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Thankfully, I did not have to deal with this guy. Instead I got to laugh at his idiocy while a former CW from my last job related the story.
First, the background. The hobby shop I used to work at had a very large selection of stuff, but like any store, we couldn't carry everything. If we didn't have something someone wanted, and it was possible to order it for them (and if it was something that fit in with what we normally carried - NOT R/C cars) we would. For something that was simply out of stock, it would usually take less than a week for it to come in. However, when it came to ordering something that was "coming soon" it was a whole different story.
The plastic model industry is downright notorious for vaporware. Virtually every manufacturer is guilty of publicizing an upcoming kit and claiming that it will be out in a given month (ie Dec 2006), but not actually releasing it then. It's not the least bit uncommon for a kit to be released six months to a full year late, or even longer. In fact, I still have an outstanding order for a kit announced two and a half years ago that still hasn't come out! The problem is that they swear up and down in their catalogs and on their websites that the item will be out at such and such a time, and people then assume that it's OUR fault that we don't have it, when in fact that manufacturer was pulling a Microsoft. Whenever placing orders for these items, we'd always be sure to warn the customer that it could be some time before it actually came in.
Anyway, a guy who we'll just call Officer B (a retired cop) placed an order several months ago for this. This kit only recently went into production, and my former place of employment finally got them in stock this past Tuesday. After checking in the delivery, one of the full timers, BC, called OB to let him know that his special order was in.
BC: Hi, I'm looking for OB.
OB *crackling line*: Who??
BC (louder): I'M LOOKING FOR OB!
OB: In relation to what?
BC: This is BC at [Hobby Shop]. He placed an oder for a 1:35 PT Boat. It's in.
OB: Oh, that's for my father. Hold on.
*pause*
OB: This is OB. What can I do for you?
And it was the SAME voice! Brian was instantly convinced that this guy was senile.
BC: This is BC at [Hobby Shop]. You placed an oder for a 1:35 PT Boat. It's in.
OB: Oh......*gets angry* Why the hell did it take so long to show up?!?
BC briefly explainED that the store doesn't make the kits, so they only get them once the manufacturer actually releases then, and explains what I explained above. Despite this, the guy still felt that the store was somehow at fault, and argued for a few minutes with BC about it.
Then, despite the fact that he's been to the store multiple times, he asked for an address and directions.
BC: We're at 440 [rest of address].
OB: 4440 [address]?
BC: No, 440.
OB: 4440?
BC: NO! 440! 4-4-0!
OB: Oh. And how do you get there?
BC: [directions].
OB: Ok. Bye. *click*
It should be noted that these and the following conversations were all shouted due to the poor quality of the connection and the fact that this guy was obviously hard of hearing. A few hours later, he called back.
BC: Hello [Hobby Shop]
OB: Hi, this is OB.
BC: Hi, what can I do for you?
OB: I talked to one of your guys earlier. I think it was the heavyset guy. Is he there?
BC: That would be me.
OB: Oh.......I didn't mean to offend you with the "heavyset" thing.
BC: I'm not offended. I know I am, and I accept it.
OB: Oh..........well.......I had ordered an Italeri PT boat.
BC: Yep, it's right here. What about it.
OB: Well, I don't know if I want to drive all the way up there for it. Can you ship it to me?
BC: Yes, but it needs to be paid for first, and the shipping charges will be added to the price.
OB: That's fine. Here's my address. Call me back when you have the estimate.
BC: Well, that won't be until tomorrow, because the place we ship from is closed right now.
OB: Oh, ok. Talk to you then. Bye *click*
So BC went to the trouble of custom-fitting a box for the model kit, packed it up, marked it, hand carried it across the plaza to the Postal Center for a shipping quote ($16), then went back and called the guy. Here's where it started to get truly frustrating.
BC: Hi, I'm looking for OB.
OB: In relation to what?
BC: This is BC at [Hobby Shop]. I have a shipping price for you. It'll be $16, plus the cost of the model and tax.
OB: Ok, hold on *relays information to wife* Do you take Discover?
BC: No sir. Visa or MasterCard only.
OB: Oh, ok. hold on *talks to wife*
Wash. Rinse. Repeat FOURTEEN TIMES. Fourteen. 14. NOT kidding. And every single time he asked a question he had to relay the answer to his wife, who'd dig up another Discover card (probably pulled out the same one over and over, as I can't believe anyone would have more than ONE Discover card), tell him to ask about this one. I got the impression from BC that this was one of those
calls.
Finally, he gives up on asking if they take Discover, and says he'll just mail them a bank check. BC says that's fine, but that they won't ship until the payment arrives and clears. SO now the guy asks for the address agian, and they go through the whole 4440 vs 440 routine again.
BC (to me) "You'll probably notice that the kit is out OF the shipping box and on the counter right now."
Me: yeah......
Well this guy had called back AGAIN to say that he thought the shipping price was too high, and that he'd just pick it up. And of course, he had to get the address and the directions a THIRD time. At the time that I heard this story, he hadn't come in yet, but was doe to come in yesterday. I'm wondering if he actually made it, and it he did, if he actually bought the kit of it he balked at the price ($150) which, by the way, he was made aware of when he ordered it originally, and was told several times over the phone once it came in.
Overall, a truly mind-numbing story.
Funny to hear though, since I didn't have to deal with this guy. 
First, the background. The hobby shop I used to work at had a very large selection of stuff, but like any store, we couldn't carry everything. If we didn't have something someone wanted, and it was possible to order it for them (and if it was something that fit in with what we normally carried - NOT R/C cars) we would. For something that was simply out of stock, it would usually take less than a week for it to come in. However, when it came to ordering something that was "coming soon" it was a whole different story.
The plastic model industry is downright notorious for vaporware. Virtually every manufacturer is guilty of publicizing an upcoming kit and claiming that it will be out in a given month (ie Dec 2006), but not actually releasing it then. It's not the least bit uncommon for a kit to be released six months to a full year late, or even longer. In fact, I still have an outstanding order for a kit announced two and a half years ago that still hasn't come out! The problem is that they swear up and down in their catalogs and on their websites that the item will be out at such and such a time, and people then assume that it's OUR fault that we don't have it, when in fact that manufacturer was pulling a Microsoft. Whenever placing orders for these items, we'd always be sure to warn the customer that it could be some time before it actually came in.
Anyway, a guy who we'll just call Officer B (a retired cop) placed an order several months ago for this. This kit only recently went into production, and my former place of employment finally got them in stock this past Tuesday. After checking in the delivery, one of the full timers, BC, called OB to let him know that his special order was in.
BC: Hi, I'm looking for OB.
OB *crackling line*: Who??
BC (louder): I'M LOOKING FOR OB!
OB: In relation to what?
BC: This is BC at [Hobby Shop]. He placed an oder for a 1:35 PT Boat. It's in.
OB: Oh, that's for my father. Hold on.
*pause*
OB: This is OB. What can I do for you?
And it was the SAME voice! Brian was instantly convinced that this guy was senile.
BC: This is BC at [Hobby Shop]. You placed an oder for a 1:35 PT Boat. It's in.
OB: Oh......*gets angry* Why the hell did it take so long to show up?!?
BC briefly explainED that the store doesn't make the kits, so they only get them once the manufacturer actually releases then, and explains what I explained above. Despite this, the guy still felt that the store was somehow at fault, and argued for a few minutes with BC about it.
Then, despite the fact that he's been to the store multiple times, he asked for an address and directions.
BC: We're at 440 [rest of address].
OB: 4440 [address]?
BC: No, 440.
OB: 4440?
BC: NO! 440! 4-4-0!
OB: Oh. And how do you get there?
BC: [directions].
OB: Ok. Bye. *click*
It should be noted that these and the following conversations were all shouted due to the poor quality of the connection and the fact that this guy was obviously hard of hearing. A few hours later, he called back.
BC: Hello [Hobby Shop]
OB: Hi, this is OB.
BC: Hi, what can I do for you?
OB: I talked to one of your guys earlier. I think it was the heavyset guy. Is he there?
BC: That would be me.
OB: Oh.......I didn't mean to offend you with the "heavyset" thing.
BC: I'm not offended. I know I am, and I accept it.
OB: Oh..........well.......I had ordered an Italeri PT boat.
BC: Yep, it's right here. What about it.
OB: Well, I don't know if I want to drive all the way up there for it. Can you ship it to me?
BC: Yes, but it needs to be paid for first, and the shipping charges will be added to the price.
OB: That's fine. Here's my address. Call me back when you have the estimate.
BC: Well, that won't be until tomorrow, because the place we ship from is closed right now.
OB: Oh, ok. Talk to you then. Bye *click*
So BC went to the trouble of custom-fitting a box for the model kit, packed it up, marked it, hand carried it across the plaza to the Postal Center for a shipping quote ($16), then went back and called the guy. Here's where it started to get truly frustrating.
BC: Hi, I'm looking for OB.
OB: In relation to what?
BC: This is BC at [Hobby Shop]. I have a shipping price for you. It'll be $16, plus the cost of the model and tax.
OB: Ok, hold on *relays information to wife* Do you take Discover?
BC: No sir. Visa or MasterCard only.
OB: Oh, ok. hold on *talks to wife*
Wash. Rinse. Repeat FOURTEEN TIMES. Fourteen. 14. NOT kidding. And every single time he asked a question he had to relay the answer to his wife, who'd dig up another Discover card (probably pulled out the same one over and over, as I can't believe anyone would have more than ONE Discover card), tell him to ask about this one. I got the impression from BC that this was one of those
calls.Finally, he gives up on asking if they take Discover, and says he'll just mail them a bank check. BC says that's fine, but that they won't ship until the payment arrives and clears. SO now the guy asks for the address agian, and they go through the whole 4440 vs 440 routine again.
BC (to me) "You'll probably notice that the kit is out OF the shipping box and on the counter right now."
Me: yeah......
Well this guy had called back AGAIN to say that he thought the shipping price was too high, and that he'd just pick it up. And of course, he had to get the address and the directions a THIRD time. At the time that I heard this story, he hadn't come in yet, but was doe to come in yesterday. I'm wondering if he actually made it, and it he did, if he actually bought the kit of it he balked at the price ($150) which, by the way, he was made aware of when he ordered it originally, and was told several times over the phone once it came in.
Overall, a truly mind-numbing story.
Funny to hear though, since I didn't have to deal with this guy.
Yes, he had been warned that it'd be a complex kit when he ordered it.
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