Unfiltered Story #189085

[I work in the children’s department of a large department store. We have few toys, but one of them which is fairly popular is a sound puzzle. It’s one of those block puzzles for kids, but when you match the pieces together it makes a sound. I get a call one day from a customer asking if we had any. After checking the floor and the stockroom, I can’t find any.]

Me: I’m sorry, ma’am, but it looks like we don’t have any in store. I can check my computer system to see if any other stores in the area have it.

Customer: That sounds good.

[I search for the item on the computer, and it shows absolutely none anywhere nearby. I even expanded the search to 100 miles, and still nothing.]

Me: Well, unfortunately, it looks like it isn’t available anywhere nearby, and the inventory is showing at 0 which means I can’t order it for you either. It was pretty popular over the holidays, so we must have sold out, but I imagine we’ll get more in.

Customer: So it’s not in store and you can’t order it for me?

Me: That’s correct, and I do apologize.

Customer: So what you’re saying is, there’s nothing else you can do?

Me: *puzzled by the question* At this point, we have none available at any of our stores company-wide, so no, I’m sorry.

Customer: All right, well, [Competitor store] told me they have plenty in the area, so I’m not sure if your computer system is right. But thanks anyway.

[I hung up the phone, confused as to why she thought we would have access to a competitor’s stock.]