Planting Seeds Of Regret

It’s my first week on the job, and I’m shadowing my trainer behind the customer service counter. The phone rings. I move to pick it up, but my trainer immediately stops me.

Trainer: “Don’t answer that.”

Me: “Why, is it scammers?” 

Trainer: “Worse. Old people.”

Me: “Huh?”

The manager, who’s walking by, overhears and decides to elaborate.

Manager: “They’ll make you stop what you’re doing to take an order over the phone instead of using the website. Or worse, they’ll tell you a story that doesn’t go anywhere. For forty-five minutes. Ignore it.”

The phone keeps ringing. I feel a pang of guilt.

Me: “But what if they really need help?” 

Trainer: “I know it sounds cruel, but we never make money from them when you take into account how little they buy and how much time they take up.”

The next day, the phone rings again.

Trainer: “Ignore it.”

I hesitate, then grab the receiver anyway.

Me: “Thank you for calling Greenleaf Hardware and Garden Center. How can I help you today?”

Caller: “Oh, hello, dear! I was just wondering if you still carry the marigold seeds with the yellow centers, not the orange ones, but the nice yellow ones. You used to have them near the bird baths, oh, those were such lovely bird baths…”

Half an hour later, I’ve heard about her grandchildren, her cat, and the exact color of every flower in her garden since 1973.

Finally…

Caller: “Anyway, could I get three packets of those seeds?”

Me: “Of course, ma’am. Anything else?”

Caller: “No, that’s all, dear. Oh, you’ve been so patient! Most people just hang up on me.” 

Me: “…Yeah, I can’t imagine why.”

When I hang up, I turn around to find a line of four waiting customers staring daggers at me, due to my trainer only being able to handle one customer at a time. The trainer gives me a knowing look. 

Trainer: “So, how was your first phone order?”

 Me: “Let’s just say… I get it now.”

I still made an effort to answer the phone whenever I could, but GOOD LORD did my trainer have a point…