The exact origin of the phrase, "The customer is always right," is unknown, but it is most often attributed to
Harry Gordon Selfridge, the founder of
Selfridge's department store in London. However, it was in use in the
Marshall Fields chain in the late 1800's before Selfridge's ever opened their doors. Furthermore,
Cesar Ritz, the French hotelier who founded
the Ritz hotel chain, is credited with saying, "Le client n'a jamais tort," which translates to, "The customer is never wrong."
The true origin of the concept is probably even older than that.