That’s right! The saying was coined and uttered by the great American businessman from the early 20th century, Harry Gordon. It reads in its entirety like this: The customer is always right — in matters of taste (in the original: The customer is always right — in matters of taste).
It is not known when the second part of the statement was lost or who first “threw out the excess”, but it seems that the saying spread precisely when it was shortened.
So, the original saying is basically Latin, i.e. Caesar’s thought “de gustibus non disputandum est” (tastes are not to be disputed). However, it was shortened and became popular. Why?
There are probably many reasons, and we will look at the one that concerns the consumer. It seems that this saying is motivated by – quick sales. So, not resale, but – sales. Instant customer satisfaction. That in itself can bring stress to the seller, especially if he does not believe in the product he is selling or is not familiar with its characteristics, nor does he know how another person will use it. There is a high probability that the customer will not be loyal to us either. Even if he repeats the purchase. Approaching the customer is a short-term solution, and understanding and solving needs is a long-term one. Of course, provided that the whole process is in the good spirit of a nice atmosphere and sales skills.
If we want to sell again, but also build a long-term relationship with the customer, a quick sale without a plan to repeat it, then we need to understand this saying correctly in the original.