"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'" ~ C. S. Lewis

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Retail Wednesday puts the pressure on

This was kind of a lame week. Ah well, you can't have total idiocy all the time apparently. It's kind of funny, because I should be glad that I had less crazy to deal with, but instead I'm kinda bummed out. Oh the life of a writer.

But now... on to the awards!

Clueless Award:

A woman approached me and asked for books on card tricks. I start leading her to the section.
Woman: You have a bargain kit out front, but I don't need the whole thing, just a book. (holds out a doodle bargain book that she is carrying) I also need something like this, but do you have anything that's cheaper.
Me: (looking at the book which is $4.99) Other than that, we're just going to have stuff in the regular kids section and the ones similar to this are going to be at least $10.
Woman: (sighs exasperatedly and shakes her head)
Me: (arriving at the section) Here's a book on card tricks.
Woman: (takes the book and then answers her phone and begins talking. I turn to walk away. Her hand shoots out to stop me. She points at the back of the book with a frown and a furrowed brow) Don't you have anything less expensive?
Me: (looking at the $7.95 price label) no, that's actually a really good price for that size book.
Woman: (glares at me as though I personally am charging her double what she should have to pay.)

Now, I know that some books seem overpriced, but seriously? $5 and $8 are "expensive"? Where are you normally buying your books, because I don't think it's at a regular bookstore.
I'm not paying more than $2.38 for that book and that's final!

Phone Freak Award:

I answer the phone. A woman is looking for a specific anatomy book. I check and the computer says we may have a copy. I put her on hold and check the section. It's not there so I check the adjoining sections as well, since the nursing and medical books tend to get shuffled around constantly by customers. No luck. It has taken me a while so I'm a little afraid she'll be annoyed for waiting. I hurry back to the phone and pick up the call.
Me: I'm sorry, it looks like we're sold out of it right now.
Woman: Really?
Me: Yes, I just checked through the whole section to make sure it wasn't misplaced and we don't have it. We have other anatomy books, but not that one right now.
Woman: Well, does the computer say you have it?
Me: (why do customers think computers are more reliable than humans?) Well, it says we might have a copy, but I've been through the section and couldn't find it.
Woman: Well, is it possible that someone moved it and it's there, but in the wrong spot?
Me: That's why I checked through the whole section (is there an echo in here?), but it's not there.
Woman: It couldn't be anywhere else?
Me: Well, there's always that possibility, but I couldn't find it anywhere.
Woman: Are you sure?
Me: Yes. (No, I'm lying to you. I am actually holding four copies in my hand, but I don't like you so mwa hahahahahaha >:)
Woman: (grunts in exasperation and hangs up)
I dunno, if you really don't trust someone else to look for you, then maybe you should just come to the store yourself.
This is where we hide the books from customers.

Awww... Shucks Award:

And this is to show that not all customers that come in are clueless, rude and/or annoying.
An older couple asked me for the book Stones Into Schools. I begin to lead them over to the section when the husband asks me if it's come out in paperback. I say, no, not yet. It's a fairly recent book and it usually takes about 6-12 months for books to come out in paperback. They nod. The wife asks her husband who the author of the book is. He says he can't remember, but that he wrote that other book, too. I smile and say Greg Mortenson who also wrote Three Cups of Tea. The husband says, Oh right! and we arrive in the section. I hand the husband the book and they both thank me. As I walk away I overhear the woman say, "Wow, she's certainly very knowledgable."

I'm telling you that fuzzy feeling lasted for a while :)
Okay, so I'm not THIS knowledgeable.

Not the Brightest Crayon in the Box Award:

A woman asks me for Romeo and Juliet. I lead her over to the Shakespeare section where we find the multiple printings. She looks at the different books rather helplessly and asks me which one is better. I explain that they're all going to have the same story, but some of them have notes, some of them have a modern English translation along with the original. She says her daughter needs it for a school project. I recommend one. She is flipping through a copy and then stops and looks at me.
"Wait, this is a play with acts and scenes and stuff. I just need the regular book."

D'oh!

So that's my kinda lame Retail Wednesday. Hopefully more crazies show up during the rest of spring break so next week's is a bit better.

Also... I have now passed 30 followers (yippee!).
I can hardly believe it! Thank you to everyone who reads my ramblings... this is so much fun.

18 comments:

MeganRebekah said...

these are always so fun to read!

Unknown said...

That crocodile jumping is AMAZING! I want one! Only... not... because then I would be eated.

Ahahaha... That scrooge picture, and I thought that cat was a pig for a second.

And didn't you know? Books should not cost more thann 52 cents. What were you thinking?

Anonymous said...

Okay, I love the jumping crocodile.

I work as a hostess/waitress so I can definitely relate to these moments, except in a different setting.

Great writing material though, no? ;o)

Arlee Bird said...

Got something here that may interest you:

I’d like to invite you and your readers to join us in a blogging challenge for the month of April. Check it out at Blogging From A to Z. It’s not too late too join up with us and we’d be honored to have you with us.

Starts tomorrow (unless you're in the Eastern hemisphere where it's already started), but we'll take any stragglers as late as Monday 4/5.

Lee

Elana Johnson said...

Love this post! And yes, I'd kill for a book to be $5. Ha ha!

Arlee Bird said...

I am now a follower and you are now officially part of the Blogging From A to Z Challenge.
Good luck!
Lee

Grammy T said...

Ha, now I am stalking you! You can't get away from your mother! Mwahahaha!Seriously, I am so grateful for you and your writing. I figure I have been following, so might as well join in and comment.I love the jumping crocodile, too!
verification word:intiesto -an italian dish to go with antipasto.

Sarah Ahiers said...

Ha! I love the Romeo and Juliet lady. Cra-zy.

Rebecca T. said...

@MeganRebekah: Thanks! Glad you're enjoying yourself. I popped over to your blog and enjoyed my visit :)

Re: leaping crocodile - it is the best thing I've ever seen. I am totally using it from now on every time I'm excited about something ;D

@E. Elle: Yes, great writing material. I just love the fact that I can write about one particular instance, but anyone who's worked in the service industry can relate. Peoples is peoples.

@arlee bird. Thanks for the invite. This should be interesting.

@Elana: Cheap books = a happy me (why do you think I work in a bookstore? The discount, baby - purely the discount!)

@Mom: good grief, calm down. Great, now you can embarrass me in cyberspace too. *sigh* It's a good thing I like you ;)

@Falen: Romeo and Juliet lady is probably my favorite crazy story of all the Retail Wednesdays I've done so far. In. Sane.

Austin Gorton said...

When I was the bargain supervisor, I'd often get customers who asked me "how is THIS a bargain?" And I'd kindly try to explain that 7.98 for a hardcover fiction book that retailed originally for 25.95 IS a bargain, but I don't think it ever got through...

Well, is it possible that someone moved it and it's there, but in the wrong spot?

I LOVE this one. Don't you just want to say what you're really thinking, which is "well, yeah, the computer says it here, so it's SOMEWHERE, but frankly I have neither the time nor the inclination to check every shelf in the store, every nook and cranny, and every other customer's pile of books for it, so you'll just have to order it or come in and look for yourself!"

The Romeo and Juliet story? THAT, my friend, is comedy gold.

Anne Gallagher said...

You are just too funny! And I LOVE the jumpring croc!!!

Jemi Fraser said...

I can't believe there's anyone on the planet who doesn't know Shakespeare wrote plays!! Yikes!

Gotta love retail!

That crocodile/alligator picture is priceless! :)

Unknown said...

I've said it before and I'll say it again... Retail Wednesday is the bomb :)

Thank you for your fun posts, they always make me smile! I wish I could post about crazy first graders or crazy first grade parents... but... um...

Better not. ;)

Unknown said...

Woot, another award for you on my blog!

JennM said...

The Shakespeare story is soooooo priceless! I cannot believe that this actually happened to you in real life! Ha!

So, what did you say? I mean, I just don't know what I would have said!

Also, congrats on your followers! Your blog is awesome—with retail Wednesdays being a highlight for me.

Keep it up!

Rebecca T. said...

Thanks for the kudos everyone. Just yesterday I was thinking, Am I going to start sounding like some whiny person just going on and on about the idiots at my job?

But I try to inject the humor and it seems to be working. Glad you guys can enjoy my pain :P

@Dangerous With a Pen: Thanks! I'll go check it out :)

Unknown said...

I just hope the person from a few weeks ago isn't still holding their breath waiting for Rosetta Stone to come out in Sumerian.

Blam said...


A woman is looking for a specific anatomy book.

No, seriously, I thought Joan lived in Canada.

This is where we hide the books from customers.

Mmppphhhhahahahahahahahahaha! Scared the cat again...

"Wait, this is a play with acts and scenes and stuff. I just need the regular book."

As a friend of mine says, "Oh my werd."

VW: bearize — see ursinate