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<BG>It's inevitable. Every year my store will do textbook reservations, IF students give us an ACCURATE copy of their schedule, and a CC # on the reservation form. If there's no CC#, the books are pulled, but if they aren't picked up and paid for within 2 weeks of the reservation being made, we put them back on the shelves, for other students to purchase. This is very clearly stated on the reservation form, and in any correspondence regarding reservations that go out between our store and the students.
I think it's a pretty fair deal, personally. you reserve your books, then during the mad rush of the first week of school, you come in, get your books and go straight to the cash registers, instead of fighting the crowd, looking for the right class. We do the work for you, all you have to do is pay! </BG>
So, I'm working at the textbook counter, doing something or other to prepare for the next summer session, and this little darling comes in with mommy and daddy and asks if he can have the books he reserved.
I ask him his name, and look up the reservation, but it doesn't exist. Ok, no problem, it takes us a day or two to process the reservation when we get it, depending on how many we get in at a time. I asked him when he placed the order, and the following conversation ensued:
Me:
why, gods, why??
DS: Dumb student
DSM: Dumb student's mommy
DSM: Dumb student's daddy
K: Textbook manager
Italics: Denotes thoughts and what I wish I could REALLY say.
Me: Ok, usually it takes us a day or two to process and pull a reservation, sir. Did you prepay for them?
DS: No, and I did the reservation a while ago. Maybe you spelled my name wrong. (Proceeds to spell out a name that isn't exactly rocket science, with no hidden silent letters.)
Me: Nope, still nothing. When exactly did you reserve your books, sir? I can run into the back room and search for them on the shelf, since the computer seems to not have a record of it.
DS: I did it in December! They're for my spring books, and I wanted to keep some of them!
Me: December? Without a prepay?! I'm sorry, sir, but if you reserved them in December for the Spring term and didn't pay, we only set them aside for two weeks before they're returned to the sales floor.
DSM: What?! That's ridiculous! My son needs his books! Why would you put them back out for other people to take!?
Me: because he hasn't been in here for seven months to get them and the spring term is already over, and we're almost done with the first 3 summer terms! Well, without a prepay, we only hold the books for two weeks. It's our policy, I'm sorry.
DSD: (To his son) Did you know this when you reserved them?
DS: (Of course he answers) No! They didn't tell me! I want my books!
Me: I'm sorry for the misunderstanding, sir. I can check and see if we still have some copies of the books you'd like to keep, and bring them to you, if you'd like.
DS: I want the books I reserved! You lied to me! You didn't tell me you wouldn't hold I came to get them!
Me: Sir, it's stated on the form you filled out in the first place, above where you enter credit card information.
DSD: He did it online, and the computer didn't say anything about no 2 weeks!
Me: Sir, it's printed on the confirmation page after the reservation is submitted. if no credit card information is entered, then the confirmation email states there is a two week holding period before the books are put back out on the shelves.
DSM: (Insert colorful and creative expletives about my parentage, my sexuality, and my race)
Me: I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do about the reservation, but if you would like me to see if we still have some of the titles you want in stock, I can search for them for you.
DS: No, what's the point!?
DSD: We DEMAND to speak to your manager! You have no right to treat my son this way! When they hear how rude and vile you've been, we'll have you fired!
Me: What way!? I'm not the one spewing slurs everywhere and demanding I change policy just for you!
(Now, here, I have to mention that my textbook manager sits at a desk behind the textbook counter, so he can help keep an eye on the section, and advise us on textbook issues right away, such as when we're expecting shipments, changes in pricing, etc, etc. So of course, I point to him sitting behind me, where he's overheard the entire exchange) Certainly, sir. Allow me to introduce you to my textbook manager, K.
K: (Smiling pleasantly at them the entire time, while sitting at his desk with his hands behind his head) Hi, how can I help you fine folks this evening?
DS: ...
DSM: ...
DSD: ...
K: I see, well, if there's nothing else, I'm going to have to ask you to leave my store now. Have a great night!
So, in closing, this asshat and his parents wanted me to keep a reservation for SEVEN MONTHS, after the entire semester finished, which ran from January to May. I'm wondering how in the hell he passed his classes in the first place without his books. Seriously, what?
Ugh.
I think it's a pretty fair deal, personally. you reserve your books, then during the mad rush of the first week of school, you come in, get your books and go straight to the cash registers, instead of fighting the crowd, looking for the right class. We do the work for you, all you have to do is pay! </BG>
So, I'm working at the textbook counter, doing something or other to prepare for the next summer session, and this little darling comes in with mommy and daddy and asks if he can have the books he reserved.
I ask him his name, and look up the reservation, but it doesn't exist. Ok, no problem, it takes us a day or two to process the reservation when we get it, depending on how many we get in at a time. I asked him when he placed the order, and the following conversation ensued:
Me:
why, gods, why??DS: Dumb student
DSM: Dumb student's mommy
DSM: Dumb student's daddy
K: Textbook manager
Italics: Denotes thoughts and what I wish I could REALLY say.
Me: Ok, usually it takes us a day or two to process and pull a reservation, sir. Did you prepay for them?
DS: No, and I did the reservation a while ago. Maybe you spelled my name wrong. (Proceeds to spell out a name that isn't exactly rocket science, with no hidden silent letters.)
Me: Nope, still nothing. When exactly did you reserve your books, sir? I can run into the back room and search for them on the shelf, since the computer seems to not have a record of it.
DS: I did it in December! They're for my spring books, and I wanted to keep some of them!
Me: December? Without a prepay?! I'm sorry, sir, but if you reserved them in December for the Spring term and didn't pay, we only set them aside for two weeks before they're returned to the sales floor.
DSM: What?! That's ridiculous! My son needs his books! Why would you put them back out for other people to take!?
Me: because he hasn't been in here for seven months to get them and the spring term is already over, and we're almost done with the first 3 summer terms! Well, without a prepay, we only hold the books for two weeks. It's our policy, I'm sorry.
DSD: (To his son) Did you know this when you reserved them?
DS: (Of course he answers) No! They didn't tell me! I want my books!
Me: I'm sorry for the misunderstanding, sir. I can check and see if we still have some copies of the books you'd like to keep, and bring them to you, if you'd like.
DS: I want the books I reserved! You lied to me! You didn't tell me you wouldn't hold I came to get them!
Me: Sir, it's stated on the form you filled out in the first place, above where you enter credit card information.
DSD: He did it online, and the computer didn't say anything about no 2 weeks!
Me: Sir, it's printed on the confirmation page after the reservation is submitted. if no credit card information is entered, then the confirmation email states there is a two week holding period before the books are put back out on the shelves.
DSM: (Insert colorful and creative expletives about my parentage, my sexuality, and my race)
Me: I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do about the reservation, but if you would like me to see if we still have some of the titles you want in stock, I can search for them for you.
DS: No, what's the point!?
DSD: We DEMAND to speak to your manager! You have no right to treat my son this way! When they hear how rude and vile you've been, we'll have you fired!
Me: What way!? I'm not the one spewing slurs everywhere and demanding I change policy just for you!
(Now, here, I have to mention that my textbook manager sits at a desk behind the textbook counter, so he can help keep an eye on the section, and advise us on textbook issues right away, such as when we're expecting shipments, changes in pricing, etc, etc. So of course, I point to him sitting behind me, where he's overheard the entire exchange) Certainly, sir. Allow me to introduce you to my textbook manager, K.
K: (Smiling pleasantly at them the entire time, while sitting at his desk with his hands behind his head) Hi, how can I help you fine folks this evening?
DS: ...
DSM: ...
DSD: ...
K: I see, well, if there's nothing else, I'm going to have to ask you to leave my store now. Have a great night!
So, in closing, this asshat and his parents wanted me to keep a reservation for SEVEN MONTHS, after the entire semester finished, which ran from January to May. I'm wondering how in the hell he passed his classes in the first place without his books. Seriously, what?
Ugh.
Eric the Grey
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