Ok, couple of scenarios, one from work, and one in which a sucky telemarketer calls me at home.
But you did it for me two days ago!!
Tomorrow, a new summer school session starts, so we did a fairly brisk sunday business, selling books today. Now, I had a customer come in, with a book still in its plastic wrap, wanting to return it. Of course, he doesn't have his receipt. The following conversation ensues.
Me:
SC: Well, self explanatory, really.
K; Manager of Awesomeness mentioned in previous posts.
Italics: My thoughts, or what I wish I could've REALLY said
SC: Well, I just need to return it, what's the problem?
Me: Sir, I'm sorry, I can't do anything for you without a receipt.
SC : <In a voice that says he's settling> Fine! I guess I'll just take store credit then...
Me: Did you NOT hear me say I can't do ANYTHING without a receipt? And besides... I'm sorry, sir. We don't offer store credit. And if we did, I'd still need to see a receipt stating the item was purchased here, and was in the correct refund period.
SC: So, what? I was in here the other day, and you let me switch out books. I don't have the receipt, my mom does, and she lives an hour awaaaaaaaaaaaaay.
Me: Ok, Ididn't let you do anything. I wasn't working the other day! I'm sorry, sir, but that's the store policy.
SC: <Enter the Tone of Smugness> Oh, really? So, what's changed between now and the other day, when you were actually helpful?
Me: There goes that "you" bit again... I don't know, sir. That's just the policy. If you were allowed to do an exchange without a receipt, then I believe you had a manager's clearance. Do you remember who helped you?
SC: <And now the transition into Huffiness> Why won't you just help me, since I've done this before? Fine, I had a manager help me. Do YOU have a manager here today?
Me:<Turns to glance at K, who was standing next to me at the time, counting out the till beside me>
K: I'm sorry, sir, but store policy says we can't do anything without a receipt saying you bought the book here.
SC: Well where else would I have bought it!?
Me: At one of the other THREE bookstores that serve the campus of over 40,000 students!!!!! <Wisely bites her tongue>
SC: Fine, well then just give me store credit, I'll take that.
K: I'm sorry, sir, but store policy says we can't do anything without a receipt saying you bought the book here.
SC: Well what CAN you do as a manager?
K: You can come in tomorrow and speak with B, he's the general manager of the store, and is the only one with the power to override policy.
SC: <And now the beloved cat butt face, which looks distinctly odd on this guy, I might add...> Fine! I'll be here tomorrow at 9 sharp when you open!! <Exuent SC>
K: <After the door shuts and SC is in his car> Well, politeness states I should have told him we open at 7:30. But I didn't feel like it.
Me:
I'm not a solicitor. Just give me their number so I can sell them something!
I got this phone call about an hour ago.
Me:
again!
ST: Sucky telephone-solicitor
ST: Hi, this is Carl from <University> may I speak with the parents of Lupo Pazzesco, please?
Me: Uh... <sees it's a call from my University, but I'm an independent student...> they actually don't live here with me. This is Lupo, but I live alone.
ST: Oh! Well, I was just calling in regards of a fundraiser <University> is running, so parents can contribute to their child's school.
Me: That's nice, but they don't live here. I'm sorry. Have a good night!
ST: Wait! Can you just give me their number so I can call them instead, and ask for a contribution?
Me: Uh...
um, no. I don't think my mom wants me directing phone solicitors her way. I'm not giving out her information.
ST: I'm not a solicitor. I'm just trying to see if parents want to contribute to a fundraising campaign for <University>
Me: That's solicitation...and I'm sorry, I'm not giving out my mom's personal contact information.
ST: But I'm not soliciting! Don't your parents want to actually want to HELP you while you're in school?! Or are they actually making you do it all yourself?
Me:
Ok, and now's the time I ask for your supervisor!
ST: There's no need for that! I'm just doing my job.
Me: You're doing it badly. I'd like your name, and to speak with your supervisor, please.
ST: I don't have to give you that.
Me: Actually, you do. But I have caller ID. I can just call back and speak with your supervisor later, and they can go through your call logs, since I have the date and time stamp on my phone, too.
ST: You can't do that!
Me: Yes I can. You're asking for private contact information. I've informed you twice they don't live here, I've said no twice to giving out my mom's information. And now you're being insulting and pushy. I need your name and supervisor.
ST: Well you're not getting it!
Me: <Has been running a search online this entire time> Ok, I don't need it! I just realized, you're calling from <University> call center, which advertises jobs on the <University> site. I can get the supervisor's name there, and you said yours was Carl, right?
ST: <click>
I ended up writing an email the the supervisor info on the website, explaining what had happened and all the pertinent details. I actually worked briefly as a telemarketer, and I don't know how different the rules are from call centers, but I'm pretty sure Carl broke some of them. We shall see where this goes. Carl needed a dictionary!
so·lic·it Audio Help /səˈlɪsɪt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[suh-lis-it] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–verb (used with object)
1. to seek for (something) by entreaty, earnest or respectful request, formal application, etc.: He solicited aid from the minister.
2. to entreat or petition (someone or some agency): to solicit the committee for funds.
I can't believe he actually asked for my mom's private number to hit her up for money! I mean, seriously??
But you did it for me two days ago!!
Tomorrow, a new summer school session starts, so we did a fairly brisk sunday business, selling books today. Now, I had a customer come in, with a book still in its plastic wrap, wanting to return it. Of course, he doesn't have his receipt. The following conversation ensues.
Me:

SC: Well, self explanatory, really.
K; Manager of Awesomeness mentioned in previous posts.
Italics: My thoughts, or what I wish I could've REALLY said
SC: Well, I just need to return it, what's the problem?
Me: Sir, I'm sorry, I can't do anything for you without a receipt.
SC : <In a voice that says he's settling> Fine! I guess I'll just take store credit then...
Me: Did you NOT hear me say I can't do ANYTHING without a receipt? And besides... I'm sorry, sir. We don't offer store credit. And if we did, I'd still need to see a receipt stating the item was purchased here, and was in the correct refund period.
SC: So, what? I was in here the other day, and you let me switch out books. I don't have the receipt, my mom does, and she lives an hour awaaaaaaaaaaaaay.
Me: Ok, Ididn't let you do anything. I wasn't working the other day! I'm sorry, sir, but that's the store policy.
SC: <Enter the Tone of Smugness> Oh, really? So, what's changed between now and the other day, when you were actually helpful?
Me: There goes that "you" bit again... I don't know, sir. That's just the policy. If you were allowed to do an exchange without a receipt, then I believe you had a manager's clearance. Do you remember who helped you?
SC: <And now the transition into Huffiness> Why won't you just help me, since I've done this before? Fine, I had a manager help me. Do YOU have a manager here today?
Me:<Turns to glance at K, who was standing next to me at the time, counting out the till beside me>
K: I'm sorry, sir, but store policy says we can't do anything without a receipt saying you bought the book here.
SC: Well where else would I have bought it!?
Me: At one of the other THREE bookstores that serve the campus of over 40,000 students!!!!! <Wisely bites her tongue>
SC: Fine, well then just give me store credit, I'll take that.
K: I'm sorry, sir, but store policy says we can't do anything without a receipt saying you bought the book here.
SC: Well what CAN you do as a manager?
K: You can come in tomorrow and speak with B, he's the general manager of the store, and is the only one with the power to override policy.
SC: <And now the beloved cat butt face, which looks distinctly odd on this guy, I might add...> Fine! I'll be here tomorrow at 9 sharp when you open!! <Exuent SC>
K: <After the door shuts and SC is in his car> Well, politeness states I should have told him we open at 7:30. But I didn't feel like it.
Me:

I'm not a solicitor. Just give me their number so I can sell them something!
I got this phone call about an hour ago.
Me:

ST: Sucky telephone-solicitor
ST: Hi, this is Carl from <University> may I speak with the parents of Lupo Pazzesco, please?
Me: Uh... <sees it's a call from my University, but I'm an independent student...> they actually don't live here with me. This is Lupo, but I live alone.
ST: Oh! Well, I was just calling in regards of a fundraiser <University> is running, so parents can contribute to their child's school.
Me: That's nice, but they don't live here. I'm sorry. Have a good night!
ST: Wait! Can you just give me their number so I can call them instead, and ask for a contribution?
Me: Uh...

ST: I'm not a solicitor. I'm just trying to see if parents want to contribute to a fundraising campaign for <University>
Me: That's solicitation...and I'm sorry, I'm not giving out my mom's personal contact information.
ST: But I'm not soliciting! Don't your parents want to actually want to HELP you while you're in school?! Or are they actually making you do it all yourself?
Me:

ST: There's no need for that! I'm just doing my job.
Me: You're doing it badly. I'd like your name, and to speak with your supervisor, please.
ST: I don't have to give you that.
Me: Actually, you do. But I have caller ID. I can just call back and speak with your supervisor later, and they can go through your call logs, since I have the date and time stamp on my phone, too.
ST: You can't do that!
Me: Yes I can. You're asking for private contact information. I've informed you twice they don't live here, I've said no twice to giving out my mom's information. And now you're being insulting and pushy. I need your name and supervisor.
ST: Well you're not getting it!
Me: <Has been running a search online this entire time> Ok, I don't need it! I just realized, you're calling from <University> call center, which advertises jobs on the <University> site. I can get the supervisor's name there, and you said yours was Carl, right?
ST: <click>
I ended up writing an email the the supervisor info on the website, explaining what had happened and all the pertinent details. I actually worked briefly as a telemarketer, and I don't know how different the rules are from call centers, but I'm pretty sure Carl broke some of them. We shall see where this goes. Carl needed a dictionary!
so·lic·it Audio Help /səˈlɪsɪt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[suh-lis-it] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–verb (used with object)
1. to seek for (something) by entreaty, earnest or respectful request, formal application, etc.: He solicited aid from the minister.
2. to entreat or petition (someone or some agency): to solicit the committee for funds.
I can't believe he actually asked for my mom's private number to hit her up for money! I mean, seriously??
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