There Can Be Only One (Pet At A Time)
(I’m shopping for pet supplies at my local store when I overhear a conversation.)
Customer: “Excuse me, miss?”
Employee: “Yes, ma’am? How can I help you?”
Customer: “My son’s gerbil just died. It was only two years old. He’s been completely miserable ever since.”
Employee: “Oh… I’m sorry about that. Did you want to look for a new pet? Our small animal section is right over here. We have hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs—”
Customer: “Yes. But I don’t see much point in getting an animal that’s just going to die in two years. Don’t you have any animals that don’t die?”
Employee: “…excuse me?”
Customer: Animals… that… don’t… die. Do you have any?”
(The employee gives her a blank look.)
Customer: “Do you have them or not?!”
Employee: “Um, I’m afraid all animals die eventually, ma’am. There’s nothing we can do about that.”
Customer: “Fine! I’ll just go to [rival store], because you people have nothing but inferior products here!”
(The customer storms out of the store, leaving the bewildered associate standing there by herself. She makes eye contact with me from across the aisle, and we both start cracking up.)
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Question of the Week
Tell us your story about a customer who couldn't understand the most simple concept.
