fob off the customers

Meaning

To temporarily satisfy or get rid of customers by giving them excuses, lies, or inferior/cheap alternatives instead of resolving their actual problems or delivering what was promised. It implies dishonesty, laziness, or poor customer care.

Examples

• Instead of fixing the software glitch, the support team tried to fob off the customers with generic excuses.

  Instead of fixing the software glitch, the support team tried to fob off the customers with generic excuses.

• You can't just fob off the customers with a discount voucher when the product is fundamentally broken.

  You can't just fob off the customers with a discount voucher when the product is fundamentally broken.

• The sales reps were accused of trying to fob off the customers with outdated inventory.

  The sales reps were accused of trying to fob off the customers with outdated inventory.

• If we keep trying to fob off the customers, they will eventually take their business elsewhere.

  If we keep trying to fob off the customers, they will eventually take their business elsewhere.

• Don't try to fob off the customers with technical jargon; just tell them when the service will be back online.

  Don't try to fob off the customers with technical jargon; just tell them when the service will be back online.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The agent fobbed off the customers by a cheap excuse.

  ✓ The agent fobbed off the customers with a cheap excuse.

  We fob someone off 'with' something (the excuse, the cheap alternative), not 'by' or 'through' it.

• ✗ They tried to fob off to the customers with empty promises.

  ✓ They tried to fob off the customers with empty promises.

  'Fob off' takes a direct object (the person being deceived). Do not add the preposition 'to' before the object.

Related Expressions

Practice

• We need a real solution; we can't just ___ with automated email replies.

  💡 get rid of buyers with weak excuses

  Show answer

  fob off the customers

• The company tried to ___ by offering a minimal refund, but they demanded a full replacement.

  💡 pacify buyers with something cheap

  Show answer

  fob off the customers