Surprise!
I was in the middle of a pile of reports today when Melissa came over to my desk and told me there was a customer at the counter who wanted to see me. Usually that isn't a good thing; it generally means someone wants to complain and they feel its more fun to complain to the supervisor. I always find it just a little fun - its always a challenge to see if I can cajole them into a better mood so they leave the office feeling better, without me having to give them an arm and a leg. It always amazes me how demanding some customers can be if they feel there's been some kind of mistake on their ad.
I agree they should be compensated but not unrealistically.
But today I really wanted to get the reports out of the way so I told her to try and take care of things. She went back to the counter and next thing I know she's back at my desk again, shaking her head and saying he's demanding to see me now.
Oh what fun. Guess I had no choice but to go up and see what's wrong.
As soon as I rounded the corner and looked at the counter I saw exactly what was wrong. The man at the counter was the reporter from the craft sale. Here's how our conversation went....
Me - How can I help you?
Him - I want to place an ad.
Me - Umm, okay. Name?
Him - Beck Wilson
Me - Address
Him - mumbles something that ends with New York.
Me - (stepping back from the keyboard) And you have a car here that you want to sell?
Him - Yup
Me - But you don't live here?
Him - Nope (quite the conversationalist ain't he!)
Me - (leaning toward him) You don't really have a car you want to sell, do you?
Him - Why else would I be here?
Me - Good point
Him - What other information do you need?
Me - (thats just way too tempting but I bite my tongue and try to stick to business) How did you get a car?
Him - Bought it this morning actually. Come for lunch with me.
Me - Sorry, can't do that, I can place an ad for your car though
Him - You have to have a lunch break
Me - What's the year, make and model of your car?
Him - We can go anywhere you want to go. You pick.
Me - I don't go for lunch with my customers.
Him - In that case I don't want to place an ad, I've suddenly become very attached to my new car. Think I'll keep it.
Me - You're crazy.
Him - (shrugs) Sometimes it helps. Come for lunch with me.
Me - Today?
Him - Spur of the moment is good.
Me - (before I can reply I realize Melissa and Gail are both huddled together behind us, watching and listening to every word) Look I can't.
Him - Or won't?
Me - Did you want to place the ad?
Him - Guess I'd better if I want some more time to convince you to go for lunch.
He actually placed an ad and every time I'd ask him another bit of information about the car he'd answer then ask me to go for lunch. By the time we went out to the parking lot to take a photo of his car (which was quite the bargain, let me tell you. No front bumper, plastic over the back window, door handle on the passenger side broken off. One door was red while the rest of the car was blue.) he must have asked me out to lunch at least 100 times. And I'd lost my resolve. I think I finally gave in just to get him to stop asking.
But I told him we were definitely taking my car when he told me I got to pick where we were going. Sure hope he liked McDonalds.
I agree they should be compensated but not unrealistically.
But today I really wanted to get the reports out of the way so I told her to try and take care of things. She went back to the counter and next thing I know she's back at my desk again, shaking her head and saying he's demanding to see me now.
Oh what fun. Guess I had no choice but to go up and see what's wrong.
As soon as I rounded the corner and looked at the counter I saw exactly what was wrong. The man at the counter was the reporter from the craft sale. Here's how our conversation went....
Me - How can I help you?
Him - I want to place an ad.
Me - Umm, okay. Name?
Him - Beck Wilson
Me - Address
Him - mumbles something that ends with New York.
Me - (stepping back from the keyboard) And you have a car here that you want to sell?
Him - Yup
Me - But you don't live here?
Him - Nope (quite the conversationalist ain't he!)
Me - (leaning toward him) You don't really have a car you want to sell, do you?
Him - Why else would I be here?
Me - Good point
Him - What other information do you need?
Me - (thats just way too tempting but I bite my tongue and try to stick to business) How did you get a car?
Him - Bought it this morning actually. Come for lunch with me.
Me - Sorry, can't do that, I can place an ad for your car though
Him - You have to have a lunch break
Me - What's the year, make and model of your car?
Him - We can go anywhere you want to go. You pick.
Me - I don't go for lunch with my customers.
Him - In that case I don't want to place an ad, I've suddenly become very attached to my new car. Think I'll keep it.
Me - You're crazy.
Him - (shrugs) Sometimes it helps. Come for lunch with me.
Me - Today?
Him - Spur of the moment is good.
Me - (before I can reply I realize Melissa and Gail are both huddled together behind us, watching and listening to every word) Look I can't.
Him - Or won't?
Me - Did you want to place the ad?
Him - Guess I'd better if I want some more time to convince you to go for lunch.
He actually placed an ad and every time I'd ask him another bit of information about the car he'd answer then ask me to go for lunch. By the time we went out to the parking lot to take a photo of his car (which was quite the bargain, let me tell you. No front bumper, plastic over the back window, door handle on the passenger side broken off. One door was red while the rest of the car was blue.) he must have asked me out to lunch at least 100 times. And I'd lost my resolve. I think I finally gave in just to get him to stop asking.
But I told him we were definitely taking my car when he told me I got to pick where we were going. Sure hope he liked McDonalds.
