a long time customer

USAGE SUMMARY

"a long time customer" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a customer who has been associated with a business for a long period of time, such as when discussing loyalty or customer appreciation programs. For example, "Our company is proud to offer a special discount to its long time customers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

10 30am: Meijer is a great Michigan-based company and a long time customer.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

And while console platforms have attempted to maintain their premium prices for a long time,  customers now know that they can expect games more cheaply (even for free) and inevitably they will.

TechCrunch

A new mother, a long-time customer, returned to Penny's Restaurant in Highland Park recently.

The New York Times

"I just got your e-mail, and, as a long-time customer, quite frankly found it to be offensive.

The New York Times

Rick knows lowering Charlie's mortgage rate won't be good for the bank's bottom line, but he thinks making a long-time customer happy is worth the investment.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

TIM WU, a frequent contributor to the New Yorker, wrote an essay recently about why he, a long-time customer of United Airlines with more than 700,000 miles flown, has decided to "leave" the airline.

The Economist

The beating went on for six to eight minutes, Mr Haque said, before a long-time customer came to his aid and detained Mr Kolvani until the police arrived.

Independent

Like many, Liaw is not just an App Annie investor – he's also a long-time customer.

TechCrunch

A few years ago, I was introduced to a prospect who is now a long-time customer.

Forbes

It may even be you when you yourself fail to promptly respond to an email or phone call from a long-time customer.

Forbes

If you're a long-time customer and have always paid your bills on time, you'll probably get a "yes" answer right away.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase to highlight the value of customer retention in business communication, reinforcing the importance of building lasting relationships.

Common error

Avoid assuming "a long time customer" is automatically satisfied. Consistently gather feedback to ensure their needs are still being met and to proactively address any potential issues.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a long time customer" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject or object within a sentence. Ludwig examples show the phrase is used to describe the enduring relationship between a business and its clientele. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Formal & Business

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a long time customer" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, as Ludwig AI confirms. It serves to highlight the enduring relationship between a business and its customers. Its presence is strongly felt in news and media, business settings, and even academic discourse, signaling its wide applicability. Remember, while acknowledging someone as "a long time customer" is beneficial, continuous engagement and proactive feedback gathering are crucial to ensure their ongoing satisfaction. By employing this phrase thoughtfully, you can enhance customer loyalty and reinforce the value of lasting relationships.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Longstanding client

Replaces "customer" with "client" and "a long time" with "longstanding", indicating a relationship of considerable duration.

Long term client

Swaps "customer" to "client" and uses "long term" instead of "a long time" to highlight the duration of the relationship.

Established patron

Uses "patron" to denote regular support and "established" to convey a history of engagement.

Loyal customer for years

Specifies loyalty over a period of years, emphasizing continuous patronage.

Regular buyer over an extended period

Highlights consistent purchasing behavior over a prolonged duration.

Customer of many years

Directly states the customer relationship spans several years.

Frequent shopper for a considerable duration

Focuses on shopping frequency and emphasizes the substantial length of the relationship.

Dedicated customer through the years

Emphasizes dedication and continuity of the customer relationship.

Consistent user for a decade

Highlights consistency and specifies a decade-long relationship.

Premier client of extended tenure

Emphasizes the high status and long duration of the client relationship, making it more formal.

FAQs

What are some alternative ways to say "a long time customer"?

You can use alternatives like "longstanding client", "established patron", or "loyal customer for years" depending on the context.

How can I use "a long time customer" in a sentence?

You might say, "We value your business as "a long time customer" and want to offer you this exclusive discount." or "Recognizing her as "a long time customer", the manager personally handled her request."

Is it better to say "long-time customer" or "a long time customer"?

Both "a long time customer" and "long-time customer" (with a hyphen) are acceptable. The hyphenated version is often preferred in formal writing as it functions as a compound adjective. But the meaning and usage are essentially the same.

What benefits should be offered to "a long time customer"?

Consider offering exclusive discounts, early access to new products, personalized service, or special invitations to events. These perks acknowledge their loyalty and encourage continued patronage.