Dear You!
My life in customer service has truly limited my blog-time, so here we are in April already. (I suppose I should change my blog promise to a monthly record.) And here I am in "people pleasing" purgatory.
My escape from professor-world at the strange (very) local college was enabled by retail employment. But this recent wage earning adventure is losing its appeal, at times. Some days are total bad-fit situations. Working at an old style department store here in PCB, I have learned that in this part of the country, "nice" is more important than efficient. I am not "nice". Check. I have also learned that many customers are . . . confused and/or confusing. I do not handle mental confusion well. Checkmate.
Inspired by the photo-joke above, my list today shares ten mind-blowing questions I have been asked while "in service":
1. Do you work here? (This asked while I wear a name tag and am on my knees organizing shoe boxes.)
2. Do you have a bathroom? (Yes. I have several. In my mansion.)
3. Do you have matching mother-baby daughter shoes? (What? Does Mom want to wear white plastic baby shoes or does Daughter want to wear ultra-mini versions of office pumps?)
4. Can I pay for this here? (I am standing at a cash register with my arms extended. Having just said "I can help you here.")
5. Am I too old for these shoes? (Do you want to date them?)
6. Am I too fat for these shoes? (I don't even know what that means.)
7. Can I return these pants? (Whatever. But those pants have been worn countless times -- see ketchup stains -- and our store has not carried that brand of britches since 1990.)
8. Do you like working here? (Really?)
9. Are you hiring? (Yes. Yes. Yes. Always.)
10. Do you mind watching my kids while I go to the sock department? (Yes. Yes. Yes. I definitely mind.)
The experience. The story. The occasional paid bill. Those little big things make my time "in service" amusing and bearable. However, I share this advice: Worker beware!
Meanwhile, HAVE A NICE DAY! AND COME SEE US AGAIN!
XOXOXO
Truly yours,
Joyce
