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Guess who's back in Textbook Hell?!?! (Yep, once again it's LONG. Some language)
Oy. My first day back in textbook hell, and they hit the ground running. Grrrrr. On the plus side, being a textbook slave for so long apparently had a hidden bonus. I get temporarily closed pay for all the days I wasn’t able to work due to Hurricane Ike. So, while my paycheck will still suck, it won’t suck nearly as much as I thought. So woot for that. As for everything else…well…here ya go, laugh at the stupids!
I need help, but refuse to answer your questions! You're beneath me!
Guy comes over to me and immediately asks for a manager. Now, we had all 3 managers on duty today, K, L, and D. So naturally, I ask him what this is in regards to, so I can direct him to the correct manager.
SC: Just give me a manager.
Me: Yes, sir, but I need to know what this is in regards to.
SC: <Looks at me like I’m an idiot> What part of I need to talk to someone in charge is hard for you to understand?
Me: Sir, there are 3 managers here, and—
SC: Then let me talk to one of THEM!
Me: <Finally waves over L, our textbook manager>
He starts explaining his situation which L can’t help him with at all, that’s something he needs to talk to D or K about. I hear part of the conversation, and it’s really a question that he has to call a University office about and say as much. SC then looks at me like I’m shit on his shoes and says in a snide tone. “I’m talking to HIM now.” As L leads him away.
K and D tell him the SAME THING I DID, and he sits and moans and whines until D caves, and K agrees. (K!! My faith in you is DIMINISHED!!!) I don’t know the whole story of what he wanted, but he bitched and moaned until he got it, and treated me like dirt to the point that two of my CWs came over and dragged me away from the desk because apparently they didn’t like the look on my face. One muttered to me “What a douchewad! But not worth it!”
<Sigh>
But it’s SEPTEMBER!
Ok, so as I’m sure everyone here knows there’s a difference between calendar year and academic year. An academic planner runs from the months August (usually) to June (again, usually), while a calendar year planner runs straight from January to December. We sell academic planners. Period. We’re a college supply store. It just makes sense. So, this woman approaches me while I’m heading back to textbooks after taking a customer to the registers for something or other, and DEMANDS to know why our planners aren’t on sale.
Me: Well, ma’am, we just got those in a few months ago, they’re academic planners.
SC: But it’s September! The year’s almost over! Why aren’t they on clearance!
Me: <Explains the difference between academic year and calendar year.>
SC: But it’s SEPTEMBER!!
Me: <Repeats explanation again>
SC: That’s stupid. Does that mean they’ll go on sale for Christmas??
Me: No, ma’am, we get new ones every academic year. Our vendor gives us a credit for all the ones we don’t sell when we get a new shipment.
SC: You’re shafting me by selling me a 2008 calendar in SEPTEMBER at full price!! I DEMAND to see your manager.
Me: Sure thing…<Pages K for her>
K tells her tough noogies. My faith in him raises. EVER so slightly…
Behold, my diabolical scheme!!!
Had a customer come in looking for a book. We only had one copy left, it was new, but it was shelfworn, meaning other customers had opened it to thumb through it and it looked less than pristine. The front cover was especially bent up pretty badly, so naturally, he started in immediately with the “zomgsDISCOUNT!!!!!!!!!!”, claiming I HAD to sell it to him at clearance price, (i.e. 75%) I explained the concept of shelf wear, and told him I’d go check with my boss to see what I could do. He follows me up to the textbook counter and starts ranting about “ZomgsDISCOOOOOOUUUUUNNTTTT!!!!!!” some more. I couldn’t find L, so I head to the back room, with him still following me like a rabid bear, complete with frothing at the mouth and flailing of the limbs. (Ok, maybe not, but pretty damn close!!!)
I go talk with K, and tell him the situation, and K says give him the new book for 20% off, essentially, just over used price value. This is actually a pretty damn good deal, and when I go tell the customer, he’s of course unhappy because the book is so damaged!! (Recap: BENT FRONT COVER!! The rest of the book is still in PRISTINE CONDITION)
I tell him that’s the best offer, take it or leave it. And the arguing gains intensity.
SC: But it’s RUINED!! You should take more off the price.
Me: Sir, if it was ruined, we wouldn’t be able to sell it. Now, my manager gave me a final price, and that’s what I could sell it to you for.
SC: Unacceptable! I’m taking it off your hands, you could at least give me a better deal! No one else is going to buy it!
Me: Sir, that’s the best deal I can give you!
SC: Nu uh! (My how eloquently he argues! I’m all twitterpated at his masterfully woven web of logic!!)
Me: Sir, do you want the book.
SC: I NEEEEEEED it. But I’m not paying that much for a RUINED book.
Me: All right, have a great day then! <
as I put the book under my counter>
SC: <zomgsNNNNOOOO!!> What are you doing!?!?!?!?
Me: I’m putting the book aside, sir. Since you’ve been so kind to point out that the book isn’t re-saleable, I can contact the publisher. They’ll take it as a shelf-worn return for a 10% stocking fee, which would save us more money than if we sold it to you at a 20% discount.
SC:
<Splutters a lot, but eventually takes the book.> Well, 20% off isn’t so bad, I guess.
Me: <I thought you’d see it my way!>
SC: <Chortles> Hey, if it gets me a discount, I’ll just bend ALL the books I need up before I go checkout! Ahyuk hyuk…
Me: …<Did he seriously just say that?? DIEDIEDIE!!!> Uh…sir, we’d have to have you arrested for doing that when we caught you on film…
SC: <Grins at me like a retarded baboon, who just struck gold while scratching his own nutsack> That’s if you catch me! Ahyuk hyuk!
Me: <Rings him up and waves him away> have a good night sir, we (Really DON’T) hope to see you again.
And the total is:
Number of students who used Ike to try and scam free books in my 5 hour shift: 17
Number of students who were successful: 0
Number of students who called us cold-hearted: 3
Number of students who claimed discrimination: 5
Number of students who said they’d never shop here again: 4
Number of students I saw a few hours later after making above claim: 4
Why must they always get my hopes up and the LIE!!? WHY!?!?!
Book POD…? Er, no…
This customer gets her OWN little section of an attempt to scam free books after a hurricane.
She comes in, gathers an armload of books, and then tries to WALK OUT THE DOOR in plain sight of everyone. Naturally, four employees damn near jump her and drag her back, and police are called. She gets hysterical, screaming that we’re all liars and that FEMA is going to come down on us all. Police come and get her calmed down, and get her story.
She apparently believed that because the University hosted a POD site (Point of Distribution, FYI. Somewhere you can go to get essentials like MREs, Ice, bottled water, etc, for those who still have no power or safe water), that meant she could get books as part of it, since they were essential to her education.
It’d’ve been a LOT more believable if said customer didn’t reek of booze and stale urine, and wasn’t on our list of known vagrants who constantly stalk our customers in the parking lot for money. Police arrested her and drove away. If I get more updates on this situation, I’ll post them.
Ballsy of her, I suppose, and yet so incredibly, incredibly STOOPIT!!
So sorry we’re trying to PREVENT fraud!!!
Customer comes in to buy a book. Customer asks if we’ll take her mother’s credit card, and hands me a post-it note with a Mastercard number and info scribbled on it. I tell her sorry, but policy states we have to have a copy of the card, her mom’s picture ID, and a note saying she authorizes the purchase. OR we have to have the actual card with customer’s name on it to show she’s an authorized user of the card. Customer throws a hissy fit. Customer calls mommy, and thrusts the cell phone at me so mother can throw a hissy fit at me.
Seriously, it’s a month into the semester, you KNEW you needed books, and yet your procrastination and failure to plan and understand basic principles is MY fault. Mother claims it’s ok, but I don’t know if this is really the cardholder or not, and I’m not putting my ass on the line. They yell at me for a few more minutes as I try to explain their options. (Mother can order the book online, and opt for customer pick up for shipping and daughter can get it. That way mother can verify the CID code on the back of the card)
I explain this option multiple times. Mother does it while customer is on cell phone, still ranting at me. I also explained it takes a bit for the order to hit our system, and that asking me EVERY TWO MINUTES isn’t going to help matters any.
Fifteen minutes later, the order hits, I process it, give her her book, and breathe a sigh of relief that she’s out of our store.
Naturally she comes back an hour later needing another book, and the vicious vicious cycle repeated itself all over again.
My brain cells. They sob.
Those are the big instances of suck today. Now, I go make something resembling dinner, which, so I’m told, ice cream doesn’t qualify as.
Bastards.
I need help, but refuse to answer your questions! You're beneath me!
Guy comes over to me and immediately asks for a manager. Now, we had all 3 managers on duty today, K, L, and D. So naturally, I ask him what this is in regards to, so I can direct him to the correct manager.
SC: Just give me a manager.
Me: Yes, sir, but I need to know what this is in regards to.
SC: <Looks at me like I’m an idiot> What part of I need to talk to someone in charge is hard for you to understand?
Me: Sir, there are 3 managers here, and—
SC: Then let me talk to one of THEM!
Me: <Finally waves over L, our textbook manager>
He starts explaining his situation which L can’t help him with at all, that’s something he needs to talk to D or K about. I hear part of the conversation, and it’s really a question that he has to call a University office about and say as much. SC then looks at me like I’m shit on his shoes and says in a snide tone. “I’m talking to HIM now.” As L leads him away.
K and D tell him the SAME THING I DID, and he sits and moans and whines until D caves, and K agrees. (K!! My faith in you is DIMINISHED!!!) I don’t know the whole story of what he wanted, but he bitched and moaned until he got it, and treated me like dirt to the point that two of my CWs came over and dragged me away from the desk because apparently they didn’t like the look on my face. One muttered to me “What a douchewad! But not worth it!”
<Sigh>
But it’s SEPTEMBER!
Ok, so as I’m sure everyone here knows there’s a difference between calendar year and academic year. An academic planner runs from the months August (usually) to June (again, usually), while a calendar year planner runs straight from January to December. We sell academic planners. Period. We’re a college supply store. It just makes sense. So, this woman approaches me while I’m heading back to textbooks after taking a customer to the registers for something or other, and DEMANDS to know why our planners aren’t on sale.
Me: Well, ma’am, we just got those in a few months ago, they’re academic planners.
SC: But it’s September! The year’s almost over! Why aren’t they on clearance!
Me: <Explains the difference between academic year and calendar year.>
SC: But it’s SEPTEMBER!!
Me: <Repeats explanation again>
SC: That’s stupid. Does that mean they’ll go on sale for Christmas??
Me: No, ma’am, we get new ones every academic year. Our vendor gives us a credit for all the ones we don’t sell when we get a new shipment.
SC: You’re shafting me by selling me a 2008 calendar in SEPTEMBER at full price!! I DEMAND to see your manager.
Me: Sure thing…<Pages K for her>
K tells her tough noogies. My faith in him raises. EVER so slightly…
Behold, my diabolical scheme!!!
Had a customer come in looking for a book. We only had one copy left, it was new, but it was shelfworn, meaning other customers had opened it to thumb through it and it looked less than pristine. The front cover was especially bent up pretty badly, so naturally, he started in immediately with the “zomgsDISCOUNT!!!!!!!!!!”, claiming I HAD to sell it to him at clearance price, (i.e. 75%) I explained the concept of shelf wear, and told him I’d go check with my boss to see what I could do. He follows me up to the textbook counter and starts ranting about “ZomgsDISCOOOOOOUUUUUNNTTTT!!!!!!” some more. I couldn’t find L, so I head to the back room, with him still following me like a rabid bear, complete with frothing at the mouth and flailing of the limbs. (Ok, maybe not, but pretty damn close!!!)
I go talk with K, and tell him the situation, and K says give him the new book for 20% off, essentially, just over used price value. This is actually a pretty damn good deal, and when I go tell the customer, he’s of course unhappy because the book is so damaged!! (Recap: BENT FRONT COVER!! The rest of the book is still in PRISTINE CONDITION)
I tell him that’s the best offer, take it or leave it. And the arguing gains intensity.
SC: But it’s RUINED!! You should take more off the price.
Me: Sir, if it was ruined, we wouldn’t be able to sell it. Now, my manager gave me a final price, and that’s what I could sell it to you for.
SC: Unacceptable! I’m taking it off your hands, you could at least give me a better deal! No one else is going to buy it!
Me: Sir, that’s the best deal I can give you!
SC: Nu uh! (My how eloquently he argues! I’m all twitterpated at his masterfully woven web of logic!!)
Me: Sir, do you want the book.
SC: I NEEEEEEED it. But I’m not paying that much for a RUINED book.
Me: All right, have a great day then! <
as I put the book under my counter>SC: <zomgsNNNNOOOO!!> What are you doing!?!?!?!?
Me: I’m putting the book aside, sir. Since you’ve been so kind to point out that the book isn’t re-saleable, I can contact the publisher. They’ll take it as a shelf-worn return for a 10% stocking fee, which would save us more money than if we sold it to you at a 20% discount.
SC:
<Splutters a lot, but eventually takes the book.> Well, 20% off isn’t so bad, I guess.Me: <I thought you’d see it my way!>
SC: <Chortles> Hey, if it gets me a discount, I’ll just bend ALL the books I need up before I go checkout! Ahyuk hyuk…
Me: …<Did he seriously just say that?? DIEDIEDIE!!!> Uh…sir, we’d have to have you arrested for doing that when we caught you on film…
SC: <Grins at me like a retarded baboon, who just struck gold while scratching his own nutsack> That’s if you catch me! Ahyuk hyuk!
Me: <Rings him up and waves him away> have a good night sir, we (Really DON’T) hope to see you again.
And the total is:
Number of students who used Ike to try and scam free books in my 5 hour shift: 17
Number of students who were successful: 0
Number of students who called us cold-hearted: 3
Number of students who claimed discrimination: 5
Number of students who said they’d never shop here again: 4
Number of students I saw a few hours later after making above claim: 4
Why must they always get my hopes up and the LIE!!? WHY!?!?!
Book POD…? Er, no…
This customer gets her OWN little section of an attempt to scam free books after a hurricane.
She comes in, gathers an armload of books, and then tries to WALK OUT THE DOOR in plain sight of everyone. Naturally, four employees damn near jump her and drag her back, and police are called. She gets hysterical, screaming that we’re all liars and that FEMA is going to come down on us all. Police come and get her calmed down, and get her story.
She apparently believed that because the University hosted a POD site (Point of Distribution, FYI. Somewhere you can go to get essentials like MREs, Ice, bottled water, etc, for those who still have no power or safe water), that meant she could get books as part of it, since they were essential to her education.
It’d’ve been a LOT more believable if said customer didn’t reek of booze and stale urine, and wasn’t on our list of known vagrants who constantly stalk our customers in the parking lot for money. Police arrested her and drove away. If I get more updates on this situation, I’ll post them.
Ballsy of her, I suppose, and yet so incredibly, incredibly STOOPIT!!
So sorry we’re trying to PREVENT fraud!!!
Customer comes in to buy a book. Customer asks if we’ll take her mother’s credit card, and hands me a post-it note with a Mastercard number and info scribbled on it. I tell her sorry, but policy states we have to have a copy of the card, her mom’s picture ID, and a note saying she authorizes the purchase. OR we have to have the actual card with customer’s name on it to show she’s an authorized user of the card. Customer throws a hissy fit. Customer calls mommy, and thrusts the cell phone at me so mother can throw a hissy fit at me.
Seriously, it’s a month into the semester, you KNEW you needed books, and yet your procrastination and failure to plan and understand basic principles is MY fault. Mother claims it’s ok, but I don’t know if this is really the cardholder or not, and I’m not putting my ass on the line. They yell at me for a few more minutes as I try to explain their options. (Mother can order the book online, and opt for customer pick up for shipping and daughter can get it. That way mother can verify the CID code on the back of the card)
I explain this option multiple times. Mother does it while customer is on cell phone, still ranting at me. I also explained it takes a bit for the order to hit our system, and that asking me EVERY TWO MINUTES isn’t going to help matters any.
Fifteen minutes later, the order hits, I process it, give her her book, and breathe a sigh of relief that she’s out of our store.
Naturally she comes back an hour later needing another book, and the vicious vicious cycle repeated itself all over again.
My brain cells. They sob.
Those are the big instances of suck today. Now, I go make something resembling dinner, which, so I’m told, ice cream doesn’t qualify as.
Bastards.
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