He wasn't a customer, exactly. I'd never seen him before in my life, and I knew within a minute of him walking in the door that he was just there to pick a fight. He had no intention of buying anything.
Me: Hi there. Can I help you find something today?
SC: No, no. I just came in to find out what the Americans are putting on the shelves these days. (He gave the word "Americans" a distinctly snotty tone)
Me: I'm very sorry sir, we don't carry any American wines. We only carry Canadian wines.
SC: (Condescendingly) You don't understand. The wines are made here, but your company is American, sweetheart.
Me: (Oh no he didn't...) Our company is Canadian, sir.
SC: (Sighing because he has to explain the complicated world of business to stupid wine store girl) No it isn't. [Huge Canadian wine conglomerate] was recently purchased by an American company.
Me: That's true. I read about that acquisition in the paper. But we are not affiliated with [now American owned wine conglomerate]. We are actually owned by [competing Canadian wine conglomerate]. Which is and always has been Canadian.
SC: Uh....uh....(turns red, shuts up, and pretends to browse for a second to cover his embarrassment before leaving).
Yeah, that's right. You came in spoiling for a fight, or at the very least looking for confirmation that you know more than I do. And you were OWNED. And you KNOW you were owned - which makes the whole thing so much more satisfying for me.
Come back any time, sir. I am more than happy to continue educating you in the complicated world of business.
Me: Hi there. Can I help you find something today?
SC: No, no. I just came in to find out what the Americans are putting on the shelves these days. (He gave the word "Americans" a distinctly snotty tone)
Me: I'm very sorry sir, we don't carry any American wines. We only carry Canadian wines.
SC: (Condescendingly) You don't understand. The wines are made here, but your company is American, sweetheart.
Me: (Oh no he didn't...) Our company is Canadian, sir.
SC: (Sighing because he has to explain the complicated world of business to stupid wine store girl) No it isn't. [Huge Canadian wine conglomerate] was recently purchased by an American company.
Me: That's true. I read about that acquisition in the paper. But we are not affiliated with [now American owned wine conglomerate]. We are actually owned by [competing Canadian wine conglomerate]. Which is and always has been Canadian.
SC: Uh....uh....(turns red, shuts up, and pretends to browse for a second to cover his embarrassment before leaving).
Yeah, that's right. You came in spoiling for a fight, or at the very least looking for confirmation that you know more than I do. And you were OWNED. And you KNOW you were owned - which makes the whole thing so much more satisfying for me.
Come back any time, sir. I am more than happy to continue educating you in the complicated world of business.
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