I was called up to the service desk last night to try and find a light bulb for a customer. Technically that's not my department, but it wasn't that big a deal. I took the customer's old bulb and went off to check our meager selection.
We didn't have it, and once I saw that, I remembered that we had cleaaranced out the last of those bulbs a few months ago. So I went back up and told the customer.
SC: But I just got this here three weeks ago, and the guy said I'd have no problem with bulbs!
Me: Well, I do know that these are readily available. Home Depot has them, and I'm pretty sure Target does, too. So no, you shouldn't have any trouble.
SC: But I bought it HERE!
(Yes, but we don't carry parts for every single thing we sell or have sold).
Me: Well I'm sorry, but we don't have that bulb.
SC: So in other words, I've been ripped off by Staples again?
Me: Ma'am, you CAN get this bulb, just not here, unfortunately.
SC: So....yes, then?
Me: I'm not going to say that.
SC: Why not? Why not admit the truth?
*I turn my back and walk away*
Me (thinking): Because it's not the truth, it's just your opinion.
The bulb you need is readily available elsewhere. Had it been some ultra exotic bulb that no one carried, then you'd have a case, but it's not. And here's a news flash: there are LOTS of things we don't carry, even though we sell the associated products. Every now and then I go through a sudden slew of people looking for replacement laptop power supplies. We have *three* Targus "universal" (but not truly universal) replacements, and 99% of the time the customer either doesn't know their model number or their model number isn't listed as being compatible. Then I get the same question:
"WHy don't you carry it?! I bought the laptop HERE!"
What I want to say is:
"Well how the hell did you manage to lose the first one, dumbass?"
That's just one example. And this is hardly unique to my company. Go buy your freaking bulb at Home Depot, and while you're at it, pick up a ball peen hammer so I can belt you over the head with it.
We didn't have it, and once I saw that, I remembered that we had cleaaranced out the last of those bulbs a few months ago. So I went back up and told the customer.
SC: But I just got this here three weeks ago, and the guy said I'd have no problem with bulbs!
Me: Well, I do know that these are readily available. Home Depot has them, and I'm pretty sure Target does, too. So no, you shouldn't have any trouble.
SC: But I bought it HERE!
(Yes, but we don't carry parts for every single thing we sell or have sold).
Me: Well I'm sorry, but we don't have that bulb.
SC: So in other words, I've been ripped off by Staples again?
Me: Ma'am, you CAN get this bulb, just not here, unfortunately.
SC: So....yes, then?
Me: I'm not going to say that.
SC: Why not? Why not admit the truth?
*I turn my back and walk away*
Me (thinking): Because it's not the truth, it's just your opinion.
The bulb you need is readily available elsewhere. Had it been some ultra exotic bulb that no one carried, then you'd have a case, but it's not. And here's a news flash: there are LOTS of things we don't carry, even though we sell the associated products. Every now and then I go through a sudden slew of people looking for replacement laptop power supplies. We have *three* Targus "universal" (but not truly universal) replacements, and 99% of the time the customer either doesn't know their model number or their model number isn't listed as being compatible. Then I get the same question:
"WHy don't you carry it?! I bought the laptop HERE!"
What I want to say is:
"Well how the hell did you manage to lose the first one, dumbass?"
That's just one example. And this is hardly unique to my company. Go buy your freaking bulb at Home Depot, and while you're at it, pick up a ball peen hammer so I can belt you over the head with it.
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