My mom and I opened a flower shop after she was laid off. We had just reached our one-year mark a few weeks before this when I take a call from an elderly woman.
Customer: “Hi, I have a bit of a strange request, and I can’t get out much, so I wanted to call and make sure it’s possible before I come in.”
Me: “Okay, how can I help you?”
Customer: “I’m on disability with a very limited income, and I would like to make mini wreaths for my family for Christmas and was wondering if I could rummage through your clippings for Christmas greens to make them. I used to go to [Shop where my mom used to work] and they would let me, but the new owners said no.”
Me: “I don’t have a problem with letting you take whatever you need from the clippings bin, but I don’t think you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for there. We are pretty particular about avoiding waste when we clean our product.”
Customer: “Oh, I know I’ll be able to find what I need in the bins. I used to get them every year from [Shop].”
She goes on for a minute or so about what she is making and what she needs.
Me: “My mom actually used to work at [Shop] before the new owners laid the entire staff off. One thing she would complain about is the amount of unnecessary waste that the staff produced since, as they put it, ‘It wasn’t their money.’ There really isn’t much in the bin other than thicker branches, with almost all of the greens stripped off, but I would be willing to sell the greens to you. I’m guessing by your description it would probably cost $2 or $3 per wreath.”
Customer: “Oh, no, I can’t afford that. I’m on a fixed income, but I know what I need will be in your discarded clippings. You just don’t understand what I’m making.”
Me: “I do understand; we make a similar item, which is why you won’t find what you are looking for in the clippings.”
Customer: “No, you don’t. I know I’ll find what I need there. If you don’t want me to take it from the rubbish so I have to spend money that I can’t afford, just say so. Do not lie to me about it.”
Me: “I’m not lying to you. We have had a few people pull flower scraps from our bins for projects. You said that it’s hard for you to get out, and I don’t want you to make a wasted trip. Although, if you are around, you can take anything you want from the clippings box.”
Customer: “Thank you. I’ll probably be in this afternoon.”
She hangs up, and I look again at the clippings box with just scraps and sticks. She doesn’t show up that afternoon or the next day. The second day she still has not shown up is when I would normally take the clippings to be composted, but since the box is less than half full, I decide to wait a week just in case she does come in so there will be more for her to look through.
A week later on compost day, there is a full two weeks of clippings in the bin. I figure she must have decided not to come in after all, but then, an hour before we close, she shows up.
Customer: “Hi. I spoke to someone on the phone about going through your Christmas green clippings.”
Me: “Oh, that was me. You’re just in time; I didn’t empty the bin last week since you said you were coming, but I was just about to do so. I still don’t think you’ll find what you need, though.”
She follows me slowly to the work room while talking nonstop about how I’m wrong about not having what she wants, how much she appreciates me not emptying the bin, and how if she can’t find enough in the bin, she may need to buy a few extra pieces from us.
Me: “Here is the box. Feel free to pull out what you want, and I can wrap it for you.”
Customer: “That’s it?!”
She gives me a look of pure disgust like I just let out the most noxious fart ever.
Me: “Yes.”
Customer: “What about that? That’s what I need. That pile will do all nine of my wreaths.”
She points to a pile of greens on my work desk.
Me: “That is a pile of greens I am prepping for centerpieces; I can’t give that away. I can sell you the entire bunch for $15, though.”
The woman starts screaming as she heads back to the exit.
Customer: “No! I will never shop here again. I’m going to [Shop], and I’ll buy what I need there. At least they just told me no instead of wasting my time and letting me think I could get what I needed for free. You’re a terrible person!”
Me: “Okay, thanks. I hope you have a merry Christmas!”
She stops and glares at me for a moment like she doesn’t know what to say about my response.
Customer: “Well, I hope yours is terrible.”
With that, she stormed out and gave me exactly what I wanted for Christmas by never returning as she promised.
