“My Struggle” With Customers

(I’ve just come off of my lunch when the phone rings with a customer query.)

Me: “Good afternoon. [Library], how can I help?”

(A gentleman with a strong Eastern European accent proceeds to ask for a book; after a bit of effort I manage to work out that he is after a copy of “Mein Kampf.”)

Me: “Okay, sir, let me just see if we have a copy of it in stock.”

(A search of the catalog shows that every book is either on loan, missing, or long overdue. I inform the customer of this.)

Customer: “What do you mean? Do you know who’s got the books?”

Me: “I’m afraid I don’t know who has them, sir.”

Customer: “It’ll be the Germans taking them all.”

(I look bewildered at the phone, a little shocked at what I just heard.)

Me: “I- I really couldn’t say, sir.”

Customer: “What did you call me?!”

Me: *confused* “I said I really couldn’t say, sir.”

Customer: “Well, it’s not good enough.”

(The customer hangs up on me and I just stare at the phone in surprise and confusion.)

Coworker: *having heard my side of the call* “What was that all about?”

Me: “I have no idea.”