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Should I use "Client" or "Customer" in my documents?

Jim Wynne

Jim Wynne

Staff member
Admin
#11
#11
Re: Client or customer?

Mr Niceguy said:
Native English speakers might distinguish between client and customer. It doesn't matter because the standard uses customer. ISO 17025:1999 used 'client' then changed them all to 'customer' in the 2005 revision aligning itself with 9001.

Possibly a translation issue where shades of meaning don't survive in French or German, at least not in a single word. Another example I have experienced on a ISO drafting committee is someone trying to include the words check and verification in a paragraph on instrument calibration. The French representative remarked it was pointless since the French translation would just use 'verification'.
Click to expand...
Whether anyone likes it or not, English is the de facto standard in doing international business, and in other areas such as science. The standards will be written with English speakers in mind, and the individual countries will be left to translate as they see fit, so long as the spirit of the standards is maintained.
 
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A

arin_23

#12
#12
Re: Client or customer?

Hi buddies!!!!!

I am scratching my head over this topic from past couple of days:mad: ...but not finding an amicable solution !!!!! There are other few threads also , where discussion on this issue is going on...but no concrete opinion , many differences in opinion.

I want to ask all the buddies that whether it is possible to call all the clients as "Clients" with whom I do have transaction at any point of time...might not be having transaction with all of them at a single point of time

And "customers" are those clients with whom I am having any business transaction at a particular point of time

Then will it be ok???

Cheers:cool:

Arindam
 
Randy

Randy

Super Moderator
#13
#13
Re: Client or customer?

In the end, why does it really matter as long as they pay you what you're supposed to get when you are supposed to get it.

Worry about important stuff like keeping them and getting more.
 
H

Helmut Jilling

Auditor / Consultant
#14
#14
Re: Client or customer?

arin_2323 said:
Hi buddies!!!!!

I am scratching my head over this topic from past couple of days:mad: ...but not finding an amicable solution !!!!! There are other few threads also , where discussion on this issue is going on...but no concrete opinion , many differences in opinion.

I want to ask all the buddies that whether it is possible to call all the clients as "Clients" with whom I do have transaction at any point of time...might not be having transaction with all of them at a single point of time

And "customers" are those clients with whom I am having any business transaction at a particular point of time

Then will it be ok???

Cheers:cool:

Arindam
Click to expand...

There is no need to scratch your head. As we have all said, the two words are so similar, they can be used interchangeably.

You can call them clients if you wish.
 
A

arin_23

#15
#15
Re: Client or customer?

Hi buddies!!!

Thanx to all for your valuable inputs in this subject. I want your views w.r.t the following case :

my company is having a online bidding engine, and we do sale our services to variour clients by charging a certain % of the lowest bid value. However we do charge a registraion fee from the bidders as well who want to participate in the auction process.

This bidding is presses into service for both sale and sourcing services for the clients, the only difference is during sale the auction is incremental and for sourcing the auction is decremental.

Now who is our client and who is our customer?????? because I am serving both in lieu of certain financial transaction!!!

Cheers:cool:

Arindam
 
H

Helmut Jilling

Auditor / Consultant
#16
#16
Re: Client or customer?

arin_2323 said:
Hi buddies!!!

Thanx to all for your valuable inputs in this subject. I want your views w.r.t the following case :

my company is having a online bidding engine, and we do sale our services to variour clients by charging a certain % of the lowest bid value. However we do charge a registraion fee from the bidders as well who want to participate in the auction process.

This bidding is presses into service for both sale and sourcing services for the clients, the only difference is during sale the auction is incremental and for sourcing the auction is decremental.

Now who is our client and who is our customer?????? because I am serving both in lieu of certain financial transaction!!!

Cheers:cool:

Arindam
Click to expand...
For the last time, I think it is the same thing. You are worrying far too much over a difference which is not much of a difference at all.

I think it would be best to simply pick one and move on. Clients usually have an ongoing business relationship. Customers may be regular or one time. But the difference is not important.

Good Luck with your auctions.
 
A

arin_23

#17
#17
Re: Client or customer?

I think it would be best to simply pick one and move on. Clients usually have an ongoing business relationship. Customers may be regular or one time. But the difference is not important.

Good Luck with your auctions.[/QUOTE]

Hi budy hjilling !!!!!


Thanx , the paradox is solved to a great extent!!!

Cheers:cool:

Arindam
 
G

gpainter

Quite Involved in Discussions
#18
#18
Re: Client or customer?

Client: a person who engages the professional advice or services of another

Customer: one that purchases a commodity or service

According to Ms. Webster
 
Randy

Randy

Super Moderator
#19
#19
Re: Client or customer?

Client = someone who pays you money

Customer = someone who pays you money

I'm trying to fiure out the real difference other than the words themselves
 
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