customercus‧tom‧er /ˈkʌstəmə $ -ər/ ●●● S1 W1 noun [countable] 
We aim to offer good value and service to all our customers. We’ve had several letters from satisfied customers.customer service/care Many of the banks offer a poor level of customer service. He’s one of our regular customers.best/biggest/largest customer (=the person or company who uses a shop or company the most)2awkward/tricky/tough etc customer someone who is difficult to deal with because they behave in a deliberately unhelpful way → cool customer at cool1(3)COLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + customera regular customer· My business quickly built up a base of regular customers.a good customer (=who buys a lot from you, or uses your service a lot)· Good products attract good customers.a major/big/large customer (=who is important and buys a lot)· America is a big customer for Japanese goods.a loyal customer (=who has been a customer for a long time)· Some of our loyal customers have been coming here since the store opened.a satisfied customer (=who is pleased with your goods or service)· Satisfied customers will return again and again.a potential/prospective customer (=who might become a customer in the future)· It’s very important to establish contact with potential customers.a business customer (=customers that are businesses)· the bank’s major business customersexisting customers (=that you already have)· We want to improve our service for both new and existing customers.verbsdeal with a customer (=do business with or talk to a customer)· He has a lot of experience in dealing with customers.serve a customer· Every day the shop serves around 800 customers.attract customers (=get more customers)· The Internet is a great way to attract new customers.keep/retain customers· Keeping prices low helps to retain customers.lose a customer· The company has lost some big customers in the last two years.customer + NOUNcustomer service/care (=serving and looking after customers)· Our aim is always to raise the level of customer service.customer relations· Staff are given training in customer relations.customer satisfaction (=how pleased customers are)· The firm carried out a survey of customer satisfaction.customer demand (=the amount of something customers want to buy or use)· It’s important to respond quickly to changing customer demand.customer complaints· My job is to handle customer complaints and enquiries.THESAURUScustomer someone who buys goods or services from a shop or company: · Customers were waiting for the shop to open.· The bank is one of our biggest customers.client someone who pays for a service from a professional person or company: · He has a meeting with one of his clients.· The company buys and sells shares on behalf of their clientsshopper someone who goes to the shops looking for things to buy: · The streets were full of Christmas shoppers.guest someone who pays to stay in a hotel: · Guests must leave their rooms by 10 am.patron /ˈpeɪtrən/ formal a customer of a particular shop, restaurant, or hotel – usually written on signs: · The notice said ‘Parking for Patrons Only’.patient someone who is getting medical treatment from a doctor, or in a hospital: · He is a patient of Dr Williams.consumer anyone who buys goods or uses services – used when considering these people as a group who have particular rights, needs, or behaviour: · Consumers are demanding more environmentally-friendly products.· the rights of the consumer· The law is designed to protect consumers who buy goods on the Internet.market the number of people who want to buy a product, or the type of people who want to buy it: · The market for organic food is growing all the time.· a magazine aimed at the youth marketclientele /ˌkliːənˈtel $ ˌklaɪənˈtel, ˌkliː-/ formal the type of customers that a particular shop, restaurant etc gets: · The hotel has a very upmarket clientele.· They have a wealthy international clientele.
WORD ORIGINcustomer
Origin:
1400-1500 custom; from the custom of doing business in a particular placeEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- British Airways was Boeing's largest customer for jet airplanes.
- Ford has launched a big sales campaign in an effort to bring in new customers.
- The barman was serving the last customer of the evening.
- The Defense Department is one of Lockheed's biggest regular customers.
- Their typical customer earns more than $70,000.
- We don't get many customers on Mondays - Saturday is our busiest day.
- After monitoring the performance of the engine on the rig, it is prepared for despatch to the customer.
- All are given clear-cut linkage to their internal customer.
- But don't starve your customers in the process - there's no profit in that either.
- But in the long run, observers see the potential for new products and concerns about customer service.
- It was a well-kept secret that the old system was biased in favor of residential customers.
- Just when she had been on the brink of despair, one of her rich customers had given her a handsome order.
- Second, customers decide their preferences with a large pinch of subjectivity.
THESAURUS
someone who buys goods or services from a shop or company: · Customers were waiting for the shop to open.· The bank is one of our biggest customers.
someone who pays for a service from a professional person or company: · He has a meeting with one of his clients.· The company buys and sells shares on behalf of their clients
someone who goes to the shops looking for things to buy: · The streets were full of Christmas shoppers.
someone who pays to stay in a hotel: · Guests must leave their rooms by 10 am.
formal a customer of a particular shop, restaurant, or hotel – usually written on signs: · The notice said ‘Parking for Patrons Only’.
someone who is getting medical treatment from a doctor, or in a hospital: · He is a patient of Dr Williams.
anyone who buys goods or uses services – used when considering these people as a group who have particular rights, needs, or behaviour: · Consumers are demanding more environmentally-friendly products.· the rights of the consumer· The law is designed to protect consumers who buy goods on the Internet.
the number of people who want to buy a product, or the type of people who want to buy it: · The market for organic food is growing all the time.· a magazine aimed at the youth market
formal the type of customers that a particular shop, restaurant etc gets: · The hotel has a very upmarket clientele.· They have a wealthy international clientele.
Longman Language Activatorsomeone who buys goods or services someone who buys goods from a particular shop, restaurant, or company: · We don't get many customers on Mondays - Saturday is our busiest day.· The barman was serving the last customer of the evening.· Ford has launched a big sales campaign in an effort to bring in new customers.biggest customer (=the customer who buys the most goods): · The Defense Department is one of Lockheed's biggest regular customers.
the people in a shop or town who are buying things: · The streets were crowded with Christmas shoppers.
someone who pays for services or advice from a professional person or organization: · Mr Langston normally meets with clients in the afternoon.· Elkins assured the judge that neither of his clients had a criminal record.· The firm is one of our oldest clients - we don't want to lose them.
someone who buys something expensive such as a house, company, or painting, usually from another person, not a shop or company: · We couldn't find a buyer for our house, so we weren't able to move after all.· They've had a lot of enquiries about the company - there's no shortage of potential buyers.
someone who buys and uses goods and services - use this especially to talk about people who buy things in general: · Consumers are demanding more environmentally friendly products.· The consumer is interested in high quality goods, not just low prices.
the people who regularly use a particular shop, restaurant etc, or the services of a professional person: · The hotel's clientele includes diplomats and Hollywood celebrities.· Madame Zara caters for a very select clientele.
the number of people who want to buy a product, or the type of people who want to buy it: · The magazine is aimed at the youth market.· Without research we can't be sure of the size of our market or even who our market is.market for: · The market for Internet-based products has grown dramatically in recent years.
WORD SETSafter-sales service, agro-industry, nounarcade, nounB2B exchange, nounB2C, adjectivebakery, nounbar code, nounbargain, nounbarrier to trade, nounbarrow, nounbazaar, nounbid, nounbid, verbbidding, nounbid-rigging, nounboard of directors, nounBOL, bonded factory, bookshop, nounbookstall, nounbookstore, nounbook token, nounboom, nounboom, verbboot sale, nounboutique, nounboxed, adjectivebreakdown clause, B/S, business agent, business interruption insurance, business liability insurance, buyback, nounbuyer, nounbuying power, C&F, callback, nouncarrying charge, cash and carry, nouncash basis, nouncash desk, nouncash discount, nouncash generation, cash price, cash register, nouncasualty insurance, CFI, CFR, chain store, nounchamber of trade, nouncheckout, nounCIF, CIP, clearance sale, nounclosed-door policy, nounComdex, nouncommercial agent, common ownership, comparative advantage, competitive advantage, competitive strategy, completion date, concessionaire, nounconsign, verbconsignee, nounconsignment, nounconsignor, nounconsolidator, nounconsumer, nounconsumer confidence, nounconsumerism, nounconsumer society, nouncontinuous improvement, conversion rate, corn exchange, nouncorporate investment, cost, nouncost price, nouncreative brief, credit, nouncredit account, nouncredit control, credit note, nouncreditor turnover rate, nouncredit terms, credit voucher, nouncustom, nouncustomer, nouncustomer capital, cutover, nouncut-price, adjectivedealership, noundebit account, declaration insurance, deliverable, noundelivery date, delivery receipt, deputy chairman, dime store, noundirect investment, disability insurance, discount, noundiscounting, noundispenser, noundistribute, verbdistributive, adjectivedocket, noundocumentary credit, domestic investment, draft terms, draper, noundrive-in, noundrive-in store, -driven, suffixdrop-shipping, nounDutch auction, nounearnings, nounEFQM Excellence Model, electronic point of sale, embargo, verbemporium, nounescalator clause, escape clause, executive chairman, expiration date, export, nounexport, verbexport credit, exporter, nounexport insurance, extended credit, external competitiveness, EXW, factory shop, fair dealing, financial investment, first-tier supplier, flat, adjectiveflea market, nounfleet terms, florist, nounfor-profit, adjectivefree market, nounfree port, nounfreight, nounfreight, verbfront end, nounfutures market, noungift certificate, noungift token, noungift-wrap, verbgiveaway, nounglut, noungoodwill, noungrandfather clause, greengrocer, noungross margin, noungross national product, noungross profit, nounguaranteed price, halo effect, handle, verbhandling charge, nounhigh street, nounhome product, hookup, nounHP, nounindent, nounindirect sale, industrial estate, nouninstallment plan, nouninstalment, nounInternet Service Provider, inventory, nouninvestment goods, invoice, nouninvoice, verbjob order, kanban system, layaway, nounleasing, nounliability insurance, license, verbline, nounlist price, nounlong-term credit, loss leader, nounlot, nounlumberyard, nounmail order, nounmarkdown, nounmarket, nounmarket-driven, adjectivemarket economy, nounmarket forces, nounmarketing, nounmarket leader, nounmarket-led, adjectivemarket price, nounmarket research, nounmarket value, nounmark-up, nounmedium-term credit, mercantile, adjectivemerchandise, nounmerchandiser, nounmerchant, nounMNC, MNE, move, verbmultiple, nounmultiple store, nounoff, adverboffer, nounoff-the-shelf, adjectiveo.n.o., open, adjectiveopen, verbopening hours, nounorder, nounorder, verbOTC, out, adverboutbid, verboutpost, nounoutsell, verboverbid, verboverbook, verboversubscribed, adjectiveovertrade, verbown brand, adjectiveown label, adjectivepackage, verbpackage deal, nounpackager, nounpackaging, nounpacket, nounparade, nounpart exchange, nounpass-along, nounpass-through, nounpeddle, verbpedlar, nounperformance guarantee, perfumery, nounpetty cash, nounpitch, nounplaza, nounpoint of sale, nounprice, nounprice, verbprice fixing, nounprice-fixing, nounprice list, nounprice tag, nounprice war, nounprivate company, private investment, problem child, nounproducer, nounproduction control, profit, nounprofit margin, nounpro forma invoice, nounpro-forma invoice, property and liability insurance, proprietary, adjectivepunter, nounpurchase, verbpurchase, nounpurveyor, nounpyramid selling, nounquotation, nounrake-off, nounready-to-wear, adjectivereal estate, nounreceipt, nounrefund, verbregular, nounrelaunch, nounremnant, nounrent, verbrent, nounrental, nounreorder, verbresell, verbreserve, nounretail, nounretail, verbretail, adverbretailer, nounretailing, nounretail park, nounrevolving credit, sale, nounsales channel, sales slip, nounsecond-tier supplier, secured credit, self-service, adjectivesell-by date, nounseller, nounseller's market, nounselling, nounselling price, nounserve, verbservice, nounservice agreement, service bureau, nounsettlement date, sex shop, nounshelf life, nounship, verbshopfitting, nounshopping centre, nounshopping mall, nounshopping precinct, nounshop-soiled, adjectiveshopworn, adjectiveshort-term credit, showcase, nounshowroom, nounshrink-wrapped, adjectivesister company, soft sell, nounsolicit, verbsouk, nounspecial, nounSRP, stand, nounstand-alone, adjectivestaple, nounstartup, nounstationer, nounstock, nounstockist, nounstockroom, nounstocktaking, nounstoppage in transit, nounstore brand, nounstorefront, nounstreet price, strip mall, nounstructural analysis, supermarket, nounsuperstore, nounsurcharge, nounsurcharge, verbtake-up, nountakings, nountelesales, nountender, verbthrift shop, nounthroughput, nounticket, nounticket, verbtill, nountout, verbtrade discount, nountrade fair, nountrade-in, nountrademark, nountradename, nountrade name, nountrade price, nountrader, nountrade route, nountrade secret, nountradesman, nountrading estate, nountrading post, nountraffic, nountrafficker, nountrigger point, uneconomic, adjectiveunit price, noununsecured credit, upfront fee, wares, nounwarranty, nounwholesale, nounwholesale, adjectivewholesaler, nounwinding up, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYADJECTIVES/NOUN + customer an awkward customer (=person who is difficult and unhelpful) a cool customer (=someone who always behaves calmly) He’s one of the bar’s regular customers. They have plenty of satisfied customers. There was only one girl serving customers. At our bank, we insist on high standards of customer service. Martin is a slippery customer (=someone you should not trust) so be careful what you say to him.
· My business quickly built up a base of regular customers.
(=who buys a lot from you, or uses your service a lot)· Good products attract good customers.
(=who is important and buys a lot)· America is a big customer for Japanese goods.
(=who has been a customer for a long time)· Some of our loyal customers have been coming here since the store opened.
(=who is pleased with your goods or service)· Satisfied customers will return again and again.
(=who might become a customer in the future)· It’s very important to establish contact with potential customers.
(=customers that are businesses)· the bank’s major business customers
(=that you already have)· We want to improve our service for both new and existing customers.
verbs (=do business with or talk to a customer)· He has a lot of experience in dealing with customers.
· Every day the shop serves around 800 customers.
(=get more customers)· The Internet is a great way to attract new customers.
· Keeping prices low helps to retain customers.
· The company has lost some big customers in the last two years.
customer + NOUN (=serving and looking after customers)· Our aim is always to raise the level of customer service.
· Staff are given training in customer relations.
(=how pleased customers are)· The firm carried out a survey of customer satisfaction.
(=the amount of something customers want to buy or use)· It’s important to respond quickly to changing customer demand.
· My job is to handle customer complaints and enquiries.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES an awkward customer (=person who is difficult and unhelpful)· We’re providing our business customers with reliable, proven Internet technology.
· As a result of the improvements, customer complaints went down by 70%.
a cool customer (=someone who always behaves calmly) (=clients that are companies)· It's a big investment bank that serves mainly corporate clients.
(=when someone shops in the same shops or buys the same goods regularly)· The company's marketing department is trying to build customer loyalty.
· Advertisers want to reach as many potential customers as possible.
· We are conducting market research among existing and prospective customers.
He’s one of the bar’s regular customers. (=among customers/patients/voters etc)· Staff work as a team to achieve customer satisfaction.
They have plenty of satisfied customers. There was only one girl serving customers. At our bank, we insist on high standards of customer service. Martin is a slippery customer (=someone you should not trust) so be careful what you say to him.· They have begun to listen carefully to their customers, through customer surveys, focus groups, etc.
informal (=someone who is very determined to do what they want and not what other people want)
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· Schools and hobbyists - the kind of people who own home computers - are among the biggest customers.· For it is not only with big customers that you will need a good accountant.· That they all do so with big doses of customer appeal is an added bonus.· CyberCash has racked up a few big customers recently, however.· University libraries are one big customer.· The maker of publishing software also said it is losing one of its biggest Postscript customers.· Big Slow Payers Dealing with big firms who are also big customers is often a mixed blessing for small businesses.· A big, potential customer called with a major assignment.
· Again, 3i differs here in that 35% of all the money it invests goes to its existing customer base.· For existing customers the offer is worth up to £500.· They can sell this package to their existing customers.· It means offering existing customers the new model two weeks before they seek a replacement from your competitors.· Upgrades are available for existing customers.· Production units will be delivered this month. Existing 4680 customers can upgrade.· Under the deal, S & N will continue to sell and distribute Nivea to existing customers for the next 10 years.· Organizations have developed several different ways of regarding their existing and potential customers.
· The usual justification is goodwill and the hope that one day a small customer could become a large customer.· One day King told him to find prices on four bonds for a very large customer, Morgan Guaranty.· Apple liked the idea so much that they invested a 20% stake in Adobe making themselves the largest customer.· With leading brokerage firms possessing large customer bases such as Goldman, Sachs&.· Simultaneously they were Adobe's largest customer contributing over 40% of the revenues at one point.· Many U.K. companies maintain large customer databases.· He had promises from several large customers to use his services.
· In the old days, signing up and connecting a new customer in a medium-sized city would be a costly exercise.· The object is to keep them happy while looking for new customers, he said.· Also a conservatory can improve the overall image and give an extra incentive to attract new customers.· All claims are being met and the company has Government blessing to accept new customers.· Find out where their new customers come from.· But the company believes, he added, that fees based primarily on actual costs will attract new customers.· Competition in the private sector works the same way: successful new ideas draw customers, and unsuccessful ones die out.
· Their potential customers have holidays on their minds - not house moves.· A big, potential customer called with a major assignment.· This provided them with a highly qualified list of potential customers matching their target demographic groups.· Because of the deadline, your manager made changes and sent the copy to your potential customer.· It believes sponsoring 32-year-old Branagh's Hamlet will be a way of chasing potential upmarket customers.· Gates promised this huge potential customer that he could have a software package that was ideal for his computer.· The debate about privacy is lost on such potential customers as James Miller.
· A large number of private care agency customers are elderly or disabled people who are not social services clients.· However, it seems unlikely that it was intended that less disclosure should be made to private customers than to professionals.· With effect from 1 January 1993 this rule only applies to private customers.· Non-private customers: the different categories Anyone who is not a private customer is a non-private customer.· Hence they are rather like the overdraft limit placed on a private sector customer by its bank.· Leasing has never, however, been an option for the private customer.· Most of the major manufacturers now have leasing-type schemes specially designed for their private customers.
· Other initiatives include regular meetings between customers and management and more frequent and focused sales and technical visits to customers.· Jim was a regular customer and got a warm greeting from the owners.· Mrs Jackie Bowshell organised the event and cars were brought in by regular customers to a strict timetable.· The people who drink at these places are more than regular customers they are members.· Intelmet says that to make the service pay it will require just 10 regular customers every month.· I did have one fairly regular customer though, and it was amazing how we started off.
NOUN· Again, 3i differs here in that 35% of all the money it invests goes to its existing customer base.· Are there other untapped demographics you can identify to build an additional customer base?· The customer base was considerably strengthened and a variety of new products launched.· Independent grocery stores have used Nordstrom-style personal service for years to maintain loyal customer bases.· The customer base has to be broadened and internationalised in a profitable manner.· This information is supplemented by a wealth of subscriber-supplied data from a wide-ranging customer base.· A former Metrologie employee, Sayles says eXplain was restricted from attacking the Metrologie X terminal customer base.· Personal computer software looks to be a good money spinner too having grown 200% though from an admittedly small customer base.
· District Service Centres will dramatically reduce processing costs and the price paid by business customers.· Fox Valley also surveys its business customers, which contract for training courses and economic development services.· While tapping the same market, the chains approach the business customer in different ways.· PacketWorks has provided Internet access and related services to business customers in Central Florida since its founding in 1994.· At that time, the company was one of the few Internet providers able to link business customers to high-speed Internet service.· Most of the growth came from business customers, and the company credited the improving California economy.
· Training implies that they do not, yet nobody seems to be able to point to any deterioration in customer care.· Nothing about environmental impact, customer care, or good business practices.· The delegation looked at a range of hotel operations including food preparation, customer care programmes, sales and marketing and budgeting.· John had high standards of customer care and quality service.· He still had a lot of contacts who valued his priorities of customer care and quality.· Hotels have high standards of customer care and lift maintenance organisations have to understand these requirements.
· They may be content to put up with a certain proportion of customer complaints for a given volume of business.· It was pulled off the air after two weeks because of customer complaints, but the shoes sold out.· If customer complaints don't come your way, go down to the Customer Relations Department and chat to the people there.· As a result of such improvements, customer complaints went down by more than 70 per-cent.· Do you genuinely and sincerely investigate customer complaints and try to eradicate the causes?· Accordingly, they hired more telephone representatives to relieve the pressure on employees charged with handling customer complaints and inquiries.· Customers' satisfaction - fewer customer complaints and loss of business. 3.
· You can't move an inch without being given a customer satisfaction survey to complete.· Consequently customer satisfaction had actually declined.· Your job satisfaction ensures your customer satisfaction; - and it shows.· They have recognized that their business depends on world of mouth, and that world of mouth is based on customer satisfaction.· This will lead to greater customer satisfaction and be to everyone's benefit.· The money is earmarked for engineering, marketing and sales of the start-up's customer satisfaction software.· As with any complex electronic information system or service, a strong support structure can make an enormous difference in customer satisfaction.
· Competitive rates are only one factor in good customer service.· In addition, Verio affiliates' customer service representatives will benefit from easy access to account information.· Issues such as product knowledge, lead generation and customer service are tackled.· They are very data conscious now and more wired into productivity, quality, the importance of training, and customer service.· In this way we can build on what we believe we do well - providing excellent customer service and quality beer brands.· In the opinion of most, however customer service and quality remained hostage to the lack of cooperation from the functional heads.· It's very reassuring that some companies can be relied upon to give good customer service and satisfaction.· How could we upgrade customer service?
VERB· Strength in numbers will allow us to give customers a better deal.· The promotion, which it discontinued in April, allows a full-fare paying customer to take a companion along for free.· An important feature of current accounts is that banks often allow customers to be overdrawn.· Some airlines even allow customers to book seats.· Car salespeople will allow customers to test drive cars.· Places to Stay allows customers to make reservations directly at about 100 Northern California hotels and bed and breakfasts.· Read in studio A pub landlord in Oxford has been charged with allowing his customers to smoke cannabis on his premises.· The rise of computer networks like the Internet will allow customers to download programs directly from the manufacturer.
· Hay now attracts customers from all over the world.· Managed-care companies that had kept prices low to attract new customers are under heavy pressure to increase earnings.· It is hoped this will attract customers wanting to avoid the costs and anxiety of development.· Television manufacturers are getting desperate to attract customers.· And the outlets had to be revamped to attract more customers.· Last year, it launched the Deluxe sandwiches, a higher-priced line meant to attract customers looking for better quality.· The marketing strategies of banks have been aimed in some cases at attracting young customers, especially the student market.· These latter departments are not only profitable but they also attract customers.
· Once the customer decides to buy the software, Hewlett provides a password over the phone granting a permanent licence.· My job is to persuade the customer to buy a product.· If all banks sell securities, they will all lose deposits and balances as their own customers buy securities.· When he made one for himself, a customer would buy it.· Because the process is extremely flexible, customers no longer need to buy a minimum of one tonne of alloy.· Many more of our customers now buy a piano for themselves.· According to World Semiconductor Trade Statistics, customers are expected to buy 100m of these chips at most.· All three knew well that customers buying computers needed some way to make them work together.
· And the added bulk helped deter customers from walking off with the product without paying.· For crisis loans, helping customers meet expenses in an emergency, 3,315 people were helped out of the 3,508 applications made.· Noble bookstore in Georgetown, where Llanos helped customers find works on theology, philosophy and other subjects.· Our aim is to provide products and services that help our customers work towards achievement of the Quality Standard for Electronic Business.· As a young boy, he visited the shop most Fridays and helped serve customers.· It was in the publican's interest to keep the constable sweet, to help with rowdy customers.· And we will do everything in our power to help that customer get through her difficult financial times.
· By keeping close to customers, we are better able to service their needs and we can keep ahead of industry trends.· I was dazzled by the friendly clerks, who kept bowing at customers, and the quantity and quality of consumer goods.· Initially they only need to keep track of customers, write letters and run a spreadsheet.· Because their friends frequent the park, they get enough word-of-mouth advertising to keep the customers coming.· You are the frontline in our battle to win and keep customers.· What is the right shopping environment that keeps customers happy and wanting to return?· They keep upsetting customers by pushing them for money. 4.· A multi-service approach keeps customers loyal, executives and analysts said.
· In order to meet customer needs we must be able to respond more quickly and flexibly to changing conditions.· I suggested to him that I wanted to meet his customer one-on-one.· He saw meeting customer requirements punctually and precisely as his primary job.· She says they want the people who meet customers to look good.· I get to meet the customers, to listen to what they want.· Innovative product lines continue to be introduced to meet growing customer demand.· Instead sympathetic competitors allowed them to manufacture on their premises to meet customer orders.
· It intends to offer customers strategic business planning as well as interoperability strategies for the future.· The biggest barrier to entry into the video shopping arena has been the lack of available channels offering variety to customers.· A further hidden cost hinges on the share price the broker is able to offer customers.· The goal is to offer its customers hundreds of new cable channels and video services.· Another way in which retail outlets vary is in the type of service they offer to customers.· Many companies offer special trips to customers who respond to a pitch within 48 or 72 hours.· Indeed, PageMart and PageNet last week offered incentives for EconoPage customers to switch to their paging networks.· Under the agreement, Verio will offer NetObjects Fusion 4.0 customers 30 days of free Web hosting and domain-name registration.
· If you'd invented a string of lovelorn swains you'd have had to pay customer prices.· If you had any talent, you worked your way up to the counter and tables where the paying customers were.· District Service Centres will dramatically reduce processing costs and the price paid by business customers.· The promotion, which it discontinued in April, allows a full-fare paying customer to take a companion along for free.· Interest is paid gross to all customers investing £50,000 or more for a fixed term of at least seven days.· The amount also includes another $ 127. 5 million the firm already paid or agreed to pay to customers.· In penance, Nynex has this month been forced to pay customers a rebate.· These costs are paid by the customer. 8.
· Adequate instructions, manuals and training should be provided for customers.· They provide customers with both the e-commerce applications as well as the ramps to access the I-way.· Computer suppliers frequently provide customer training as an integral part of their total product package.· However, each also needs a strong measure of motivation to provide friendly and responsive customer service.· Banks, through modern communications and worldwide correspondents, provide assistance to customers engaged in international trade.· Several types of services can be provided to the customer.· It is being provided free to customers.
· Each individual uses the product of another supplier and his/her output has to satisfy a customer.· Hence they tend to satisfy their customers while wasting far less.· Purists might call it chiming rather than genuine ringing but Saint Mary's has some very satisfied customers.· A happy and satisfied customer would tell five other people about the company.· Fifteen separate routes have been made the responsibility of managers whose chief aim is to satisfy their customers.· The desired outcome of most services, after all, is a satisfied customer.· Employees at Yahoo! constantly experiment to improve their site and so satisfy more customers.· The stories rarely heard are those of satisfied customers like Patricia Lopez of El Cajon.
· Doyle chuckled then left her to serve a customer.· E.. Modesto already serves a few customers in one of those cities, Riverbank.· What matters is to serve customers better and more profitably.· Randalls has 67 stores, which serve about a million customers each week.· Serving the customer involves more members of the company than just those who serve at the customer interface.· A milkman who serves the same customers every day and who is usually known to them personally will clearly have sufficient contact.· In each case, the winners serve their customers better.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
- A tough customer, a man to be reckoned with.
- But he'd take on some one like Glenda Grower, who's a much tougher customer.
- But the tough treatment was only for tough customers.
- He's overcome some genuinely tough customers, but Gimenez was abject.
- He looks a tough customer to deal with.
- The next, you're making speeches to the wind. Tricky customers, ordinary people.
WORD FAMILYadjectivecustomarycustomcustomizableaccustomednouncustomcustomercustomsverbaccustomcustomizeadverbcustomarily
1someone who buys goods or services from a shop, company etc: We aim to offer good value and service to all our customers. We’ve had several letters from satisfied customers.customer service/care Many of the banks offer a poor level of customer service. He’s one of our regular customers.best/biggest/largest customer (=the person or company who uses a shop or company the most)2awkward/tricky/tough etc customer someone who is difficult to deal with because they behave in a deliberately unhelpful way → cool customer at cool1(3)COLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + customera regular customer· My business quickly built up a base of regular customers.a good customer (=who buys a lot from you, or uses your service a lot)· Good products attract good customers.a major/big/large customer (=who is important and buys a lot)· America is a big customer for Japanese goods.a loyal customer (=who has been a customer for a long time)· Some of our loyal customers have been coming here since the store opened.a satisfied customer (=who is pleased with your goods or service)· Satisfied customers will return again and again.a potential/prospective customer (=who might become a customer in the future)· It’s very important to establish contact with potential customers.a business customer (=customers that are businesses)· the bank’s major business customersexisting customers (=that you already have)· We want to improve our service for both new and existing customers.verbsdeal with a customer (=do business with or talk to a customer)· He has a lot of experience in dealing with customers.serve a customer· Every day the shop serves around 800 customers.attract customers (=get more customers)· The Internet is a great way to attract new customers.keep/retain customers· Keeping prices low helps to retain customers.lose a customer· The company has lost some big customers in the last two years.customer + NOUNcustomer service/care (=serving and looking after customers)· Our aim is always to raise the level of customer service.customer relations· Staff are given training in customer relations.customer satisfaction (=how pleased customers are)· The firm carried out a survey of customer satisfaction.customer demand (=the amount of something customers want to buy or use)· It’s important to respond quickly to changing customer demand.customer complaints· My job is to handle customer complaints and enquiries.THESAURUScustomer someone who buys goods or services from a shop or company: · Customers were waiting for the shop to open.· The bank is one of our biggest customers.client someone who pays for a service from a professional person or company: · He has a meeting with one of his clients.· The company buys and sells shares on behalf of their clientsshopper someone who goes to the shops looking for things to buy: · The streets were full of Christmas shoppers.guest someone who pays to stay in a hotel: · Guests must leave their rooms by 10 am.patron /ˈpeɪtrən/ formal a customer of a particular shop, restaurant, or hotel – usually written on signs: · The notice said ‘Parking for Patrons Only’.patient someone who is getting medical treatment from a doctor, or in a hospital: · He is a patient of Dr Williams.consumer anyone who buys goods or uses services – used when considering these people as a group who have particular rights, needs, or behaviour: · Consumers are demanding more environmentally-friendly products.· the rights of the consumer· The law is designed to protect consumers who buy goods on the Internet.market the number of people who want to buy a product, or the type of people who want to buy it: · The market for organic food is growing all the time.· a magazine aimed at the youth marketclientele /ˌkliːənˈtel $ ˌklaɪənˈtel, ˌkliː-/ formal the type of customers that a particular shop, restaurant etc gets: · The hotel has a very upmarket clientele.· They have a wealthy international clientele.