Unable To Read The Temperature Of Her Request

(I work in a small branch of a large national chain. We usually only get one shipment of seasonal merchandise before the season starts. And when the items sell out, we’re out. The customer in this story is a regular, but not one I usually deal with since she typically comes in during the day and I work mostly evenings.)

Customer: “Excuse me; do you have any outdoor thermometers?”

Me: “I’m not sure, but I’ll go check.”

(She follows me as I head to where the outdoor things are. Since summer is over halfway done, we don’t have much of anything left, and I know there is no summer merchandise in the stockroom.)

Me: “I’m sorry; we’re out of the thermometers.”

Customer: “You don’t have any?”

Me: “Sorry, no. They’ve all been sold.”

(She continues doing her shopping. I end up at the registers a few minutes later and she happens to come through my line.)

Customer: “And you’re sure you don’t have anything that will tell me the temperature of the air outside?”

Me: “Yes. I’m sorry, but we don’t have any outdoor thermometers left. I can call another store for you and see if they have any.”

Customer: “No, I don’t want to drive anywhere else. Shoot, I really wanted one.” *pauses for a moment* “Well, don’t you have one? Like in your car, that I can have?”

Me: “Sorry, I don’t have one. Here’s your change. Have a nice day.”