I was approached yesterday by an older gentleman, who asked me for a suggestion for a gift for a male college student, and that it had to be something in our store, and it had to be off-beat.
Well, not knowing any more than that, it's awfully difficult to think of anything, and besides, Staples isn't exactly the place for off-beat gifts (at least, once all the various Christmas promotional crap is sold off).
Oh yeah, and suggesting gifts is NOT part of my job description, last I checked. Nevertheless, I suggested perhaps a flash drive or some blank CDs/DVDs
SC: NO! Everyone thinks of that! I need something DIFFERENT!
Me: Well, I really can't think of anything that we carry that would be good.
SC: BAAH!!! *waves dismissively at me and walks away*
OK, that was rude of you.
Then he got on his phone and asked for a suggestion from whomever he'd called. A minute later, he asks me about an electric stapler, which he ended up buying.
SC *on phone*: Yeah, I got him an electric stapler! Am I The Man or what???
It was all I could do to not laugh aloud. An electric stapler! Oh yes, that's what EVERY male college student wants these days!!! Oh yes, you ARE the Man!! </sarcasm>
If he hadn't insisted on buying something at my store, I could have suggested he go to a certain "specialty store" about 20 minutes away, specifically to the not-advertised "adult area" in the back. There's plenty of off-beat things there that I'm sure many a college student would enjoy, and much cheaper than a $40 electric stapler.
Well, not knowing any more than that, it's awfully difficult to think of anything, and besides, Staples isn't exactly the place for off-beat gifts (at least, once all the various Christmas promotional crap is sold off).
Oh yeah, and suggesting gifts is NOT part of my job description, last I checked. Nevertheless, I suggested perhaps a flash drive or some blank CDs/DVDs
SC: NO! Everyone thinks of that! I need something DIFFERENT!
Me: Well, I really can't think of anything that we carry that would be good.
SC: BAAH!!! *waves dismissively at me and walks away*
OK, that was rude of you.
Then he got on his phone and asked for a suggestion from whomever he'd called. A minute later, he asks me about an electric stapler, which he ended up buying.
SC *on phone*: Yeah, I got him an electric stapler! Am I The Man or what???
It was all I could do to not laugh aloud. An electric stapler! Oh yes, that's what EVERY male college student wants these days!!! Oh yes, you ARE the Man!! </sarcasm>
If he hadn't insisted on buying something at my store, I could have suggested he go to a certain "specialty store" about 20 minutes away, specifically to the not-advertised "adult area" in the back. There's plenty of off-beat things there that I'm sure many a college student would enjoy, and much cheaper than a $40 electric stapler.
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