When You’re Over This And Out

At my store, radios are worn by managers, customer service clerks, department managers, and personal shoppers. Because so many people wear radios, conversations are kept as short as possible and very rarely last over a minute. We also have earpieces so customers can’t hear our conversations. Too often this happens:

Customer: “Where is [item]?”

Me: “Where is what?”

Customer: “[Item].”

Cue management conversation on the radio.

Me: “I’m not sure. Let me ask.”

I pause since I can’t talk when others are talking on the radio, but I have my finger on the talk button ready to ask once the conversation ends. The customer gets impatient.

Customer: “Aren’t you going to ask?”

Me: “I’m sorry, but I have to wait. They’re talking at the moment.”

The customer waits all of five seconds.

Customer: “Ugh, forget it! You’re clearly useless.”

He stormed off just as the conversation ended and I was able to ask.