Your Part In This Is Over

Me: “Morning, sir! Can I help you find anything?”

Customer: “Hi, I’m looking for a part for a lamp.”

Me: “Well, we don’t carry a lot of parts, but there’s always a possibility that I’ll have it. What is it that you’re looking for?”

Customer: *describes part*

Me: “Oh, I’m sorry but we don’t carry anything like that. Unfortunately it’s not even something I can order, since our suppliers wouldn’t carry anything like it, either. I’m not even sure where to send you for it since it’s a bit unusual. I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help!”

Customer: Oh. Well, see, it’s…” *describes part again*

Me: “I’m sorry if I was unclear. I know what part you’re looking for, I just don’t have it.”

Customer: “Maybe you have one in the back. It looks like…” *describes part again*

Me: “I know exactly the piece you’re describing. I’m sorry, but I’m 100% sure that we don’t have it. I can show you our parts department if you like. It’s pretty limited since we don’t do our own repairs here.”

(I take the customer to the back, where they look for the part themselves.)

Customer: “I don’t see it here. It’s…” *describes part yet again*

Me: “I’m sorry; I don’t know what to tell you. You don’t see it because I don’t have it. I have never had it. I will never have it. If you do ever find a place that carries it, let me know so that I have somewhere to send people in the future. Right now, I can’t do anything for you.”

(The customer gears up to begin their description again. My manager has witnessed the whole exchange and speaks up:)

Manager: “You should go to [Big Box Chain].”

Customer: “Oh, wow, thanks!” *leaves*

Me: “I didn’t know [Big Box Chain] carried things like that! Thanks, [Manager]!”

Manager: “Oh, [Big Box Chain] won’t have it either. I just figured he could go bug them for a while.”