They’ll Never Figure It Out On Their Own(nership)

I work at a grocery store chain based in North Carolina. Not many people know that my chain is actually owned by a popular grocery store chain based in Ohio. As such, in any given area, you will either find my store chain or the parent store chain, but not both.

When calling our store, there are plenty of people who don’t listen to the automated message options.

Sometimes people will get through to the wrong company, and most people are fine when I explain that they called the wrong department and I have to transfer them.

Me: “[Store], Express Lane, this is [My Name]. Can I have your last name, please?”

Customer: “Is this [Parent Company]?”

Me: “No, this is [My Store].”

Customer: “It is? Then what’s the number for [Parent Company] in [Town]?”

Me: “There isn’t a [Parent Company] here.”

Customer: “Yes, there is! I know there is! I shop there all the time.”

Me: “No, there isn’t. There may have been a [Parent Company] in the area a long time ago, but there isn’t one now. However, they own [My Store], so we carry most of the same products.”

Customer: “[Parent Company] owns [My Store]?”

Me: “Yes.”

Customer: “Where’s the closest [Parent Company]? I only shop there.”

Me: “Uh… I know there’s one in [Town almost two hours away]. If you hold, I can transfer you to customer service. They might know better.”

Customer: “You are customer service.”

Me: “No, this is Express Lane. People call me when they’ve placed an online grocery order and have a question.”

Customer: “This isn’t [Parent Company]?”

Me: “No. You’ve called [My Store].”

Customer: “Is there a [Parent Company] in [Town forty-five minutes away]?”

Me: “I doubt it. [Parent Company] usually doesn’t want their stores so close to our stores.”  

Customer: “But I want [Parent Company]. I Googled [Parent Company] in [Town] and came up with this number.”

Me: “That’s because they own us.”

Customer: “Well, you are just no help.” *Click*