another work story

Remember I shared a story or two from my experiences working in an electronics store?
Okay. This one is a doozy. I recall it vividly, and although I can't guarantee every word is remembered verbatim, it's doggoned close.

My hands splayed on the glass counter, and I wished I could draw the coolness of it into myself to keep me calm as I watched the irate customer enter the store and approach carrying a store bag. You could almost see the steam coming out her ears.

So much for an uneventful Monday evening.

She dumped the contents of the bag on the counter with malicious glee. Parts scattered across the glass top and I swept them all back into a pile before they tumbled to the floor.

"May I help you?" I asked, smiling my sweetest smile, but inside I was disgusted; she had not even tried to put the telephone back into the box neatly. Thanks, lady, more work for me.

"Yes, you can give me my money back! This phone is no good. I let it charge all weekend, and it still won’t work!"

I did not know, still do not know, how affective my sweet and cheerful attitude is, but I used it anyway. It was better than sighing in resignation at the situation. Or crying. Or running out the back door screaming and tearing my hair.

"Let me just check it out," I said soothingly, smiling apologetically. "Company policy. I have to inspect every return. It’ll only take a minute."

I did not fume aloud that it would have been easier if she had neatly repacked the bloody telephone in the box so I could quickly inventory it. Returns must include the receipt, the original box and packing, and all contents. Returns or exchanges for defective merchandise require that I test the original item purchased, if possible.

"Just give me my money and check the phone later. I’m tired of dealing with you people! You’re a rip off, that’s what you are! I was without a phone all weekend because of this defective piece of junk!"

"I’m sorry, Ma’am. It will only take a moment," I replied calmly, but she continued her barrage. I gritted my teeth as I pawed through pile in front of me.

Then...something caught my eye, jumbled among the wires and accessories—a clear, sealed plastic bag. I held it up. "Ma’am, the phone charges better if you insert the battery."

Yet another work anecdote....

A local sports event packed our store with customers one weekend, and the company decided to run a contest that same weekend as well to get the salespeople pumped: the employees of the store that had the highest sales for that weekend in our district would all win a blazer.

And some blazer. It was a cheap, black windbreaker with the company logo. Big whoop. I already had one, won at an earlier promotion. Why would I need another?

Obviously, our newest employee, brash, cocky, and irritating already, thought he needed one, and badly. He was busting his gut trying to sell all weekend. It didn't matter if the customer wanted an alarm clock, batteries, or a R59 cable for their TV—he sweated blood trying to sell the big items, a new computer, a digital satellite system, a cell phone.

I was faintly amused at his energy, but didn't pay much attention to him—as I said, it was a busy weekend, so I was swamped.

Just as I approached the door to the back room, I heard laughter and Mr. Energy came barreling through, red-faced. I entered the back room to find my colleagues all either doubled over laughing or wiping tears from their eyes.

“What?” I asked.

“I guess he won’t be so anxious for our store to win the contest now,” remarked one as he chortled.

“Why? What’s going on?”

“Oh, it’s too rich,” another answered through his laughter. “He thought we were going to win Blazers.”

I was lost. “Yeah...?”

“You know—the kind with four wheels and a gas tank.”

I stared at them, my mouth hanging open. “Our best weekend wouldn’t pay for half of one of those. He didn’t really think we would each win one if our store won the contest!”

“Oh, yes, he did!”

The men continued laughing, but I just stood, shocked at the brainpower needed to come up with that sort of logic. Of course, this same employee bragged he was ‘the third best computer expert on the east coast’ yet fried his computer when he installed new RAM backwards...

Another work anecdote....

One of my jobs was to set up the store for each new promo, making displays of sale items in the front of the store. One afternoon I was busy putting various telephones on a table by the front door, when a young man came in, walked up, and watched me for a few moments.

I straightened up from my work, asking, “May I help you?”

“Yeah,” he said. “Do you sell phones?”

Anecdotes

I worked at an electronics store for a couple of years back in the nineties. There were a few humorous things that occurred, and I thought I'd share one...


Our computer tech used to have me field questions for tech support, as he knew I could take care of simple problems, and it would free him to help those with more complicated issues. So, one time I answered the phone and it was a woman who just bought a computer from us; I recognized her unique voice. And winced. She was, hm, how can I say this nicely? ...Very computer illiterate. I anticipated a lengthy conversation helping her do something very complex, such as finding the "On" button.

She began, "My keyboard is missing some keys."

Me: "I beg your pardon?"

Her: "My keyboard is missing some keys. The computer keeps telling me to press the "Any" key, but there isn't one."

Me (trying to suck my cheeks so I don't laugh in her ear): "Ah, yes, well that model doesn't an "Any" key, you're right. But you can use the space bar -- that's the long, straight bar on the bottom row, can you see it? Great. It works just like the "Any" key."

Her: "Oh, that's wonderful! Thank you! But you know, you should really tell people about this model not having that "Any" key."

Me: "You're right. I'm sorry. I'll try to remember from now on."