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A couple years ago, the company sent all our stores loads of "ethical condoms" from a company called "one", who donate all their profits to HIV/AIDS funds in Africa etc.
Anyway, they are £3 for a tin with 3 in, which is pretty expensive (you can get them free at any hospital in this country), but they do come in an attractive round metal tin. They hang around the store on clip strips (plastic strips with hooks on them, hung on the front of the shelves). We had a strip behind the cigarette kiosk, next to the liquor (a related purchase when you think about it!). We got stuck with these, as they never sold in any real volume (maybe a couple every few weeks).
Now, to this day, you can still buy mints in tins. Similar to these condom tins.
This lady came to the kiosk to buy a TV license. In England you have to buy a licence each year to watch TV (it basically pays for the BBC, the only non-commercial network). Any store with a Paypoint terminal can sell them. Usually we only have to take a customers details when they are buying their first licence - when they have just moved house. So I asked this lady for her name, then the postcode screen came up. She then said "oh, I dont know the postcode". I explained I needed this or the terminal wont allow me to go any further - they post the licence out to their house. She said "it starts with H32*". All postcodes within 4 miles start with H32*. I needed 3 more digits.
Anyway, she eventually gave up on plucking her postcode from thin air. And asked me a completely random question. "Whats in those tins?" Pointing at the "one" condoms.
This lady was about 55-65, fairly respectable, and I REALLY didnt want to answer her question, knowing she'd have no interest in the product, and that my truthful answer would embarrass her. But I couldnt tell her they were mints, as she might then want to purchase them! So after about 5 seconds thinking about it, and the queue building at the kiosk, I told her outright, plain and clear, "condoms".
She walked off, exclaiming "trust me!". My colleague on the kiosk couldnt help but laugh. I dont think many customers in the queue heard my answer. Perhaps it'd be best to move that clip strip from behind the kiosk so customers can find out in their own time that they are condoms! She left without buying anything.
*Postcode changed for privacy.
Anyway, they are £3 for a tin with 3 in, which is pretty expensive (you can get them free at any hospital in this country), but they do come in an attractive round metal tin. They hang around the store on clip strips (plastic strips with hooks on them, hung on the front of the shelves). We had a strip behind the cigarette kiosk, next to the liquor (a related purchase when you think about it!). We got stuck with these, as they never sold in any real volume (maybe a couple every few weeks).
Now, to this day, you can still buy mints in tins. Similar to these condom tins.
This lady came to the kiosk to buy a TV license. In England you have to buy a licence each year to watch TV (it basically pays for the BBC, the only non-commercial network). Any store with a Paypoint terminal can sell them. Usually we only have to take a customers details when they are buying their first licence - when they have just moved house. So I asked this lady for her name, then the postcode screen came up. She then said "oh, I dont know the postcode". I explained I needed this or the terminal wont allow me to go any further - they post the licence out to their house. She said "it starts with H32*". All postcodes within 4 miles start with H32*. I needed 3 more digits.
Anyway, she eventually gave up on plucking her postcode from thin air. And asked me a completely random question. "Whats in those tins?" Pointing at the "one" condoms.
This lady was about 55-65, fairly respectable, and I REALLY didnt want to answer her question, knowing she'd have no interest in the product, and that my truthful answer would embarrass her. But I couldnt tell her they were mints, as she might then want to purchase them! So after about 5 seconds thinking about it, and the queue building at the kiosk, I told her outright, plain and clear, "condoms".
She walked off, exclaiming "trust me!". My colleague on the kiosk couldnt help but laugh. I dont think many customers in the queue heard my answer. Perhaps it'd be best to move that clip strip from behind the kiosk so customers can find out in their own time that they are condoms! She left without buying anything.
*Postcode changed for privacy.
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