MAXIMS FOR SHOPPERS

Evening Star, Issue 21632, 30 January 1934, Page 10

MAXIMS FOR SHOPPERS

In offering some maxims for the shopper, the London ‘ Times,’ in an editorial, suggests that he, and especially she, should take thought for the shop assistant. The article emphasises that there is one maxim which the shopper should do well to take specially to heart—“ TJjae customer is ‘always right.’ ” That trenchant hyperbole, fashioned for the disciplining of the assistant, has a double edge. _ It imposes oh the assistant, as it is meant to do,* a rigorous self-control under what she may deem to be unreasonableness or provocation. It should no less place an honourable obligation on the shopper. Far from being the purchaser’s license to say and do whatever may seem good to her, it calls for increased consideration for the harassed assistant. To trade upon it in any way would be about as decent as to hit a man in the face when his hands are tied behind his back. Allegations of inattention or discourtesy, never lightly to be made, should be avoided with special care in times of rush. A complaint, even if successfully countered, so to speak, by the accused, is bound to leave some trace in the mind of the departmental head, or, if it is serious enough to get so far, in the estimation of that remote and awful arbiter, “ the management.” It would be no bad thing if habitual shoppers could be put through an intensive course on the other side of the counter, say, for a week in ” sale time.” Tha,t would at least teach what it feels like to have to cope, through a long and exhausting day, with the wants, wishes, whims, and vagueness of scores upon scores of differing personalities. The result, 1 The Times ’ concludes, would be brighter. better, and briefer shopping for all concerned. ■ ,