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OK....I didn't even have the energy to post this after it happened.
Had a guy come into my store Saturday who hadn't showered since the Eisenhower Administration.
He finds me. I had just punched in and come onto the sales floor, so he was my first customer of the shift (which was 4PM-close).
He demands to speak with Lenny, claiming that he drove "40 minutes, all the way up from Mass" to talk to him. Well Lenny had just gone home (I had come on to replace him), and I told him so.
SC: But I called ahead and they said he was here!
Me: Well he just left.
SC: But they said he woudl be here until 5:30!
Me: Regardless, he's not here. Is there something I could help you with? (famous last words!!!)
SC: Do you know anything about computers?
Me: Well, what do you want to know?
I started dealing with him at 4PM. I finally finished with him and he left at 7:45PM.
Yes, that's THREE HOURS and FORTY-FIVE MINUTES of this guy. His behavior wasn't especially sucky. He was very polite and accomodating the whole time (he even "released" me to ring for 15 minutes when the registers got backed up, and to help a few other customers, but he just kept coming back to me so I could smell him again). He was just VERY indecisive. Oh, and he didn't know shit about comptuers. And he wouldn't SHUT UP. Just kept talking and talking and talking. Take the smell away and he'd be a fairly typical undecided customer, except he just LINGERED!! I mean really, almost four hours of this just starts to really grate after a while. And I could NOT shake him either. If I went to do something, he'd patiently wait and then ask me another question.
After the first hour I started getting really frazzled.
And every time a decision was reached, another issue would come up. First he doesn't know if he wants a laptop or desktop. He settles on a desktop. He wants this computer, but it's last one clearance. So he agonizes over whether he should risk getting a floor model, or risk having the deal slip out from between his fingers. Then he has the same issue with the monitor (it was a bundle, so the display monitor went with it). That alone took nearly an hour.
Then, after I take the computer "off alarm" and start to pack it up, he agonizes over the size of the box, and the fact that the (outer) box has a rip in it. And that there's no "How to use" manual in the box. He was convinced someone STOLE THE MANUAL ("Why would anyone do that, Dave?") despite my assurance that the computer has an electronic manual on it; you just go to the help screen.
Well that's a deal breaker, so he changes his mind! Well, I since I still had the alarm key and I can't have a computer and monitor lying around loose, I put them back "on alarm" and figure I'm done with him.
But he didn't leave! He kept rambling about not wanting to lose "such a good deal" and eventually changed his mind again. He wanted it!
Me: Are you sure?
SC: Yes.....
So I get it off alarm for a second time and go through the whole issue with the box and manual AGAIN. Eventually my manager downloaded a copy of the manual and burned it to CD to shut him up (thank you!). Then I hit ANOTHER hang up with him, because the monitor won't go back in the box quite right. It fit, but not with the styrofoam. I'll bubble wrap it for you. Nope, has to be in the styrofoam. Ended up giving him a new unopened one (with permission) to shut him up.
Then it took him TEN MINUTES to pay and get everything packed in his car. Finally done with him! Yay! Uh oh, no no no!!!!
He came back in and started talking to me again! To my horror, he started saying he also wants a laptop (in addition to the desktop he'd just bought), and I just died a little more inside. I though I was in for round two, and that I'd be there with him until after close. Thankfully, he said he didn't want to spend that much in one night, and left.
I had to take an unscheduled break after that marathon effort. After almost FOUR HOURS my patience had been eroded down to zero (really hard to keep smiling at that point). I was exhausted, my hands were shaking, and (WARNING: SQUEAMISH DETAILS!!) I ended up with a stress-induced case of diarrhea thanks to this guy. (I apologize, but I had to say that because it really did happen, and I can't fully convey my frustration otherwise).
And making matters worse, since it was Saturday, that meant we had price changes to do, and all the time I wasted with him meant my department fell hopelessy behind on what needed to get done. Everyone had to go home half an hour later than necessary because of this. I am NOT kidding. The closing copy center and office supply associates had to stay and extra half hour to help in electronics because of this guy. I'm not trying to make myself sound important, it's just that THAT much task work didn't get done because I was tied up for so long.
Me (to my Lead): If I didn't have to drive myself home, I'd go get myself a drink. A BIG drink, and I hardly ever drink.
Seriously. Three hours and forty-five minutes between the time I started with him and the time he left. What a nightmare.
Had a guy come into my store Saturday who hadn't showered since the Eisenhower Administration.
He finds me. I had just punched in and come onto the sales floor, so he was my first customer of the shift (which was 4PM-close).He demands to speak with Lenny, claiming that he drove "40 minutes, all the way up from Mass" to talk to him. Well Lenny had just gone home (I had come on to replace him), and I told him so.
SC: But I called ahead and they said he was here!
Me: Well he just left.
SC: But they said he woudl be here until 5:30!
Me: Regardless, he's not here. Is there something I could help you with? (famous last words!!!)
SC: Do you know anything about computers?
Me: Well, what do you want to know?
I started dealing with him at 4PM. I finally finished with him and he left at 7:45PM.
Yes, that's THREE HOURS and FORTY-FIVE MINUTES of this guy. His behavior wasn't especially sucky. He was very polite and accomodating the whole time (he even "released" me to ring for 15 minutes when the registers got backed up, and to help a few other customers, but he just kept coming back to me so I could smell him again). He was just VERY indecisive. Oh, and he didn't know shit about comptuers. And he wouldn't SHUT UP. Just kept talking and talking and talking. Take the smell away and he'd be a fairly typical undecided customer, except he just LINGERED!! I mean really, almost four hours of this just starts to really grate after a while. And I could NOT shake him either. If I went to do something, he'd patiently wait and then ask me another question.
After the first hour I started getting really frazzled.
And every time a decision was reached, another issue would come up. First he doesn't know if he wants a laptop or desktop. He settles on a desktop. He wants this computer, but it's last one clearance. So he agonizes over whether he should risk getting a floor model, or risk having the deal slip out from between his fingers. Then he has the same issue with the monitor (it was a bundle, so the display monitor went with it). That alone took nearly an hour.
Then, after I take the computer "off alarm" and start to pack it up, he agonizes over the size of the box, and the fact that the (outer) box has a rip in it. And that there's no "How to use" manual in the box. He was convinced someone STOLE THE MANUAL ("Why would anyone do that, Dave?") despite my assurance that the computer has an electronic manual on it; you just go to the help screen.
Well that's a deal breaker, so he changes his mind! Well, I since I still had the alarm key and I can't have a computer and monitor lying around loose, I put them back "on alarm" and figure I'm done with him.
But he didn't leave! He kept rambling about not wanting to lose "such a good deal" and eventually changed his mind again. He wanted it!
Me: Are you sure?
SC: Yes.....
So I get it off alarm for a second time and go through the whole issue with the box and manual AGAIN. Eventually my manager downloaded a copy of the manual and burned it to CD to shut him up (thank you!). Then I hit ANOTHER hang up with him, because the monitor won't go back in the box quite right. It fit, but not with the styrofoam. I'll bubble wrap it for you. Nope, has to be in the styrofoam. Ended up giving him a new unopened one (with permission) to shut him up.
Then it took him TEN MINUTES to pay and get everything packed in his car. Finally done with him! Yay! Uh oh, no no no!!!!
He came back in and started talking to me again! To my horror, he started saying he also wants a laptop (in addition to the desktop he'd just bought), and I just died a little more inside. I though I was in for round two, and that I'd be there with him until after close. Thankfully, he said he didn't want to spend that much in one night, and left.
I had to take an unscheduled break after that marathon effort. After almost FOUR HOURS my patience had been eroded down to zero (really hard to keep smiling at that point). I was exhausted, my hands were shaking, and (WARNING: SQUEAMISH DETAILS!!) I ended up with a stress-induced case of diarrhea thanks to this guy. (I apologize, but I had to say that because it really did happen, and I can't fully convey my frustration otherwise).
And making matters worse, since it was Saturday, that meant we had price changes to do, and all the time I wasted with him meant my department fell hopelessy behind on what needed to get done. Everyone had to go home half an hour later than necessary because of this. I am NOT kidding. The closing copy center and office supply associates had to stay and extra half hour to help in electronics because of this guy. I'm not trying to make myself sound important, it's just that THAT much task work didn't get done because I was tied up for so long.
Me (to my Lead): If I didn't have to drive myself home, I'd go get myself a drink. A BIG drink, and I hardly ever drink.
Seriously. Three hours and forty-five minutes between the time I started with him and the time he left. What a nightmare.
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