At least I didn't have to talk to them.

We are closed for renovations.
There is a VERY large sign on the door stating that we are closed due to renovations.
It is NOT even during our regularly open hours.
We (as in a bunch of us) are painting. There are tarps EVERYwhere covering everything. We are all covered in paint.

How many people don't just try the door - they pound on it repeatedly.....?

How many?


7.


Seven different people can't read the sign that says that we're always closed at this time. We are extra closed for renovations and they don't notice all of the store is covered in painting tarps and/or wet paint.

7.


At least I didn't have to talk to them.

You'd think the author would know

Customer: Do you have A Dance With Dragons by George R.R. Martin?
Me: No. I'm afraid it's still not out yet.
Customer: Yes it is. It came out last week.
Me: I know a lot of places had last week's date out there but it's not out yet. It's not even done being written yet.
Customer: You don't know what you're talking about. It's out.
Me: I was just on his website because I'm kind of a fan and I'm waiting for it too and he said he's still not done.
Customer: It's out. I know it is.
Me: Okay, well you go look for it someplace else then. We don't have it. Although, we will, as soon as it's actually out.




I'm getting a bruise on my forehead again. Why do people think that we would lie to them about something like this? Oh and I guess the author was either lying or doesn't know his own book is done. Uh Huh.

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?

BOOKS!

Like many book stores we have a small coffee area in the store. It is less than 1/4 of the store.

This customer has been in every day for about a week.

Customer: You should have a much bigger sign outside saying you have coffee.
Me: We have considered that but since we're mainly a book store it'll have to wait until we get a whole list of other things done.

The customer looks around

Customer: Wow, I never noticed all the books before.



WHAT?? Seriously? I can't even explain how ridiculous that is! There are SO many books. EVERYwhere! Plus our name is ____________ Books.
What the heck did did she think the rest of the floor space was?

My memory's good but...

Customer: You had this book here that I liked but I can't find it.
Me: Okay, maybe I can find it for you. What was is called?
Customer: I can't remember. It was a blue cover.
Me: Okay. What was it about?
Customer: I can't remember.
Me: Umm.. okay. Adult or kids book?
Customer: Adult.
Me: Was it on display?
Customer: It was on the wall over there.
Me: Hmmm.... Okay, let me think, what's been there in the last little while that had a blue cover?
Customer: Oh. It wasn't a little while ago this was maybe three years ago now.
Me: What?
Customer: Yeah, it's been around 3 years I think since I saw it there.
Me: I'm sorry, I don't know what book was on display on that wall three years ago with a blue cover. If you can remember what it was about or what the name was or the author I can try to track it down but.......


THREE YEARS?!?!?! I mean we really try to find these books that people don't know what they were but it was blue and was on display three years ago? That's more than I can deal with....

Scary People

Customer: You know that new Harry Potter book that's coming out?
Me: Sure. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Customer: Well my friend gets it early you know.
Me: Really?
Customer: Yeah. He lives in England and they get it like a week before people here do.
Me: Interesting.
Customer: And you know what? He's gonna scan it in for me and send it so I'll have it early and I just have to pay for the book, but it more expensive there.
Me: Interesting. According to the publisher they have a world wide release of this book on the same day all over the world. You might want to make sure you have the right book before you pay your "friend" anything.
Customer: It's true they get it like a week earlier. They do.

At this point I'm backing away because this is not a kid - this is an adult and he's WAY in my personal space and beginning to frighten me....
Weird. Just weird.

Hold Please

Phone Rings

Me: Hello, __________ Books, _________ speaking.
Customer: I'd like to order a book.
Me: Ok. What book are you looking for?
Customer: Oh, that's my other phone. I'm going to put you on hold.
Me: ?
He puts me on hold. After about a minute or so I have customers so I hang up.

Phone Rings

Me: Hello, __________ Books, _________ speaking.
Customer: You hung up.
Me: Yes sir. I had customers to help here in the store.
Customer: You can't $(&%*& do that.
Me: There's really no reason to swear.
Customer: I'll *&*@#% swear if I want to.

I hang up. And tell the other staff about this guy.

Who does this? You can't call a store and then put them on hold. He either didn't call back or was nice when he did. Why is it that when people are rude to begin with it just seems to breed more rudeness?

your logic is flawed

Customer: Is my book in?
Me: I can check. What's your name?
Customer says name
Me: No, I'm afraid it's not in yet.
Customer: Well, it should be here.
Me: It's only been three days. It will be here soon but it sometimes takes a little while for special orders to get shipped to us.
Customer: Well do they have it at otherbookstorename ?
Me: I don't know.
Customer: Can you check?
Me: Not really, no.
Customer: Well couldn't you just get it from them for me?
Me: No. We buy books from publishers not from other bookstores. That would be like you going to Canadian Tire and asking them to go to Zellers and buy something for you.
Customer: So?



"So"?
Really? I wonder where else they've tried this logic....