Monday, December 15, 2008

"fa la la la la di da'

10:01am today.

jcpenney store at the ever-shrinking pine tree mall.

first one in the store to avoid the crowds and catch the clerks at their best.

"may i help you, ma'am?" (clerk, not making eye contact of any kind with customer)

"yes, i have a return, please." (customer, as she takes a nicely folded sweater out of the bag and sets it on the counter with the receipt on top)

"do you have a receipt?" (clerk)

"yes, it's right there." (customer)

"oh. but the sweater is inside out." (clerk)

"no, it's not." (customer)

"yes, it is. the zipper placket is on the outside." (clerk)

"no, that is the style. with the zipper placket exposed on the front." (customer)

"then it's defective." (clerk)

"no, that is the style. if it's defective then you have at least 6 other defective sweaters still hanging on the rack." (customer)

"well, it's unattractive." (clerk)

"my thoughts exactly. that is why i am returning it. although designing it like that did make it cheaper to make." (customer)

"i doubt that." (clerk)

"they didn't have to turn under any raw edges to put in the zipper. that saves time. that means it's cheaper to make. time is money." (customer)

"i still doubt it. and it is ugly." (clerk)

"thank you. have a nice day." (customer, walking away, as she mentally wishes she was into early morning drinking because a bloody mary or something like it is surely called for after this little customer service vignette. she settles for an apple fritter and coffee from the bakery.)

No comments: