The Customer Is Always Right

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Type: Vocabulary
Topic: |
Level:
Originally published on October 3, 2020 and last updated on February 4, 2023
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The saying “the customer is always right” is a famous and popular expression in the sales and customer service sectors. Although its intention is to try and ensure that the staff never argue with the customers in order to keep them happy, the validity of this saying is somewhat questionable, and some say that it should only apply in specific situations as applying it to all problems can actually do more harm than good to a business.

Instructions:
Go through the vocabulary below with your students and ask them to try and use this vocabaulry where possible when discussing the different conversation questions.

Useful Vocabulary

Try and use the following vocabulary when answering the question. Click to look up the definition in the dictionary

  • saying (noun)
  • sector (noun)
  • apply (verb)
  • situation (noun)
  • more harm than good (idiom)
  • validity (noun)
  • useful (adjective)

Conversation Questions

  • Is the customer always right?
  • What do you think the saying “the customer is always right” means?
  • Do you agree with the saying?
  • Can you think of any situations where following this saying would be useful?
  • Can you think of any situations where following this saying would actually be bad for business?

Keep The Conversation Going!

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Gregory
This conversation topic was prepared by Gregory

Gregory is a qualified TEFL teacher who has been teaching English as a Foreign Language (ESL) for over a decade. He has taught in-person classes in Spain and to English learners around the world online.