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9 Different Types of Nigerian Customers & How to Deal with Them!
If there’s one known fact, it is that Nigerians are very interesting people. From the way they talk to the things they do, you’ll always find something about a Nigerian that will spark your interest. It’s one of the best things about Nigerians.
Now, this behavior also goes all the way to the way Nigerians purchase items; Nigerian customer A is likely very different from Nigerian customer B. You know the saying that goes, ‘One size fits all?’ Well, that typically doesn’t work when you’re segmenting your customers, but it especially does not work for Nigerian customers.
Today, we’ll be talking about how the different types of Nigerian customers that exist, in our language, and also how to deal with them!
Pro tip: Always remember to speak to your customers politely, and ensure that they always leave fulfilled and happy.
Related: 10 Easy Tips on Improving Customer Service for Your Small Business
Different Types of Nigerian Customers & Best Way to Handle Them
The “I’m your padi so give me a discount” Customer
These types of customers are typically your friends or family members and sometimes forget that you’re running a business that needs to be profitable, which means that you can’t just slash prices for them.
How to deal with them:
Politely remind them that you need to make money and while there are times when you run a discount, that isn’t one of the times. If they’d like to wait till you’re running a sale, then you’ll be happy to let them know through email or sms.
Related: Get 10 Email & SMS Messaging Templates for Sales Campaigns
The “I’m not sure if I want this or that” Customer
Some customers come in quite confused about what to buy. Sometimes, they’re confused by the sheer number of choices, and they want to pick one item, but because everything suddenly looks like it’ll be great for them, they struggle to decide.
How to deal with them:
For customers like this, the urge to get them to buy everything might be strong but don’t give in to it. What will end up happening is that they feel more confused. Instead, ask them further questions that will help you help them make a decision. You can ask them questions like their best colors, what they need the product for, etc. Don’t forget that you’re the expert, and they’re likely going to lean on you for help. And also, you helping them make a choice instead of cajoling them to buy everything makes them feel that you can be trusted and aren’t just after making a sale. Customers like that will always come back to you!
The “I’m not in a playful mood so please don’t waste my time” Customer
Uhm, these can be a little scary. These are customers who you can sense the coldness even over chat. But sometimes, they’re not being cold or mean. They’re just giving off that vibe so that you do not feel like you can mess with them. These are customers who have probably had a bad experience or two and are just trying to prevent it from happening again by putting on their ‘don’t mess with me’ energy.
How to deal with them:
Don’t match the energy. Politely respond to all their requests in a friendly and cool manner, and let them feel that they’re welcome. Listen carefully to their questions and make sure you understand what they’re saying, so you do not have to repeat yourself. Professionally present yourself while still maintaining warmth and empathy, and they’ll eventually soften!
The “I’m just here to make enquiries” Customer
Sometimes, a customer just wants to know the price of a product and is not willing to commit to purchasing at the time. This bucket of customers comes in and asks questions, sometimes a lot of it, but do not necessarily purchase at the end of the day. But don’t take it to heart; it doesn’t mean that they won’t come back.
How to deal with them:
Most of the time, customers in this bucket want to do a lot of research before deciding to go with a particular brand and finally make a purchase. To reel in customers like this, introduce the fear of missing out (FOMO) by reminding them how much they’re missing out on by not making a purchase immediately. You could also offer a price slash or a discount on their next purchase if they buy from you immediately. Most importantly, do not get upset at them for only asking questions and leaving; remember to leave a warm and nice impression on them so that when they’re finally ready to buy, they’ll come back to you who treated them nicely.
The “But I saw it cheaper somewhere else” Customer
Yes, I agree that customers like this can be annoying. More than half of the time, they haven’t even found a cheaper price somewhere else and they’re only trying to get a price slash from you.
How to deal with them:
It can be very easy to want to ignore these customers, or be rude because you feel insulted, but don’t give in to that urge. Instead, firmly but politely tell them that what they have seen is your price, and you won’t be reducing it because they think they might get it cheaper somewhere else. Politely urge them to buy, but let them know that if they want to try out somewhere cheaper and come back next time for another purchase, you’ll be glad to attend to them then.
The “This is my first time shopping with you” Customer
Ooooh roll out the red carpet for these customers! Now, these customers are still a bit skeptical but have finally decided to commit to your brand, at least one time. This is the perfect chance to take a new customer to a returning, loyal customer so you should give them the best treatment.
How to deal with them:
This is the time for your business to shine, so you have to pull out all the stops. Make sure that your new customer gets the best experience that will leave them coming back. Customer service should be on point, and order processing and fulfilment (delivery) should be spot on as well. Offer them a discount for the next time they shop from you, if they buy then. If you do everything right, you would have successfully converted them from a possible one-time buyer to a repeat/loyal customer.
Related: How to Manage Online Orders for Your Business More Efficiently!
The “I have money to blow!” Customer
These customers come to you, ready to buy out the store. Most times, these customers are loyal customers who have shopped with you multiple times. You could even call them VIP customers. So, they should get VIP treatment.
How to deal with them:
Two words - VIP treatment! Always do everything in your power to make sure that these customers get their orders on time & get the best treatment from your brand. Also, make sure that the process is seamless for them, and that they have no complaints at all. Don’t forget to send them gifts once in a while as well!
The “This is my favorite vendor to shop from” Customer
These customers are loyal to your brand, and will always come back to you. They are also the best kind of customers to get feedback and reviews from on how to improve your business, and if you’re looking for people that will preach the word about your business, you’ve got them right here!
How to deal with them:
They should also get VIP treatment.
The “I don’t have enough money, I will come back later” Customer
When a customer says this, it may be true or not. Sometimes they’ve decided they don’t want to buy from you, but would rather say this than the truth. But that’s okay because you can still convince them to buy from you!
How to deal with them:
This is the best time to pull out one of those sweet deals and offer it to them. Alternatively, you can let them go and follow up via email & SMS after a couple of days, reminding them about the item they’d like to buy and offering them a discount to make the purchase.
Conclusion
Understanding your customers and how to treat them is a great tip for retaining customers and building a loyal customer base, and also getting new customers to convert and shop from you. Always remember to be polite and treat all your customers well, so that they'll be happier to shop with you and refer others to your business.
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