ordinary customer

USAGE SUMMARY

'ordinary customer' is a correct and usable expression in written English.
You can use it whenever you are referring to an ordinary person who regularly uses a service or product or a person who is not a VIP or regular customer. For example: "The pizza shop offers a discount card for its ordinary customers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

President Reagan was the first sitting president to dine as an ordinary customer at a public restaurant, but the restaurant was Le Cirque; no cameras were allowed.

The New York Times

Virgin's common denominator between brands is its unconventional approach to marketing and its 'flying in the face of ordinary' customer service.

The Guardian

Retailers pay about 2.1 percent of the transaction value on a purchase made by a high-end rewards cardholder, compared to around 1.47 percent for an ordinary customer, according to Visa data.

The New York Times

Mykonos places the false data on clients' Web sites in places no ordinary customer would look, such as in source code and in configuration files that only a real system administrator or a hacker would find useful.

The Washington Post

And because there is little drama in ordinary customer service -- employees rushing couples to nearly missed connections -- this show focuses on man-versus-man conflicts: smart airline people placating the crazies that attempt air travel without being sober, clean or slim enough to deserve it.

The New York Times - Arts

A lot of ordinary customer trading will not lead to a lot of volatility, so that's another test.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Such behaviour puts ordinary customers at risk of having to share the consequences of failed investments.

The Guardian

But the problem goes far beyond privacy issues for journalists or ordinary customers.

The New York Times

Nigeria's banks have made so much money from foreign-exchange arbitrage that few bother much with ordinary customers.

The Economist

When a company goes into liquidation, its ordinary customers stand very little chance of getting their money back.

The Guardian - Money

Its revised timetable suggests that Waltons is not fretting that it will lose many of its ordinary customers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about a customer, use "ordinary customer" as a neutral way of describing them without implying they are unimportant or unremarkable.

Common error

While accurate, repeatedly using "ordinary customer" can sound monotonous. Vary your language by using synonyms like "average customer" or "typical consumer" to maintain reader interest.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ordinary customer" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject or object within a sentence. It serves to identify a customer as being typical or not having any special status. Ludwig and its examples, confirms the phrase usage to identify clients or users of a product or a service.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ordinary customer" correctly identifies a typical consumer without any special privileges. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and its neutrality in tone across contexts like News & Media. While semantically similar alternatives like "average customer" or "typical consumer" exist, this expression effectively distinguishes regular patrons from VIPs. Be mindful not to overuse the phrase to prevent sounding repetitive in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

average customer

Replaces "ordinary" with "average", suggesting a typical or standard customer.

common customer

Replaces "ordinary" with "common" to show a similar meaning.

typical customer

Replace "ordinary" with "typical" to show a similar meaning.

normal customer

Replace "ordinary" with "normal" to show a similar meaning.

typical consumer

Shifts focus to the consumer aspect, implying a common type of buyer.

regular patron

Emphasizes repeated visits or usage, highlighting loyalty.

everyday shopper

Focuses on the act of shopping and the commonality of the person.

standard client

Uses "client" instead of "customer", suggesting a service-oriented context.

usual buyer

Highlights the typical nature of the buyer.

general public

Broadens the scope to include anyone, not just those who purchase.

FAQs

What does "ordinary customer" mean?

The term "ordinary customer" refers to a regular customer who receives standard service and doesn't have any special privileges or status. They are the typical consumers of a product or service.

How can I use "ordinary customer" in a sentence?

You can use "ordinary customer" to differentiate between regular clients and those with VIP status. For example: "The promotion is available to any "everyday shopper", not just premium members."

What are some alternatives to "ordinary customer"?

Some alternatives include "average customer", "typical consumer", "regular patron", or "standard client", depending on the context.

Is "ordinary customer" the same as "average customer"?

While similar, "ordinary customer" emphasizes the lack of special treatment, while "average customer" focuses on representing the typical customer profile or spending habits.