I Present to you a Question

[Confuzed-Monkey]

This has been a topic of much debate amongst my coworkers.


WHEN DOES A PERSON BECOME A CUSTOMER?

-Is a person a customer just because they are in a business?
(When they walk in the door)
-Is a person a customer, even if they have no intent to do business?
(Someone who is ust killing time)
-Is a shoplifter a customer?





My theory -
I believe a person becomes a customer when they commit to a purchase of any size, tiny to large.

-Obviously it is difficult to tell the difference between someone killing time, goofing off and someone who actually wants to make a purchase.

Let's Go
CM

[RogueOne]

-Is a person a customer just because they are in a business?
(When they walk in the door)
-Is a person a customer, even if they have no intent to do business?
(Someone who is ust killing time)
-Is a shoplifter a customer?





My theory -
I believe a person becomes a customer when they commit to a purchase of any size, tiny to large.


Answers:
1. No
B. Nyet
III. Hell no


Theory- I gotta agree with ya.

[Rapscallion]

The third one is LPbait, but the other two are potential customers, and that is all. If you can get money from them, fine, but if not don't waste your time.

Rapscallion

[NightAngel]

dictionary.com defines "customer" as a person who purchases goods or services from a provider.

For our needs as employees/salespeople my definition would be more like:
A person who enters an establishment with the purpose and intent to pay for goods and/ or services.

Easy enough to figure out by talking to the person- usually.

[One-Fang]

I'm with NA. You gotta treat 'em right before they make their purchase or they may never become 'customers'. But dalliers, shoplifters, etc, not so much.

I say, anybody expressing intent to purchase or requesting assistance, is a customer. So if I wander aimlessly about and someone asks "Can I help you?" and I say I'm just looking, I'm not a customer. But as soon as I go "Yeah, can you tell me....." then I should be treated as a customer, as I am expressing an intent to purchase (even I do find out you're more expensive than the competition and end up purchasing from another place anyway).

Perhaps we go with the dictionary definition, but say "potential customers" should also be treated well, as opposed to shoplifters, time-wasters, etc.

[Kiwi]

customers who havent brought anything yet are "potential" customers

they rank under customers who are handing you over money now... but they are still customers