Asking The Wrong Questions

(I work at a well known chain fabric store. A customer approaches me with a bolt of fabric.)

Customer: “Can you tell me if you have this in black?”

(There’s no easy way to find a fabric in a different color because it has a different number so it’s a job of pulling down every bolt of that color and looking for the name. But I’ll always try on the off chance I can find it.)

Me: “Sure, let’s take a look.”

(After pulling down 20+ bolts of black fabric and checking the names, I can’t find it.)

Me: “Looks like I’m all out of that one in black, unfortunately.”

Customer: “Okay. Where would it be if it were in the wrong place?”

Me: “…”