Not sure these customers are actually sucky but ... certainly the type that make you go
Perhaps "slightly sucky" will do.
You do realize you need something at least slightly porous, right??
Slightly Sucky Customer #1 comes in looking for something to steep looseleaf tea with. I show her a basic diffuser ($10). No, she says, the mesh is too loose, she'll end up with "sludge" in her tea. Well, okay, it is the bottom-of-the-barrel product, in terms of what our store carries.
So I show her a better-made diffuser, with a gazillion little holes in it. We're talking TINY holes. Smaller than the head of the proverbial pin.
Nope, it's still too "loose."
So I show her our best tea ball -- another item with a gazillion tiny holes that a molecule would have trouble squeezing through.
You guessed it.
At that point all my sales patter deserted me and I just stood there. I wanted to say, "Lady, you do realize that you need something that's at least a little porous, right? Something that will let the water in and then let it drain back out again." I also wanted to ask what the hell kind of tea she's using; tea is NOT supposed to be the consistency of fine dust particles.
But then I have to buy a kettle
Slightly Sucky Customer #2 looking at various travel mugs and whatnot.
SSC: "But can I make tea in these?"
Me: "Well, sure, you just put the tea leaves in here and then pour the hot water in and let it steep."
SSC: "But then I have to buy a kettle ..."
At some point she and her companion wandered away and I left them to it, but I heard the "But then I have to buy a kettle ..." refrain a couple more times before they finally wandered right out of the store.
I really have no idea what they were looking for ... apparently something that will serve as both a tea-maker and mug, all in one. I felt really badly that making a cup of tea was so much work for the poor girl ...

You do realize you need something at least slightly porous, right??
Slightly Sucky Customer #1 comes in looking for something to steep looseleaf tea with. I show her a basic diffuser ($10). No, she says, the mesh is too loose, she'll end up with "sludge" in her tea. Well, okay, it is the bottom-of-the-barrel product, in terms of what our store carries.
So I show her a better-made diffuser, with a gazillion little holes in it. We're talking TINY holes. Smaller than the head of the proverbial pin.
Nope, it's still too "loose."
So I show her our best tea ball -- another item with a gazillion tiny holes that a molecule would have trouble squeezing through.
You guessed it.
At that point all my sales patter deserted me and I just stood there. I wanted to say, "Lady, you do realize that you need something that's at least a little porous, right? Something that will let the water in and then let it drain back out again." I also wanted to ask what the hell kind of tea she's using; tea is NOT supposed to be the consistency of fine dust particles.
But then I have to buy a kettle
Slightly Sucky Customer #2 looking at various travel mugs and whatnot.
SSC: "But can I make tea in these?"
Me: "Well, sure, you just put the tea leaves in here and then pour the hot water in and let it steep."
SSC: "But then I have to buy a kettle ..."
At some point she and her companion wandered away and I left them to it, but I heard the "But then I have to buy a kettle ..." refrain a couple more times before they finally wandered right out of the store.
I really have no idea what they were looking for ... apparently something that will serve as both a tea-maker and mug, all in one. I felt really badly that making a cup of tea was so much work for the poor girl ...
Comment