They’re Not In The Upper Percentile, Part 7
Our specialty store had a big red 22×28 sign out front that had 50% off select clearance. Then the individual clearance racks would have an 11×14 sign that had 50% off.
Customer: “So with the 50% off sign in front of the store AND a 50% off sign on the rack, that means 100% off?”
Me: “Ha, that would be nice, wouldn’t it?”
Customer: “So… they’re all free, right?”
Me: *Realizing with no little sense of horror that this guy is serious.* “No, sir. That’s not how signs work, and even if that was the case, that’s also not how percentages work.”
Customer: “Fifty plus fifty is a hundred! Hundred is total!”
Me: “The total sale is 50%. The signs aren’t cumulative, or if we had a third 50% off sign, then you’d think it would be 150% off. But as I said, even if that was the case, percentages don’t work like that. A further 50% off a 50% discount would be a 75% discount.”
Customer: “That’s so stupid. Can you go get a worker who knows how to understand math?”
Me: “Sure, as long as you can go get a customer who understands the same thing.”
Customer: “I know math, you moron! You need to honor your sales!”
Me: “I am honoring the sale. I’m just not honoring your misunderstanding of it. Would you like me to get you my manager to explain it again, or maybe a fourth-grade math teacher?”
The customer angrily opted for the manager, who also had no luck explaining to the customer how percentages or sales work.
Related:
They’re Not In The Upper Percentile, Part 6
They’re Not In The Upper Percentile, Part 5
They’re Not In The Upper Percentile, Part 4
They’re Not In The Upper Percentile, Part 3
They’re Not In The Upper Percentile, Part 2
