Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Misdirections.

I accidentally told a customer looking to buy a calculator that they were located in Supplies. He did one of those walk-by-and-call-out-a-question-four-feet-away things, so I didn't get the chance to redirect him.

The second the words "downstairs, in Supplies" left my mouth, I thought: No! Calculators are upstairs! But I couldn't do anything. I wanted to quick catch him on the stairs, but I also didn't want to risk leaving the desk. With so many things to lock up, it's like I'm chained to it. And even if I did go searching for him, would I find him?

I waited for him to pass the desk again, so I could apologize for sending him on a wild goose chase, but he avoided me from then on out. Gosh. Sometimes it's better when customers make it a point to tell you you were wrong.

Update: Apparently, calculators can be found both upstairs and downstairs. Another customer asking for calculators let me know. I better investigate.

-Lima Bean

Monday, December 29, 2008

Customer complaints.

I had a customer mosey over to the desk the other day and tell me "I'd like to file a complaint." I started to say "OK, would --" and he interrupted me with: "Aren't you going to ask me what kind of complaint?" At that point I was thinking, Fine, I'll bite: "OK, what kind of complaint do you have?" Then, he said "Oh, nevermind. You were supposed to get all riled up, but you didn't."

He then headed for the downstairs and called back to me, "But you'll never forget me, will you?" No, I won't.

-Lima Bean

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Another Barnes and Noble Question...

A man walked up to the desk a moment ago and asked "if these books don't sell do they eventually go on clearance or something?" He was gesturing at the bargain books already, so I said that they are already deeply discounted from the original list price, and that I wasn't sure what happens to the books that don't sell. Then he said "So are you guys a part of Barnes and Noble, or.." To which I promptly responded "Oh, no, we are an independent bookstore. I'm still not sure if he completely understood.

-Badger Pocket

Friday, December 26, 2008

Highlights for week of Dec. 21

Below are customer highlights for the week of Dec. 21 during my shift, both on the switchboard and off:

Customer A: "Hi, I'm wondering if you carry a rubber duck. It's about two inches big and half of it is another animal."

B: "Do you buy gift cards?" (No, you do.)

C: (On switcboard) "Hi, I'm going to give you a number. It's a USB number."

D: (On switchboard) "Hello, Miss You-Know-Where."

E: "This coupon excludes the technology center. Does that include laptops?"

F: (On switchboard) "Do you sell earmuffs with sorority names on them?"

G: "You have a very nice, welcoming smile."

-Lima Bean

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Greeting cards.

I had a customer just ask me where the gift cards were. I told him he could get them at any of the cashiers. Then he said, No, the Christmas gift cards. I asked him if he wanted the cards that you can give as a substitute to cash. He said, No, the gift cards that you can send in the mail. Oh, OK! Cards are upstairs on the landing, etc.

Not 'gift cards.' It's 'greeting cards.'

Also: Ahh! I've accidentally been telling customers the store is open until 6 p.m. tonight when it's only open until 5 p.m. I checked the Holiday schedules in the binder to be sure, but they're wrong. I didn't think to check the Web site, too. I've misinformed about 7 customers! It's going to eat away at me. I hate this.

-Lima Bean

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Snow

"We'll be open until six today, weather permitting." - My new least favorite phrase. Also, I really hate the bird book.
~Montana

Saturday, December 20, 2008

First post!

I wish I'd known about this blog sooner. This is only my second week working at You-Know-Where, and I've already got lots and lots of stories. Mostly, they're about my inability to inform customers when it's my job to inform customers. No laughing at customers -- the joke's on me, guys!

I find myself saying "I'm not sure, let me check for you" more than I'd like. I just need to remind myself that the telephone is my friend. I've compiled my own FAQ list for the store -- sort of adding the answers to (strange) questions as I learn them -- but it doesn't help much. Customers have the knack of asking the questions nobody's asked me yet. Oh, wait: I stand corrected. A second man just asked me if the store carries legal documents. That was strange question number one.

Something interesting: The most-requested book today is Weather of the Pacific Northwest by UW professor Cliff Mass.

-Lima Bean

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Do we look like a chain store?

Customer: “I just have a quick question; can I use a Barns and Noble gift card here?”

What part of independent bookstore don’t you understand? NO! We don’t except chain bookstore gift cards here.

~Montana

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Holiday Season=Crazies

I had just finished telling my co-worker how this job has been slightly boring lately when I had one of the busiest nights in a long time. First, a firetruck and an ambulance showed up because a poor old woman had passed out upstairs. Then, two girls came up to tell me that there was a little dog tied up outside, shivering. They wanted me to page the store so the owner would know to bring in their dog. I thought that I had gotten out of doing the page when another customer told the girls that she thought the owner had come and gone with the dog already. Alas, no. So I ended up doing the page which I finished by saying "Thanks, Bye", like I was answering the phone. Lame. Then, I ended up having to do two more pages when a man was looking for his girlfriend/wife/sister/someone who had a terribly difficult name. He kept pacing next to the desk waiting for her after the first page, and then apparently when I was doing the second page I messed up the pronunciation of her name. Great. I long for the days before I possessed the knowledge of paging.