Ferreting Around For Information

(I work in a pet store.)

Caller: “Hi. I wanted to know if you had any ferrets in stock.”

Me: “No, sorry. We don’t have a large enough enclosure for those in our store so we actually don’t sell them at all. I can tell you the phone numbers for some of our larger stores.”

(We discuss this and she decides that they are all too far away.)

Caller: “Do you know any other pet stores in the area that sells them?”

Me: “I know that [Other Store] carries them but I wouldn’t know their stock. I can provide you their number if you want.”

(It’s actually against policy to give out a competitor’s info but most staff do when it comes to things we don’t ever stock.)

Caller: “Yeah, that’s too far. What about mom-and-pop stores? Do you know any of them in the area that have them?”

Me: “I don’t know of any and if I did I wouldn’t know their stocks.”

Caller: “This is ridiculous! You won’t even help me. You mean to tell me you don’t know any other pet stores?!”

Me: “Well, this one I work at has everything I need, so no. Sorry.”

Caller: *sighs heavily* “Put me on with someone who knows more than you.”

Me: “I can’t do that; I’m the only one here. Besides, we are not required to give any business to the competition. You can try Google.”

Caller: “How about a manager? They must know more than you.”

(All of my managers are new, live out of state, and have no knowledge of the local area.)

Me: “As I’ve already said, I can give you the number for the other stores or you can try Google. There is no manager available for this issue.”

Caller: “This is ridiculous. Can you just put me on with a manager?! They must know something outside of your little world there in that store!”

Me: “No manager here can help with—“

(The caller hung up on me. I relayed the story to my manager later and she told me that she fears for the general public.)