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Soheil1 Posted 14 years ago
Vocabulary
Consumer?!
Hi.
What's the difference between a 'consumer' and a 'customer'?
What's the difference between a 'consumer' and a 'customer'?
Top answer
Hi, Sometimes no difference is intended, particularly in business and economics-related English . But note that the retail business, ie stores, usually speaks of customers. Here's the very broad difference.
- Hi, Sometimes no difference is intended, particularly in business and economics-related English .
- But note that the retail business, ie stores, usually speaks of customers.
- Here's the very broad difference.
- consumer - one who uses customer - one who buys Clive
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6 Answers
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Hi,
Sometimes no difference is intended, particularly in business and economics-related English .
But note that the retail business, ie stores, usually speaks of customers.
Here's the very broad difference.
Sometimes no difference is intended, particularly in business and economics-related English .
But note that the retail business, ie stores, usually speaks of customers.
Here's the very broad difference.
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'consumer' is usually used to refer to anyone who makes any kind of purchase.
You are a consumer of groceries, a consumer of fuel (energy), a consumer of paper products, a consumer of books, a consumer of financial services. You are a consumer of various goods and services.
'customer' is specific to a particular business. You can be a customer of the Safeway grocery store, me
You are a consumer of groceries, a consumer of fuel (energy), a consumer of paper products, a consumer of books, a consumer of financial services. You are a consumer of various goods and services.
'customer' is specific to a particular business. You can be a customer of the Safeway grocery store, me
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Hi,
The word 'consumer' is very commonly used in a general sense, without specifying specific things that are consumed.
eg Canadian consumers are expected to spend less this year because they fear a recession.
Clive
The word 'consumer' is very commonly used in a general sense, without specifying specific things that are consumed.
eg Canadian consumers are expected to spend less this year because they fear a recession.
Clive
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soheil1And you are not normally a consumer of groceries?You misunderstand. I wrote "You are a consumer of various goods and services". Groceries are included under the heading of "goods". So yes, we are consumers of groceries - and consumers of lots of other things as well.
My point in contrasting 'consumer' and 'customer' was to show
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