I'm The Customer Who Never Returns

3/30/2008

"I'm a nice customer. You all know me. I'm the guy who never complains no matter what type of service I get. I'll go into a restaurant and stand and wait while the waitress gossips with her boyfriend and never bothers to see if my food is ready to go. Sometimes a party that came in after I did gets my food. But, I don't say a word in complaint when the girl tells me "Oh, I'm sorry, I'll order another one for you". I just wait. I don't throw my weight around. I try to be thoughtful of the other person. If I get a snooty or bored waitress who is upset because I want to take a few minutes to read the menu, I am polite as I can be; I don't believe rudeness in return is the answer . I never kick I never nag. I never criticize, and I wouldn't dream of making a scene as I've seen people doing in public places. I think that is uncalled for. No, I am the nice customer. And I'll tell you what else I am "I'M THE CUSTOMER WHO NEVER COMES BACK".

That is my way of reacting to getting pushed around too much. That is why I take whatever you hand out, because I know I will more than get even by not coming back. This may not relieve my frustrations but is far more deadly than blowing my top in public. In fact a few nice customers like me can just about ruin your business. And there are a lot of nice customers in the world just like me. When we get pushed too far, we go somewhere else and spend our money where they are smart enough to hire help who appreciate nice customers. He laughs best, they say, who laughs last. I laugh when I see you frantically spending your money on expensive advertising to get me back, when you could have had me in the first place for a few kind words, a smile and a cheerful "thank you" for my patronage. I don't care what business you are in. Maybe I have never heard of you or maybe you have never heard of me. But if your business is bad, maybe there are enough people like me who do know you. "I'M YOUR CUSTOMER WHO NEVER COMES BACK."