"How could I forget? Mama said 'Think before speaking' "

Top Five Friday is back! Whether you like it or not.



Today's topic is....



The worst things you could say to me at work.





Before I get started I do need to point out a few things. I Love my job. I Love helping customers. It is my main priority at work & one of the main reasons I have stayed in this line of work for so long. These little quirky moments happen to all people, in all lines of work. As this is a blog about my life, I deem it appropriate to share these moments of mine with you.







5. "Oh it doesn't scan - must be free then?"



Fancy yourself to be a bit of a comedian do you? If I had a dollar for every single time I have heard this I would be seriously rich. Sometimes I am just so tempted to say "Yeah OK you can have it for free" just to see what reaction I would get. If you say this - please stop. It isn't anywhere near as funny as it sounds in your own head.







4. "I opened this, (destroyed the packaging), then realised it's the wrong one. I want a refund"



If you bought a Car, dinged it, then decided you didn't like it, could you return that for a refund? Probs not.









3. "I need an ink cartridge"

          "OK, which one?/OK, what printer do you have?"

    "Oh I don't know! It's just a Canon....I think."



A) I do love to help customers - it's what I'm paid for after all.

B) I do love a challenge

C) There are about thirty different consumables for each brand.

D) I am neither a clairvoyant nor a miracle worker. Please come prepared.









2. "Oh you're out of stock, well will [Insert Competitors name] have them in stock?"



When this situation arises, which granted, isn't often, I feel really bad for the customer. They have come to my place of work, and we have been unable to provide them with what they need. I can of course suggest other retailers that possibly carry the product. But it makes me feel strange when I get asked this question above. Sometimes I'm not even sure if similar retailers carry a certain product let alone if they have it in stock. Once when I was asked this, I stood with a blank look, blinking frequently. Whilst I was blinking all I could think was "I. Don't. Know. I work here. Obviously."









1. "I would like to return this...but I don't have a receipt...but you know I bought it here because it's in one of your plastic bags."



Since when, in the history of modern retail has anybody been able to return anything without proof of purchase? Pretty much never. Why? Two words: Refund Fraud. Obviously I don't think that every person who does not have a receipt is actually trying to commit refund fraud. If we can trace it we are more than happy to do that, when provided with a date & time. We know that it can be frustrating - but it is hardly a surprise. The policy is in place at pretty much every single retail store in New Zealand.

In reference to the second part: The last time I checked plastic bag technology had not evolved in to a by-species of a product. Plastic shopping bags aren't like Ikran, those Bird-like creatures in Avatar, that can only have one 'passenger'. It's not as if the plastic shopping bag chooses to carry a particular product, pledging its loyalty for all eternity to that product and that product only. In case you weren't aware they actually are re-usable.

P.S  Are you one of a small minority who actually clicks on the 'full-stop' link to listen to the song lyrics, which the title is taken from? If you answered yes, then you will notice that, yes indeed I am still very much in my 'concert-coma' - and loving every second.