I got this one gem of a customer last night.
SC: Excuse me ... (he holds up one of those cheap travel alarm clocks and pauses while staring at me, and I expect he wants a price check, so I get out my scanner and scan it.)
Me: The clock is $5.99.
SC: No ... no ... I don't need a price check, I know how much it costs.
Me: Well then how can I help you sir?
SC: I found this in the luggage department.
Me: ............. Uh, well, we do carry some travel alarm clocks in that department sir, is there a problem?
SC: Yes, there is. :::long pause::: I noticed you also had an endcap of alarm clocks in Housewares, and had more in Electronics.
Me: Well, we do have the nice ones up in Electronics, and the regular alarm clocks in Housewares, with a few lower-end travel alarm clocks in Luggage.
SC: It is poor product placement having the same thing in 3 different locations ... it makes it hard for your customers to find things.
Me: I understand sir, it is sort of stupid they aren't all in one place.
SC: Well I'm glad we can agree ... I'll wait while you move your stock of alarm clocks to the same aisle so it would be easier for the OTHER customers to find them. ......... (blank stare) .........
Me: ........
......... Uh ... you want me to move them, sir?
SC: Yes.
Me: Well unfortunately that is impossible ... Corporate sends us product placement plans which puts the merchandise on the aisles you find them at. I understand your frustration sir, but the best thing to do is to fill out a comment card at Guest Services and alert Corporate of how they make it hard to find things.
SC: I don't see why you can't just move them, its not like anybody would notice.
Me: (frustrated myself at this point) Sir, we cannot do anything at the store level, and as I already explained, we cannot simply move products around even if it would be easier to find things without approval from Corporate. Since it lies on them, it would be best to write or call them and complain about this.
SC: Fine, I will.
These idiots! All of this was over placement of ALARM CLOCKS! I could see if we had something messed up like TVs in an aisle of Domestics, and DVD players in Women's clothing all set up like it should go there, but really!
SC: Excuse me ... (he holds up one of those cheap travel alarm clocks and pauses while staring at me, and I expect he wants a price check, so I get out my scanner and scan it.)
Me: The clock is $5.99.
SC: No ... no ... I don't need a price check, I know how much it costs.
Me: Well then how can I help you sir?
SC: I found this in the luggage department.
Me: ............. Uh, well, we do carry some travel alarm clocks in that department sir, is there a problem?
SC: Yes, there is. :::long pause::: I noticed you also had an endcap of alarm clocks in Housewares, and had more in Electronics.
Me: Well, we do have the nice ones up in Electronics, and the regular alarm clocks in Housewares, with a few lower-end travel alarm clocks in Luggage.
SC: It is poor product placement having the same thing in 3 different locations ... it makes it hard for your customers to find things.
Me: I understand sir, it is sort of stupid they aren't all in one place.
SC: Well I'm glad we can agree ... I'll wait while you move your stock of alarm clocks to the same aisle so it would be easier for the OTHER customers to find them. ......... (blank stare) .........
Me: ........

SC: Yes.
Me: Well unfortunately that is impossible ... Corporate sends us product placement plans which puts the merchandise on the aisles you find them at. I understand your frustration sir, but the best thing to do is to fill out a comment card at Guest Services and alert Corporate of how they make it hard to find things.
SC: I don't see why you can't just move them, its not like anybody would notice.
Me: (frustrated myself at this point) Sir, we cannot do anything at the store level, and as I already explained, we cannot simply move products around even if it would be easier to find things without approval from Corporate. Since it lies on them, it would be best to write or call them and complain about this.
SC: Fine, I will.
These idiots! All of this was over placement of ALARM CLOCKS! I could see if we had something messed up like TVs in an aisle of Domestics, and DVD players in Women's clothing all set up like it should go there, but really!
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