Good Luck with that

Customer: I'm looking for the new Robert Jordan book.
Me: In the Wheel of Time books?
Customer: Yes. The 12th one.
Me: It's not out yet. They did get someone to finish it but not yet. The 11th is the newest.
Customer: It's suppose to be out.
Me: Ummm, I can check and see if the publisher has a release date for it but it's not available yet.
Customer: Yes it is.
Me: Okay...... Well, we don't have it then.
Customer: Well when will you have it.
Me: When it's published. I don't know when that will be yet.
Customer: It's out now. I want you to order it.
Me: I can't order it. It's not available to order yet. When the publisher sets a publishing date and makes it available to order we will have it in.
Customer: I'm going to write to the author and complain that you don't have it and you're gonna be in trouble.



What???? Really?
This is messed up on so many levels, not the least of which is the fact that the author is dead.

I'm a little shook up.

I had a man come in just now with a book that he said was given to him for Christmas. He had no receipt and the cover of the book had black marker scribbled all over the pricing. He wanted me to return it. I explained that that wasn't possible.

He then started getting angry.

Customer: I'm not into books and this one looks like crap anyway. It's garbage. So you're not going to give me anything for it?
Me: Sir, I can't. It's all marked up and even if I could buy it from you we can't sell it in that condition. I'm sure the library would be thrilled to take it if you really don't want it.
Customer: If it's got no value then I'm just going to throw it out.
Me: Please don't do that. The library would be so grateful for it.
Customer: No. If you won't give me anything for it it doesn't have any value and it's going in the garbage.

Then he started grabbing handfuls of pages and ripping them out and throwing them down on the counter. Then he just stormed out.


I'm actually still shaking a bit. It was a little scary.

Some days I wonder.......

This was a phone conversation I just had

Customer: Do you have paperback books?
Me: Ummm, yes?
Customer: How much are they?
Me: They range depending on the book.... They go from around $10 up to $60 or more.
Customer: Oh. So they're not all the same?
Me: ummm, no.
Customer: I'm talking about paperbacks here. You know. Paperbacks.
Me: Paperback is pretty broad sir. There are paperbacks in every section of the store. Are you looking for the little fiction pocket sized books?
Customer: Paperbacks. I can't believe you don't know what I am talking about.

Then he hung up on me.

Is it me?

We are not a babysitting service!

Quit leaving your small children in bookstores while you go shopping someplace else. We don't know who they are suppose to leave with or not. It's actually not okay for them to sit with their Doritos and read books while you're off doing whatever it is you're doing. NOT OK. Try the library, they might have programs for this kind of thing.

Give me a break

Customer: I'd like to return this.
The Customer has an audio book box
Me: Okay, do you have your receipt?
Customer: One of the tapes won't play right.
Me: Okay, but do you have your receipt?
Customer: No. I bought it in October.
Me: It's March.
Customer: Yeah well I just got around to it.
Our return policy is 7 days WITH a receipt.
Me: It's been 6 months since you say you bought it and you don't have a receipt. There really isn't anything I can do for you.
At this point there was much grumpiness and repetition......

No receipt really is killer for a return. No Receipt no return. It's pretty hard and fast. Then tell me it's been SIX months!?!?!?! Really? Give me a break.

I'm Not qualified for this

Customer: Do you have Mind Over Mood?
Me: Sure. Right over here.

I show the customer to the right spot and leave her to take a look at the book.

Customer: My therapist recommended this book for me but I don't know if I like it. What book would you recommend?
Me: Ummm... If your therapist recommended this one I would probably suggest it's your best choice.
Customer: But is there a different book you would recommend?
Me: I can tell you what sells well but I'm not in anyway qualified to say one of these books would be better for you....



There is only so far that a bookseller's expertise goes. If your therapist recommends something I say go with it.....

Laugh or Cry?

Ok.
In my opinion, if you are over the age of 18, there really shouldn't be anyone monitoring your reading choices. I mean, seriously, what you read is up to you.

We had a young lady (well over 18) who asked for a novel for Christmas. Her mother bought it for her. The young lady's grandmother started reading it before it was wrapped (HUH?) and decided that it wasn't appropriate reading and instructed the young lady's mother to return it.

Now family is family, and whatever transpired there I don't know, but the mom comes in to return the book and tells me this story. She had the receipt so no matter how absurd I thought the reason for returning it was I would have done it with a smile. Except - and here is the kicker - Grandma was so rough with the book that there was NO WAY it could be returned.

The young woman got the book from mom along with some advice to just not mention it to grandma.

I'm not sure whether to laugh or shake my head......