Wednesday, November 19, 2008

New vs Used

Customer: Can you order books?
Me: Sure. What book are you looking for?

The customer gives me the name and author of a book.

Me: I'm sorry. That book is showing as out of print.
Customer: What do you mean out of print?
Me: It looks like it was published in 1956 and then reprinted in the 1980's but I don't see any more reprints and they have it listed as out of print, so the publisher doesn't have anymore.
Customer: Well can you order it?
Me: We can't order it if the publisher doesn't have it. Your best bet is to find it used. __________ is a used bookstore and they're great at finding out of print stuff.
Customer: You said you order books.
Me: I'm sorry. Yes, we do order books for people but we only deal with new books. So if it's out of print and you need a used copy we can't get that.
Customer: You said you order books.
Me: Try (the used bookstore down the road). They are a used bookstore.
Customer: You said you order books.
Me: Right. New books. You can't get this book new. You'll have to try the USED bookstore.




What is with people just standing there repeating themselves at you like that? Do they really think the answer will change if they just keep saying the same thing over and over?

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