not sent it. asked her to have the dress delivered immediately and end the whole matter.
 sWhen it finally came it was the same dress that I had tried on, or at least the same size. And when l tele phoned her she did not seem surprised and asked me to return the dress, but refused to refund my money. To make long story short, l was forced to purchase something else in order not to lose the money entirely. .,
 Kcertainly never will go back to that shop, and neither do I think would any other person who has had the same experience.
 When. oh when. will saleswomen realize that one of the big notices of salesmanship is that which has been sToken of many times-"the customer issalways right"
 At least, it is very unwise to argue with some one whose patronage you desire. Certainly there are occasions when an explanation will clarify a sit uation, and saleslady is fully justi- fled in making it. But to argue and antaecpize a customer would seem the last fllSng to do. And the girl who does this is not only losing the sale, but losing the customer as well, and lsS doing her employer an injustice.
 sOf course, there is always the un- Neasonabe customer-the man, or woman, who wants more than he ought t8 get He insists on too much con siderafioD. The patience of many gaiesperson is exhausted because of some exacting buyer, but this is the excelAian rather than the rule.
 m fhis case it is the wise employe t;io NsE handle the matter tactfully, sA that there will not be any unneces- r ynntagonism. One thing is certain
 tlie nef5on who buys will not put up wfth tho much wilfulness or tempera- ussft If salespeople. He will choose \ the NItd of least resistance and go else iiere. I will do in the case of this particuisrs shop.
 Tn tbis case, had the young lady told TIE once that she could not deliver tlJe dress on time and would be will iiig fo wait or have my money back. slfe would at least have made me feel fricpliy in that she had done all she ecrld <
 Instead ofa this she gave me the i'm rfessit,n hat once having made the 9Heposit tl.ere was an end to it, and I ..aa either to lose it or wait to suit her convenien~e.
 When it is . Il summed up, the wise seller always does everything he can to make ''the pleased customer" wheth- , CT he purchases or not. 'The pleased hustomer" will tell his friend and he m come back himself. If he is treated
 'y he will have confidence in the
 This is especially important in
 lay and age, as there are so many
 k1d competition is so keen, and ffl( kner is mere passerby whose pafs to be won or lost.