History Main / UmpteenthCustomer

This is a DiscreditedTrope that is never used for actual drama. How a store could accurately keep count of individual customers' entrances, particularly when they are open to the public and anyone could walk in multiple times, is always ignored. As is the legality of using someone's image for marketing without their consent.

Congratulations! You're the one millionth customer of HonestJohnsDealership! Or maybe you're the ten thousandth customer of the MaltShop! Or maybe it's just an ordinary shop in an ordinary mall. Well, either way, YOU are the lucky person that's a milestone of their history--you are their hundredth/thousandth/millionth/billionth customer, and what better way to show their appreciation than to give you this random item?

Expect a [[ConfettiDrop shower of confetti and balloons]] when this occurs, almost as if it was a birthday party. Which it technically is, just for the company.

In reality, for the very very very VERY few places that actually do this, it'll simply be something small like a commemorative pen or badge. In media, however, this item (or series of items) will be something either extravagant or extremely desired--so, the conflict of the episode will sometimes either be resolved by or revolve around this item. Of course, sometimes it's not the item that drives the plot -- it's the event itself, especially when its appearance can be a hindrance to the recipient.[[note]]The two most likely forms is that this stops him at a time where he needs to quickly get somewhere, or it publicizes him when he needs to remain inconspicuous.[[/note]]

* In ''Film/AmazonWomenOnTheMoon'', a boy who goes to a drug store to [[TrojanGauntlet buy condoms]] (discreetly) for his date not only wins a prize...but becomes their spokesman, much to his horror.
* In ''Film/HowToMarryAMillionaire'', a philandering married businessman attempts to drive his would-be paramour into Manhattan, via an out-of-the-way route so that nobody in his social circle will see them. While crossing the George Washington Bridge, the couple are intercepted by a group of motorcycle cops...who led them straight to a waiting crowd of reporters and photographers, ready to publicize them for occupying the five millionth vehicle to cross the bridge.

** This also invites some FridgeLogic, since she was the "10,000th customer" despite it being mentioned that the Mall of the Millennium had only recently opened.

* In ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'', Ash and Serena have to go to another city to shop for gifts for their Pokémon. On their trip back, Ash becomes the 1 millionth rider on the monorail, and was awarded with a commemorative ribbon.

* ''Series/TalesFromtheCrypt'': In "[[Recap/TalesFromTheCryptS2E1DeadRight Dead Right]]", GoldDigger Cathy wins $1,000,000 when she becomes the one millionth customer of the automat chain. Unfortunately for her, this triggers the ProphecyTwist.

-->'''Customer''': Um ... what happens now?\\

[[folder: Film]]

[[folder: Live Action Television]]

* In one ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' episode, Quark declares Major Kira his "One Millionth Customer" as part of a scheme to scan her image for a custom holoprogram. Prizes include free dabo spins, champagne, and an hour in the holosuite (the scan has to be taken there) that she transfers to an ensign whose birthday is coming up.

Congratulations! You're the one millionth customer of HonestJohnsDealership! Or maybe you're the ten thousandth customer of the MaltShop! Or maybe it's just an ordinary shop in an ordinary mall. Well, either way. YOU are the lucky person that's a milestone of their history--you are their hundredth/thousandth/millionth/billionth customer, and what better way to show their appreciation than to give you this random item?

* Happens from time to time to WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck's extremely lucky cousin Gladstone.

* In ''Larceny, Inc.'', Creator/EdwardGRobinson's character gets rid of a customer at the luggage shop he's using as TheConvenientStoreNextDoor by telling him he's the store's millionth customer and can have the bag he wants for free.

* In ''VideoGame/SimonTheSorcerer 2'', a tattooist gives a free tattoo to his 100th customer. Since your character has no money, you need to talk another character to going first so that you can get the tattoo done free.

* Happens in a [[BigApplesauce New Quack City]] level in ''VideoGame/FurFighters''. Where the player enteres a gun store and is given 60 seconds to run around collecting ammo and new weapons.
* The vending machines for Marcus Munitions in the ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands}}'' series occasionally play with this. One of the randomly selected statements when you buy from one is, "You're my millionth customer! Don't let it go to your head."

* In ''Film/AmazonWomenOnTheMoon'', a boy who goes to a drug store to buy condoms (discreetly) for his date not only wins a prize...but becomes their spokesman, much to his horror.