They Want It Yesterday Or Not At All
Customer: “Hey, do you have [item]?”
Me: “Sorry, we’re sold out.”
Customer: “Do you have any in the back?”
Me: “I’m afraid we don’t.”
Customer: “Are you sure?”
Me: “Yes, I am sure.”
Customer: “When will you guys get more?”
Me: “I’m not sure, I’m not in charge of ordering merchandise, and when we do get shipments there’s no guarantee we’re getting every item in it.”
Customer: “But your website says you have it!”
Me: “Our website doesn’t say our store stock, it shows our online store.”
Customer: “How can they have it, but you guys don’t?”
Me: “The online store is a warehouse; they have a giant location to store every item in boxes. We’re limited in space.”
Customer: “But I came in on [past date] and you guys had it!”
Me: “Chances are it sold out in that time. We’ve had many customers shopping here since then.”
They’re insistent so I speak to the manager, and it turns out we can get their item on the next shipment truck, that very same day!
Me: “I spoke to my manager, and they said we can have this item in the afternoon once the shipment truck comes.”
Customer: “I can’t wait that long. I came from [Other City]. Today’s the only day I’m in town. Do you know if [Competitor] has the item in stock?”
Me: “I’m not sure, you could check and find out.”
Customer: “Don’t you know what they have?”
Me: “No… I don’t work there.”
Customer: “Aren’t you affiliated with them?”
Me: “No? They’re our competitor.”
Customer: “But they sell the same things, don’t they?”
