Not exactly what I was supposed to do...

A man came in a few moments ago and asked me where some mysterious object was. I still couldn't understand him after I asked him to repeat it, so I just said "ooh... probably down in supplies". I know that's not what I'm supposed to do, but this was the second customer in a row to ask for something unintelligible and I figured the supplies section is usually the catch-all dept. He still hasn't come back up the stairs and it's been about ten minutes so maybe it was down there! Or maybe I sent him on a wild goose-chase.
-Badger Pocket

Potty Break?

I think a secret service agent just asked me where the bathroom is, black suit, ear piece and a pin with a green background and a gold star in the middle. I’m pretty positive that the pin is the same one that the secret service agents who where with former President Clinton wore when he was here last year. Also, after he walked back out the doors to the ally two black sedans with more agent type people drove past the entry way. Strange though that the person who talked to me appeared to be the only one who got out of the car. Secret Service agent potty break? I’m positive that neither the McCain nor Obama campaigns where scheduled to come through which then begs the question that if it was a secret service agent I saw, who was he with? Although apparently Joe Bidden came through Kalispell, Montana with out any real fan fare so I guess anything is possible. Or maybe I’m going crazy from telling people that the store, the whole store, is open until five today.

-Montana

Badger Pocket Comment: I heard there was a full out motorcade that came through the area that same day. Perhaps the two were related? You can just tell those Secret Service guys will pop open a can of whoop-ass at the slightest wrong move. Sexy! :P

Word Vomit

This customer probably thinks I’m a complete idiot.

When he asked where to find the geo-science books my response was to stare at him blankly while I thought about where the science books are located and finished chewing the bagel I wasn’t supposed to be eating. Unfortunately my blank stare and semi-response of ‘um’ was translated to thinking I needed the prompt of, “you know, geology?” This in turn prompted me to word vomit about not being back in school yet, my brain not working and how I actually did know what geo-science was. Oh, and then finally inform the customer that science books where in the back right corner of the store and that if he couldn’t find what he wanted the book help counter could assist him.

In my defense the store is super busy today, rush week, blah.

-Montana

further textbook confusion

Caller: Hi I am looking for a book
Me: alright, is it a general book or a textbook?
Caller: well, it’s like a book to read…


Yes well that does narrow it down a bit doesn’t it!

-high tide

Clickers

Clickers and radio frequency cards are essentially remotes that allow professors with large lecture classes to poll their students. It’s like being in a game show, except that if you get the wrong answer it negatively affects your grade. However for some reason buying a clicker or radio frequency card seems to be a hard concept to grasp. Take this caller for example:

Girl:“Do you have clickers?”
Me: “Clickers are down stairs in textbooks with the cashiers.”
Girl:“Can I put one on hold?”
Me: “No actually, you just have to come in.”
Girl:“And you buy them, right?”
Me: “Yes, you buy them.”
Girl: “And where are they?”
Me: “Downstairs with the textbook cashiers.”

No, we give away clickers for free, just like we give away textbooks.

-Montana

Saturday Madness

I was greeted by High Tide today telling me that today was the worst day she's had to work. After spending 15 minutes down here at the desk, I believe her. It's hard to hear when the switchboard is ringing, which is quite an accomplishment. This morning and early afternoon I spent cleaning my apartment and listening to my parakeet sing, and the atmosphere of the store today stands in stark contrast to my morning.
There are so many people here it's overwhelming when I try to hear people on the other end of the phone line. It's raining outside too so the floor is covered in water, and I'm waiting for someone to slip.
-Badger Pocket

highlights of the switchboard friday the 19th

Phone Call #1: me and a recent college grad

Me: Greeting

Girl: um why haven’t you given me my diploma yet?

Me: excuse me?

Her: I haven’t got my diploma and I need it

Me: You need to call the University for that

Her: (outraged) are you kidding me?

Me: No we are a completely separate company from the University and I cannot transfer you nor do I have the number

Her: seriously? Are you kidding?

Me: no. click

This wouldn’t be nearly as bad if she were a freshman, but the fact that she just graduated and still has no idea the university she attended for 4 years is separate from us is rather embarrassing..

Phone Call #2: me and a morbid old lady

Woman: do you carry the book “how to build your own casket?”

Phone Call #3: Me and accented woman

Woman: I want a prince Philip

sigh. don't we all. I wish we sold Prince Philip I would have picked that up years ago

and a fun stalker guy who called 9 times and would just listen, I could hear him breathing and hear an airport but he wouldn't talk no matter what I said...creeper

--high tide

take you to the candy shop

a man with three kids came in today and asked if there was a candy shop on the ave...he seemed so surprised i said no. seriously? its the main street in a college area that has one of the highest homeless and drug addict ratios in the city and it is that surprising there isn't a lollipop store in the vicinity? goodness sir!

-high tide

High Five

Customer: "Do you work here?"
Me: "Yes."
Customer: proceeds to give me a high five while cheering.

Either the rushies are on some kind of weird scavenger hunt or the general public is more excited about the employees here than I thought.

-Montana

Early Sunday Morning/Afternoon

Sundays are always crazy when we first open. Tons of people file in through the doors, and as soon as I turn on the switchboard the phone rings continuously. At least the new board doesn't ring while we're answering another call. Rush was this past week, and there has been a definite change in the area. I live a couple of blocks away from Greek Row, but I could still hear their cheers and screams, and this morning, their concert (?). At the store there has also been a change... today I spotted three sorority girls (their shirts told me so in bold font) wearing shorts that were so short their butt cheeks were literally hanging out below them. Classy!

2nd Day Back Phone Log

One phone call inquiring about other store location hours.

One male caller asking to be directed to the make up counter.

One wrong number call.

One person who thought I was a recording.

One 'I might have just hung up on someone' call because the phone line sounded dead.

One person who wanted the extension number of the electronics section (but not to be transfered there).

One student wondering if the fall textbooks had been shelved yet...

Two hang up calls.

Eight calls inquiring as to how late the store is open. One customer managed to shake up this question by phrasing it, "how late is you guys open?" I wish I could respond "we guys is open until nine."

*As a side note, logging the phone calls today made me ridiculously eager for the phone to ring. Will they ask about a book? A textbook? Get supremely confused when you ask which kind of book it is they are calling about? Want to know the store hours? Or will they ask a question that someone has never asked before!

-Montana

One last bit!

At the place of our employment there are many crazies who come in. Many of these people don't have a place to go and so they seem to flock to our store in huge numbers. While often quite sad/scary/depressing, it is also quite hilarious. One gentleman came in and leaned down to scream at the potted plant near the foyer entrance: "Extreme spring! Extreme spring! It's not fair! It's not fair!"
He was bent down so close to the plant his mouth was practically in the dirt, and he kept screaming for a while. I think the fellow employees figured he wasn't hurting anyone except their eardrums, so no one did anything and eventually he just staggered through the lobby and out the back entrance.

Bits and Pieces

I haven't updated in a while so I figured I would write a bit today about a few stories from over the past few days.

Similar to High Tide's textbook request experience, I had a grown man (whom I am going to assume was a father) who called asking for a book:
Me: "Is it a general book or a textbook?"
Man: "It's a general book for school"
Me: "So it's a textbook then?"
Man: "Yeah"
Oh, if only our high school parents could read!

After that gentleman there were two high school girls who came in and asked if our store had a pharmacy. This was on Sunday, and they said they had gone to the neighboring pharmacy only to be told it was closed, but that we had a pharmacy. Wrong, neighboring pharmacy.

That same day there was a fellow employee who stopped by my desk to grab some paper towels because something had been spilled on a children's book. I said "uh oh" to which she responded "it's okay, it's about a swamp."

One thing people regularly say that makes me chuckle to myself every time is when they ask "Can you validate me?" I know they're referring to our parking system, but it is still hilarious to me to think that someone is asking me that question without thinking about how it sounds. However, I had my first encounter with a customer the other day who joined in on the joke. After he said "Hi, do you validate? (pause, sarcastically) I would *love* to be validated!" He agreed with me that other people usually don't think about how it sounds when they ask me about the parking.

There was a girl who came in about a week ago who asked where she could find a 'clicker' and what they were. After I told her that they were similar to a remote and that you used them in lecture as a sort of interactive thing where you chose an answer to questions asked in class, she groaned and complained. When I asked her if she was an incoming freshman (the group which uses clickers most often) she said no, that she was actually going to be attending the Law School. I didn't tell her (but I wanted to) that she has a lot more than clickers to worry about with attending law school!

-Badger Pocket

eavesdropping

A little girl, probably about four was in front of the desk talking while her parents mainly ignored what she was saying. Her logic was so beautifully four. She had just dropped a book and immediately responded with "well I am weak and sick. Weak and sick mommy. So you can't blame me mommy. You can't blame me that I dropped the book because I am weak and sick. There are too many books in a library. You can't blame me mommy." It was funny because she was not sick or weak, and she said everything with such nonchalance. I was glad they stopped in front of the desk.

--high tide

homeless people

most customers don't seem to mind our homeless community (some of them are homeless) but one elderly man today could not seem to handle that there are homeless people on the street we are located on. He ranted on and on in his white suit and fedora hat about how unsightly it was and how they shouldn't be allowed. He continued to complain didn't want to leave the desk until i called the police did (i didn't). Sometimes i egg these people on, agree when I actually don't or get a little entertainment mainly because i am bored but today i just didn't have the energy. really? does it matter that there are homeless people sleeping outside? did it hurt your experience at our location? are you unable to purchase our products because someone is sleeping outside? knowing our location they might be passed out in a drug-induced stupor and i know it can be unsightly but frankly, i am so tired and so grateful that when i am too tired to keep my eyes open another second i have a bed to climb in. if you spent a quarter of the effort you put into harassing me into helping someone else they might not have to sleep sprawled out in front of our store entrance.

at least the next guy was nice, who overheard the older man and responded with "what an asshole". yep my sentiments exactly

--high tide

Nothing Happening Here

I don't know if my shifts have been super lame lately or I am totally zombied-out from moving but nothing but the same old same old here.

However...the excitement is building

...first game day is tomorrow; lots of crazies on the loose!

...dorms move in soon; lots of freshmen on the loose!

...school starts soon; the panic will begin

--high tide

Sunday 8/31

First story. There is a woman who came in a few weeks ago and asked like a maniac and yelled at me about a coupon in the S.S. Guide. Apparently the gifts dept. wouldn't let her use the discount because she, gee, isn't a student. Anyway, last time she was pissed, so today I tipped off Eyebrow Ring Security Dude about her. He came back later and informed me that she's a regular and that most of the time she's okay but that other times he they have to tell her to 'cool it'. Then he got a page and had to leave. Turned out the page was about her harassing people down in the basement. Afterward, she came upstairs and asked me if the new coupon books were out! I couldn't believe that. But, yes I could. I have now seen enough crazies at *** to believe it.

Second story is about a man who walked up from the supplies and then by my desk, to be accosted by who looked to be his wife. Conversation:
Wife: "Where have you been? We've been looking all over! Where were you?
Guy: "I was downstairs. I told you I was going to be down there"
Wife: "No, you said you were going to be *up*stairs"
Guy: "I was downstairs"
Daughter standing next to her Mom: "Give us money!" (directed at Dad)
Wife: "What did you buy?" (gesturing at *** bag in Guy's hand)
Guy: "Pens"
Wife: flabbergasted "Wha.. pens? Let me see those! You bought pens?!"

There was also a Norwegian couple and their two sons who spoke strictly Norwegian, who were poking through the kids books for about an hour. The mom asked for advice on books to help teach her kids English- it turned out one of them was going into a class that would help him learn English, but that the other one was going straight into normal kindergarten without knowing a word of English. So I suggested Dick and Jane books and Dr. Seuss. One of the sons liked rhymes. The older son also had a bike which had all the bells and whistles of a kid's bike, which he stored behind the concierge desk.

And perhaps my favorite little kid story yet: a little girl was standing next to the Bargain kids table nearest the main stairway, when she suddenly spotted a book, and screeched "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom! Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!!!". She looked astounded to see the book anywhere else. It was adorable.

- Posted by Badger Pocket