Actual conversation

[Evamarie41]

Background: Swimming pool supply. People use chlorine pucks in their pools and ours are called super pucks. This is an actual conversation:

C: "Is this the only size the super pucks come in?" (it's a 7kg bucket)

Me: "Yes."

C: "You don't have something smaller?"

Me: "No."

C: "Well I only need a few"

Me: "I'm sorry, we only have the one size bucket of them."

C: "You really don't have anything else?"

Me: "No."

C: "Well, can't you open them and just sell me a few?"

Me: "No, I can't. This is the only size it comes in."

C: "Well I don't understand why you can't just sell me a few. I don't need a whole big bucket!" (yelling now)

(repeat the can you sell me just a few over and over until I say this

Me: "Well I guess I could open it and sell you a few, but I would have to charge you the cost of the full bucket."

C: *says something not so pleasant and storms out the door*

Why does he think I can just open up merchandise and sell him part of it? Why does he think that's a thing that won't get me in trouble? Also, what is with people asking me the SAME question over and over. It's the same when we are out of stock on an item. Do they think that we have a secret stash that can only be accessed after the 7th time they ask?

[MoonCat]

"You just said the magic number! That's right, the 13th time was the charm!"

Except not really.

[Freak]

I can understand them asking the question once, because sometimes (probably with different products, mind you) such things might be possible. Asking again and again is the point at which it gets stupid.

[Food Lady]

This is what kids do: ask and ask again. What a toddler.

[Enjis]

Also, won't he have to keep on using the things to keep his pool clean? Why buy just a few??

[Racket_Man]

another prime example of the defination of Insanity.

[sevendaysky]

I can think of a couple reasons he might want only a few. A) he's wanting to test how well your version of the stuff is - how strong, etc; b) he's replacing some that he used while staying at a friend's house or something. In case A I can understand asking or even "do you have a sample?" I wouldn't want to buy a 7kg bucket of something I only used once or twice after I discovered it has some side effect/result I don't like. In the second case, dude, just give your friend a few bucks and be done with it. If they own the pool (And you don't), they'll just buy a big bucket somewhere anyway.

[AmbrosiaWriter]

Maybe he thinks he can ask you the same question three times, irritating you into doing what he wants.

[wolfie]

Do you get very many requests of this nature? Enough that you'd go through a complete bucket in a reasonable time (or have buckets "damaged out" due to breakage of packaging, or someone taking the "diy approach" after being turned down)? If so, would it be possible to keep the "damaged out" bucket behind the counter, with a sign on the display "We occasionally are able to offer singles of this item", and sell single pucks (marked up, of course - so a full bucket worth of singles would go for at least double the price of a bucket)?

[Merriweather]

Background: Swimming pool supply. People use chlorine pucks in their pools and ours are called super pucks. This is an actual conversation:

C: "Is this the only size the super pucks come in?" (it's a 7kg bucket)

Me: "Yes."

C: "You don't have something smaller?"

Me: "No."

C: "Well I only need a few"

Me: "I'm sorry, we only have the one size bucket of them."

C: "You really don't have anything else?"

Me: "No."

C: "Well, can't you open them and just sell me a few?"

Me: "No, I can't. This is the only size it comes in."

C: "Well I don't understand why you can't just sell me a few. I don't need a whole big bucket!" (yelling now)

(repeat the can you sell me just a few over and over until I say this

Me: "Well I guess I could open it and sell you a few, but I would have to charge you the cost of the full bucket."

C: *says something not so pleasant and storms out the door*

Why does he think I can just open up merchandise and sell him part of it? Why does he think that's a thing that won't get me in trouble? Also, what is with people asking me the SAME question over and over. It's the same when we are out of stock on an item. Do they think that we have a secret stash that can only be accessed after the 7th time they ask?

Ya know, I really don't have a big appetite, wonder if I can go to a burger joint & get them to sell me half a hamburger? why on earth not?

[SkullBash]

Ya know, I really don't have a big appetite, wonder if I can go to a burger joint & get them to sell me half a hamburger? why on earth not?

Or hey, I only want a handful of doritos. Can you open a bag, let me stick my hand in, and pay for what I grab?

[NateTheChops]

"We occasionally are able to offer singles of this item", and sell single pucks (marked up, of course - so a full bucket worth of singles would go for at least double the price of a bucket)?

SC's have a hard enough time reading any sign with the word "Free" in it and hearing the words, "only", "No" and "I will be fired and/or arrested if I do sir/ma'am" without adding more fuel to the fire.

[PepperElf]

you forgot the word "just"

but I just want...

[mhkohne]

Do you get very many requests of this nature? Enough that you'd go through a complete bucket in a reasonable time (or have buckets "damaged out" due to breakage of packaging, or someone taking the "diy approach" after being turned down)? If so, would it be possible to keep the "damaged out" bucket behind the counter, with a sign on the display "We occasionally are able to offer singles of this item", and sell single pucks (marked up, of course - so a full bucket worth of singles would go for at least double the price of a bucket)?

I think that in this case that's not feasible. Chlorine products have to be stored in appropriate packaging (basically sealed in a plastic that the chlorine won't eat through) to prevent the chlorine from damaging everything it's nearby. They really can't be selling a few at a time because they've no legitimate & safe way for the customer to get them home.

And I've opened a bucket of those tablets in an enclosed space before - you wouldn't believe the fumes.

[Jester]

How much for just one rib?