Stained With Bad Expectations

A customer walks up to the paint counter, holding a small can of wood stain.

Customer: *Sounding annoyed.* “I need to talk to someone about this stain.”

Me: “Sure, what’s the issue?”

Customer: “I followed the directions exactly. Sanded, applied, waited. But it doesn’t look like the picture on the can.”

Me: “Well, the picture is just a general representation; it depends on the wood you’re using.”

Customer: “It’s birch plywood.”

Me: “Ah. That’ll absorb stain a little differently than, say, oak or pine. Birch can come out lighter.”

Customer: “Okay, but I think the picture should show birch. I feel like I was misled.”

Me: “Did you test it on a small area first, like it says?”

Customer: “No, I don’t have time for that. I assumed it would look like the photo. That’s how advertising works.”

Me: “Right, but if advertising worked like that, I’d look like the guy on the protein powder label.”