Seeing Is Not Believing

I’m an optician at a big store that rhymes with hall-cart, working my way through a major to-do list at my job one day when I get a call.

Caller: “Hello, I need to schedule my husband for an appointment today at… oh, let’s say noon.”

Me: “Unfortunately, there are two problems with that. Our doctor is only in on Saturdays, and I cannot schedule anything. Our schedule is booked out until [two months from now]. However, our doctor will open up his schedule in the first week of [next month].”

Caller: “I see… so can I get him in tomorrow at… say noon?”

Me: “No. Our doctor is fully booked for tomorrow. We will open up [two months from now] at the beginning of [next month].”

Caller: “Oh… I see… so can I schedule for [two months out]?”

Me: “No, we don’t have that schedule yet. It opens [next month].”

Caller: “I see… can I schedule for tomorrow at noon?”

Me: *Thinking.* “Do you see? Or am I talking to a wall?”

Me: *Verbally.* “No. We do not have any appointments open.”

Caller: “Oh… I see… was the doctor there last night? We weren’t sure…”

Me: “No. He is only in on Saturdays.”

Caller: “Oh… I see… can I schedule for tomorrow at noon?”

It took five more minutes of this for me to finally get them to “see”. I do not look forward to their call in a couple of weeks.