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This month, there’s a section in our lead entitled ?15 Things You Should Never Say To Customers.? Be sure to check it out. It could be one of the most important things you read this year. And for one of the least important things you read this year, ?In the End? ? in a transparent effort at one-upsmanship ? came up with their own even bigger list of ?20 Things You Should Never Say To Customers?.

This month, there’s a section in our lead entitled ?15 Things You Should Never Say To Customers.? Be sure to check it out. It could be one of the most important things you read this year. And for one of the least important things you read this year, ?In the End? ? in a transparent effort at one-upsmanship ? came up with their own even bigger list of ?20 Things You Should Never Say To Customers?. 

1. ?Man, am I beat today. Tell you what … just have a look around and if you see something you like, wake me up and I’ll take it out so you can have a closer look at it.? 

2. ?8:59 and 50 seconds … 51 … 52 … 53 … 54 … 55 … 56 … 57 … 58 … 59.? Claps hands. ?9 o’clock. Everybody out … we’re closed!? 

3. ?Welcome to our st- … phew!!!? Waving hand in front of face. ?Smells like someone had Mexican for lunch.?  

4. ?What up, dawg?? 

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5. ?You’ve got great taste, ma’am. This is an exact duplicate of a necklace that Courtney Love wore to her last court appearance.? 

6. Nicknames ? for example, ?Ace?, ?Champ?, ?Skippy?, or ?Boobala?. These should not be used with any customers over the age of 7. 

7. ?What’s the problem, Richie Rich … gremlins holding your wallet shut?? 

8. ?Baby needs a new pair of shoes!? (Or any other statement that could be construed as putting the salesperson’s commission above the customer’s needs.) 

9. ?Suggested budget?? Rubbing hands together and grinning. ?Whaddaya got? Whaddaya got? Whaddaya got?? 

10. Political statements or banter that indicate partisanship, however slight. (E.g. ?So who are you voting for in November … Bush or that flip-flopping, Botox-shooting, Herman Munster-lookalike??) 

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11. ?You know I think it’s just super when older people, like, make an effort to keep current with, you know, the latest styles?? 

12. Drooling innuendo as sales pitch. ?That ring? That ring’s nice, sure. But if you’re looking for a ring that will really get you some hot horizontal mambo action, there’s this little beauty …? 

13. ?Sir, we’ve already been at this for 15 minutes … Do you think you’ll be purchasing today, or should I arrange to have my body cryogenically frozen so I will be ready to serve you at such time as you’re prepared to make a purchase?? 

14. ?Please make yourself comfortable. We want you to think of this store as your home. All we ask is that you please walk on the newspapers, not on the carpet. And please sit only on the sofas with the plastic slipcovers.? 

15. The phrase ?the woman in question? which adds a sneaky, illicit, Motel 6-ish undertone to even the most innocent purchase discussion. ?A 50th anniversary gift? Wonderful! And the woman in question … is your wife?? 

16. False Freudian slips which, believe us, don’t go over customers’ heads. (E.g. ?Thank you, sir. I’m sure she’ll absolutely love this diamond chip … shoot, I meant to say diamond ring! Anyway, let me go wrap up this diamond chip … darn, I did it again!?) 

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17. ?Will you be paying by cash, credit card, or the contents of your piggy bank?? 

18. Over-enjoyment of your store’s exclusive nature. ?If you have to ask, then you can’t afford it ? hee-hee, I always love saying that.? 

19. Comments that might be perceived as insufficiently understanding of a customer’s fears over a major purchase. (E.g. ?If she doesn’t say yes? Well, I’m sure your mother could use a nice diamond ring. Or an aunt or something … they love diamond rings. Don’t worry so much!?) 

20. ?Return policy? Heh-heh … as I always say, ?You pays your money, you takes your chances’.?

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SPONSORED VIDEO

Four Decades of Excellence: How Wilkerson Transformed a Jeweler's Retirement into Celebration

After 45 years serving the Milwaukee community, Treiber & Straub Jewelers owner Michael Straub faced a significant life transition. At 75, the veteran jeweler made a personal decision many business owners understand: "I think it's time. I want to enjoy my wife with my grandchildren for the next 10, 15 years." Wilkerson's expertise transformed this major business transition into an extraordinary success. Their comprehensive approach to managing the going-out-of-business sale created unprecedented customer response—with lines forming outside the store and limits on how many shoppers could enter at once due to fire safety regulations. The results exceeded all expectations. "Wilkerson did a phenomenal job," Straub enthuses. "They were there for you through the whole thing, helped you with promoting it, helping you on day-to-day business. I can't speak enough for how well they did." The partnership didn't just facilitate a business closing; it created a celebratory finale to decades of service while allowing Straub to confidently step into his well-earned retirement.

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In the End

Don’t Speak

Published

on

This month, there’s a section in our lead entitled ?15 Things You Should Never Say To Customers.? Be sure to check it out. It could be one of the most important things you read this year. And for one of the least important things you read this year, ?In the End? ? in a transparent effort at one-upsmanship ? came up with their own even bigger list of ?20 Things You Should Never Say To Customers?.

This month, there’s a section in our lead entitled ?15 Things You Should Never Say To Customers.? Be sure to check it out. It could be one of the most important things you read this year. And for one of the least important things you read this year, ?In the End? ? in a transparent effort at one-upsmanship ? came up with their own even bigger list of ?20 Things You Should Never Say To Customers?. 

1. ?Man, am I beat today. Tell you what … just have a look around and if you see something you like, wake me up and I’ll take it out so you can have a closer look at it.? 

2. ?8:59 and 50 seconds … 51 … 52 … 53 … 54 … 55 … 56 … 57 … 58 … 59.? Claps hands. ?9 o’clock. Everybody out … we’re closed!? 

3. ?Welcome to our st- … phew!!!? Waving hand in front of face. ?Smells like someone had Mexican for lunch.?  

4. ?What up, dawg?? 

Advertisement

5. ?You’ve got great taste, ma’am. This is an exact duplicate of a necklace that Courtney Love wore to her last court appearance.? 

6. Nicknames ? for example, ?Ace?, ?Champ?, ?Skippy?, or ?Boobala?. These should not be used with any customers over the age of 7. 

7. ?What’s the problem, Richie Rich … gremlins holding your wallet shut?? 

8. ?Baby needs a new pair of shoes!? (Or any other statement that could be construed as putting the salesperson’s commission above the customer’s needs.) 

9. ?Suggested budget?? Rubbing hands together and grinning. ?Whaddaya got? Whaddaya got? Whaddaya got?? 

10. Political statements or banter that indicate partisanship, however slight. (E.g. ?So who are you voting for in November … Bush or that flip-flopping, Botox-shooting, Herman Munster-lookalike??) 

Advertisement

11. ?You know I think it’s just super when older people, like, make an effort to keep current with, you know, the latest styles?? 

12. Drooling innuendo as sales pitch. ?That ring? That ring’s nice, sure. But if you’re looking for a ring that will really get you some hot horizontal mambo action, there’s this little beauty …? 

13. ?Sir, we’ve already been at this for 15 minutes … Do you think you’ll be purchasing today, or should I arrange to have my body cryogenically frozen so I will be ready to serve you at such time as you’re prepared to make a purchase?? 

14. ?Please make yourself comfortable. We want you to think of this store as your home. All we ask is that you please walk on the newspapers, not on the carpet. And please sit only on the sofas with the plastic slipcovers.? 

15. The phrase ?the woman in question? which adds a sneaky, illicit, Motel 6-ish undertone to even the most innocent purchase discussion. ?A 50th anniversary gift? Wonderful! And the woman in question … is your wife?? 

16. False Freudian slips which, believe us, don’t go over customers’ heads. (E.g. ?Thank you, sir. I’m sure she’ll absolutely love this diamond chip … shoot, I meant to say diamond ring! Anyway, let me go wrap up this diamond chip … darn, I did it again!?) 

Advertisement

17. ?Will you be paying by cash, credit card, or the contents of your piggy bank?? 

18. Over-enjoyment of your store’s exclusive nature. ?If you have to ask, then you can’t afford it ? hee-hee, I always love saying that.? 

19. Comments that might be perceived as insufficiently understanding of a customer’s fears over a major purchase. (E.g. ?If she doesn’t say yes? Well, I’m sure your mother could use a nice diamond ring. Or an aunt or something … they love diamond rings. Don’t worry so much!?) 

20. ?Return policy? Heh-heh … as I always say, ?You pays your money, you takes your chances’.?

Advertisement

SPONSORED VIDEO

Four Decades of Excellence: How Wilkerson Transformed a Jeweler's Retirement into Celebration

After 45 years serving the Milwaukee community, Treiber & Straub Jewelers owner Michael Straub faced a significant life transition. At 75, the veteran jeweler made a personal decision many business owners understand: "I think it's time. I want to enjoy my wife with my grandchildren for the next 10, 15 years." Wilkerson's expertise transformed this major business transition into an extraordinary success. Their comprehensive approach to managing the going-out-of-business sale created unprecedented customer response—with lines forming outside the store and limits on how many shoppers could enter at once due to fire safety regulations. The results exceeded all expectations. "Wilkerson did a phenomenal job," Straub enthuses. "They were there for you through the whole thing, helped you with promoting it, helping you on day-to-day business. I can't speak enough for how well they did." The partnership didn't just facilitate a business closing; it created a celebratory finale to decades of service while allowing Straub to confidently step into his well-earned retirement.

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