Driving To The Wrong Conclusion
(The company I work for has a competition to win a car for customers who purchase a sewing machine and have store membership. A customer comes in, thrusting a receipt at me, in broken English.)
Customer: “I pick up.”
Me: *looking at receipt* “Oh, you are here to pick up a machine you have already paid for? What name is it under?”
Customer: “I pick up.”
Me: “Yes, I know. I need your name.”
Customer: “I buy sewing machine. I pick up.” *points to competition sign*
Me: “What do you want to pick up?”
Customer: “I buy sewing machine. Get car.”
Me: “Oh, no, that is a competition. If you buy sewing machine you might win a car.”
Customer: “Where car?”
Me: “Competition is to WIN car, which will be drawn in two weeks. You might win a car.”
Customer: “Car not here.”
Me: “No, come back in two weeks to see if you won it.”
Customer: “I get car?”
Me: “Only if you win it.”
Customer: “Can get car in two weeks?”
Me: “If you win it, we will let you know. Good luck.”
(The customer leaves. I wait until they are safely out the door before I stop biting my lips in an effort not to laugh.)
Coworker: “You were with them for ages. What was wrong?”
Me “They thought they got a free car with a $200 sewing machine.”
Coworker: “You’re having me on. That’s a joke?!”
(Two weeks later…)
Coworker: *to me* “Those customers came back in to pick up the car. I thought you were joking that day.”
(They came in two more times looking for their free car!)
Question of the Week
Have you ever served a bad customer who got what they deserved?
