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And by this I mean buyback season. Holy crap, where did the semester go?!
Once again, Corporate has decided that sending out those little scratch off tickets of doom is a brilliant plan, and despite enlarging the font which says "Void if scratched before reaching the counter", I've already had numerous people bring in the pre-scratched ticket and proceed to throw a bitch fit when I tell them it's void, I can't use it.
Few things to note about said tickets, it's void if you scratch it before coming to the store, and it's only good if the buyback amount is $50 or more. Further, there are two sides to the ticket. One for buybacks, where there is an automatic $10 added or a scratch off box where you can try for doubly your buyback amount, and the other side is for purchasing textbooks, with boxes for $10 off $150 or more in textbooks, $15 off $200 or more in textbooks, or a scratch off box for a chance to win free textbooks for the semester. Clear? Yes? Mk, good. And...here we GO!
SC: Rather self explanatory
Me:
BM:Bossman
BL: Bosslady
But I wanna uuuusssee it!!
SC: Oh, and I have this coupon I got in the mail? <Shows me the scratch off ticket, which is already scratched?
Me: I'm sorry sir, but you can't use that, as the coupon is void if scratched before coming in.
SC: Where does it say THAT?!
Me: <Points to where it says that>
SC: Well how was I supposed to know I had to READ it before scratching it?!! <Storms off>
Me: >.<
But...I'm a special snowflake!!
SC: <Holds out coupon> And apply this, too.
Me: Ma'am, I'm sorry, but that's only good if your buyback is over $50. Yours is only $32.
SC: But I want the $10.
Me: I'm sorry, ma'am, but your buyback is not $10.
SC: But I need the $10.
Me: There's nothing I can do.
SC: Then go find someone who will give me the $10!!!
I go find bossman. He tells her the same thing.
SC: But I was SENT a COUPON for $10!! I want my $10!!
BM: And I can't give it to you because your buyback isn't $50 or over.
Lather, rinse, repeat. She FINALLY took her $32, but threatened to complain to corporate for not letting her use the coupon.
The crazies are out in droves again!
Every year, when we start doing buybacks, my store will advertise that we buy back every textbook, guaranteed. Basically, even if it's an old edition, loosebound, or whatnot, we'll buy it back for very little, and in turn send it to be recycled or donate it to nonprofit organizations, or the prison reading program in Huntsville. Kind of a win/win. People get money for books they'll never use again, we get to make charitable donations, or something like that. That said, whenever the buyback season is nigh, and the promise of buying every textbook arises, we get people coming out of the woodwork to try and sell us the craziest things, including, but not limited to:
Bibles
Magazines
Reader's Digests
Children's coloring books
user's manuals
And so on. This guy, though, takes the cake.
SC: Yeah, I wanna sell these. <Drops a box on the counter>
Me: <Opens the box and can only stare dumbfounded for a few moments. The box is FILLED with self help pamphlets, like you find in doctor's offices or people pass out on the streets. Religous ones, STD ones, How to give yourself a breast exam, etc, etc.> Um. Sir, we can't take any of these back.
SC: Why not?
Me: Because...they're not textbooks...
SC: But your sign says you buy back everything!
Me: (ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I present to you exhibit A, proof of how SCs selectively read signs and interpret them how they so choose...) No, sir, I'm sorry, we advertise that we buy back every textbook. These aren't textbooks, therefore, I cannot buy them back.
SC: <Goes from 0 - evil in 3.2 seconds) THAT'S FALSE ADVERTISING! GIMME YOUR MANAGER! I'M REPORTING YOU TO THE BBC!
Me:
<pages bossman, then sneaks into the back to giggle madly, because I"m sure he meant BBB, but still...>
Bossman and SC go a few rounds, but eventually SC leaves, taking his box of pamphlets with him, and swearing we're getting shutdown.
Tell me tell me tell me!
I think I've mentioned it in past posts, but we are not allowed to give any buyback information over the phone. None. Zip. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Because of the changing guide prices and the corporate system updating many times a day, plus the need to actually see the condition of the books, it's just better to not say anything, lest we get people showing up and claiming we promised them a certain amount. We have a website where they can check books and get a tentative quote themselves, but for some, that's never enough
Me: <Answers phone with opening spiel>
SC: Yes, I've got 4 books here I want to sell back, and I need to know what prices you'll give me.
Me: I'm sorry, ma'am, but I cannot give any buyback information over the phone. You're welcome to bring the books in or you can go to our website to search for them yourself for a tentative quote.
SC: But I've got you on the phone already.
Me: Yes, ma'am, but as I can't give you any buyback information over the phone, I'm trying to give you other options.
SC: Can't you just tell me the prices. I have the ISBNs right here!
me: No, ma'am, I do apologize, but I cannot give buyback information over the phone.
SC: Oh, fine! Then just tell me if you're taking them back!
Me: Ma'am, I can't do anything in the system without a valid picture ID to begin with, and I cannot disclose any information regarding a buyback over the phone, as I've already said.
SC: I'm not asking for buyback information, I just want to know if you're taking them back!!!
Me: ... ...
SC: Hello!?!
me: I'm still here, ma'am, but asking whether we take them back is information on buybacks. I literally cannot do anything without first seeing a valid picture ID, and policy states that I am unable to give any information regardless, I do apologize.
SC: You're wasting my time!!
Me: No, YOU'RE wasting YOUR time. I've been sitting here repeating the same thing for the last 10 minutes while you think you're being cagey and trying to get info out of me, hosebeast!) I can give you our website ma'am, and you can look the books up there.
SC: If I can do it on MY computer, why can't you do it on YOURS!? Just tell me if you're taking these back before I drive all they way over there!!
Me: Ma'am, I am sorry. I cannot go against policy. I'll be glad to transfer you to a manager, but I'm afraid since the policy comes from our corporate office, he will tell you the same thing.
SC: You are FRUSTRATING ME! How hard is it to understand and answer ONE question?!?!
Me: <I asked myself the same thing of her, repeatedly.>
SC: Look, I live in <neighborhood that's MAYBE a 20 minute drive away, and that's with really bad traffic> I don't wanna drive aaalllllllllll the way over there if you're not buying these books back and waste alllllll my gas!!
Me: >.< <I take a bus, my commute time is a LOT longer, and two of our employees travel at LEAST 1 hour each way, and she's bitching about driving 20 minutes...> Ma'am, I'm sorry, but if there's nothing else I can help you with, I'm going to have to disconnect this call.
SC: You're USELESS! Do you hear me??! USELESS!! I hope you're happy! You've upset a very loyal customer!!!
Me: Thank you for calling, and have a great day. <click>
Customer? WHAT customer!?! all I heard was a raging twatpumpkin snarling into the mouthpiece!?!?!
Brain to mouth filter failure!!
So, I'm doing yet another buyback. This girl brought in her books, and her buyback wasn't over $50, but wait! She had the coupon! Even if she scratched it before coming in...like so many do... Once again I explain it is void, and it wasn't valid to begin with because her buyback was 1 book for $27.
SC: But...can't you do it anyway?
Me: No ma'am, I'm sorry. I can't. <I start filling out her claim ticket for the cash>
SC: Pleeeeeeease?? It's just this once!
Me: No ma'am. I apologize, but that coupon is not redeemable.
SC: Pleeeeeease??
Me:
<Continuing filling out the ticket>
SC: Pleeease? c'mon, it's Chriiiiiiiiiiiiistmaaaaaaaaas!!
Me: <Before I think about what I'm saying, I pause writing, look up at her and blurt out.> I'm pagan.
SC:
Me: <I realize, oh shit! I said that out LOUD! So of course I start digging myself deeper.> well, technically, I'm really agnostic, which means I don't believe in---you know what? Never mind. Here you go, sign here, take this up to the front and they'll cash it out for you! Have a great day!
<Flee!!>
I go to bossman, and explain what happened in case she calls in to complain. He starts laughing. I lot. I mean,
All while trying to tell me I can't do that. Of course this starts me laughing. I tell him I'm sorry, I didn't think, and we're both cackling like loons for a few minutes. I have to go tell bosslady, too, in case she fields the complaint. Her reaction is to give me the cat butt face and tell me my mouth is going to get me in trouble.
<Sigh.> Sad thing is, today was the last day of the semester, so it's only going to get worse from here on out!
Once again, Corporate has decided that sending out those little scratch off tickets of doom is a brilliant plan, and despite enlarging the font which says "Void if scratched before reaching the counter", I've already had numerous people bring in the pre-scratched ticket and proceed to throw a bitch fit when I tell them it's void, I can't use it.
Few things to note about said tickets, it's void if you scratch it before coming to the store, and it's only good if the buyback amount is $50 or more. Further, there are two sides to the ticket. One for buybacks, where there is an automatic $10 added or a scratch off box where you can try for doubly your buyback amount, and the other side is for purchasing textbooks, with boxes for $10 off $150 or more in textbooks, $15 off $200 or more in textbooks, or a scratch off box for a chance to win free textbooks for the semester. Clear? Yes? Mk, good. And...here we GO!
SC: Rather self explanatory
Me:
BM:Bossman
BL: Bosslady
But I wanna uuuusssee it!!
SC: Oh, and I have this coupon I got in the mail? <Shows me the scratch off ticket, which is already scratched?
Me: I'm sorry sir, but you can't use that, as the coupon is void if scratched before coming in.
SC: Where does it say THAT?!
Me: <Points to where it says that>
SC: Well how was I supposed to know I had to READ it before scratching it?!! <Storms off>
Me: >.<
But...I'm a special snowflake!!
SC: <Holds out coupon> And apply this, too.
Me: Ma'am, I'm sorry, but that's only good if your buyback is over $50. Yours is only $32.
SC: But I want the $10.
Me: I'm sorry, ma'am, but your buyback is not $10.
SC: But I need the $10.
Me: There's nothing I can do.
SC: Then go find someone who will give me the $10!!!
I go find bossman. He tells her the same thing.
SC: But I was SENT a COUPON for $10!! I want my $10!!
BM: And I can't give it to you because your buyback isn't $50 or over.
Lather, rinse, repeat. She FINALLY took her $32, but threatened to complain to corporate for not letting her use the coupon.
The crazies are out in droves again!
Every year, when we start doing buybacks, my store will advertise that we buy back every textbook, guaranteed. Basically, even if it's an old edition, loosebound, or whatnot, we'll buy it back for very little, and in turn send it to be recycled or donate it to nonprofit organizations, or the prison reading program in Huntsville. Kind of a win/win. People get money for books they'll never use again, we get to make charitable donations, or something like that. That said, whenever the buyback season is nigh, and the promise of buying every textbook arises, we get people coming out of the woodwork to try and sell us the craziest things, including, but not limited to:
Bibles
Magazines
Reader's Digests
Children's coloring books
user's manuals
And so on. This guy, though, takes the cake.
SC: Yeah, I wanna sell these. <Drops a box on the counter>
Me: <Opens the box and can only stare dumbfounded for a few moments. The box is FILLED with self help pamphlets, like you find in doctor's offices or people pass out on the streets. Religous ones, STD ones, How to give yourself a breast exam, etc, etc.> Um. Sir, we can't take any of these back.
SC: Why not?
Me: Because...they're not textbooks...
SC: But your sign says you buy back everything!
Me: (ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I present to you exhibit A, proof of how SCs selectively read signs and interpret them how they so choose...) No, sir, I'm sorry, we advertise that we buy back every textbook. These aren't textbooks, therefore, I cannot buy them back.
SC: <Goes from 0 - evil in 3.2 seconds) THAT'S FALSE ADVERTISING! GIMME YOUR MANAGER! I'M REPORTING YOU TO THE BBC!
Me:
<pages bossman, then sneaks into the back to giggle madly, because I"m sure he meant BBB, but still...>Bossman and SC go a few rounds, but eventually SC leaves, taking his box of pamphlets with him, and swearing we're getting shutdown.
Tell me tell me tell me!
I think I've mentioned it in past posts, but we are not allowed to give any buyback information over the phone. None. Zip. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Because of the changing guide prices and the corporate system updating many times a day, plus the need to actually see the condition of the books, it's just better to not say anything, lest we get people showing up and claiming we promised them a certain amount. We have a website where they can check books and get a tentative quote themselves, but for some, that's never enough
Me: <Answers phone with opening spiel>
SC: Yes, I've got 4 books here I want to sell back, and I need to know what prices you'll give me.
Me: I'm sorry, ma'am, but I cannot give any buyback information over the phone. You're welcome to bring the books in or you can go to our website to search for them yourself for a tentative quote.
SC: But I've got you on the phone already.
Me: Yes, ma'am, but as I can't give you any buyback information over the phone, I'm trying to give you other options.
SC: Can't you just tell me the prices. I have the ISBNs right here!
me: No, ma'am, I do apologize, but I cannot give buyback information over the phone.
SC: Oh, fine! Then just tell me if you're taking them back!
Me: Ma'am, I can't do anything in the system without a valid picture ID to begin with, and I cannot disclose any information regarding a buyback over the phone, as I've already said.
SC: I'm not asking for buyback information, I just want to know if you're taking them back!!!
Me: ... ...
SC: Hello!?!
me: I'm still here, ma'am, but asking whether we take them back is information on buybacks. I literally cannot do anything without first seeing a valid picture ID, and policy states that I am unable to give any information regardless, I do apologize.
SC: You're wasting my time!!
Me: No, YOU'RE wasting YOUR time. I've been sitting here repeating the same thing for the last 10 minutes while you think you're being cagey and trying to get info out of me, hosebeast!) I can give you our website ma'am, and you can look the books up there.
SC: If I can do it on MY computer, why can't you do it on YOURS!? Just tell me if you're taking these back before I drive all they way over there!!
Me: Ma'am, I am sorry. I cannot go against policy. I'll be glad to transfer you to a manager, but I'm afraid since the policy comes from our corporate office, he will tell you the same thing.
SC: You are FRUSTRATING ME! How hard is it to understand and answer ONE question?!?!
Me: <I asked myself the same thing of her, repeatedly.>
SC: Look, I live in <neighborhood that's MAYBE a 20 minute drive away, and that's with really bad traffic> I don't wanna drive aaalllllllllll the way over there if you're not buying these books back and waste alllllll my gas!!
Me: >.< <I take a bus, my commute time is a LOT longer, and two of our employees travel at LEAST 1 hour each way, and she's bitching about driving 20 minutes...> Ma'am, I'm sorry, but if there's nothing else I can help you with, I'm going to have to disconnect this call.
SC: You're USELESS! Do you hear me??! USELESS!! I hope you're happy! You've upset a very loyal customer!!!
Me: Thank you for calling, and have a great day. <click>
Customer? WHAT customer!?! all I heard was a raging twatpumpkin snarling into the mouthpiece!?!?!
Brain to mouth filter failure!!
So, I'm doing yet another buyback. This girl brought in her books, and her buyback wasn't over $50, but wait! She had the coupon! Even if she scratched it before coming in...like so many do... Once again I explain it is void, and it wasn't valid to begin with because her buyback was 1 book for $27.
SC: But...can't you do it anyway?
Me: No ma'am, I'm sorry. I can't. <I start filling out her claim ticket for the cash>
SC: Pleeeeeeease?? It's just this once!
Me: No ma'am. I apologize, but that coupon is not redeemable.
SC: Pleeeeeease??
Me:
<Continuing filling out the ticket> SC: Pleeease? c'mon, it's Chriiiiiiiiiiiiistmaaaaaaaaas!!
Me: <Before I think about what I'm saying, I pause writing, look up at her and blurt out.> I'm pagan.
SC:
Me: <I realize, oh shit! I said that out LOUD! So of course I start digging myself deeper.> well, technically, I'm really agnostic, which means I don't believe in---you know what? Never mind. Here you go, sign here, take this up to the front and they'll cash it out for you! Have a great day!
<Flee!!>I go to bossman, and explain what happened in case she calls in to complain. He starts laughing. I lot. I mean,
All while trying to tell me I can't do that. Of course this starts me laughing. I tell him I'm sorry, I didn't think, and we're both cackling like loons for a few minutes. I have to go tell bosslady, too, in case she fields the complaint. Her reaction is to give me the cat butt face and tell me my mouth is going to get me in trouble.<Sigh.> Sad thing is, today was the last day of the semester, so it's only going to get worse from here on out!
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