
From Book Wench, December, 2010:
I've been reading RHU for a while now and I finally had a day that deserved comment.
You can call me 'Book Wench' if you'd like. I work a pretty big book store and we have a lot of regulars. Usually most of our customers are nice, polite, and good to talk to.
Not today. It must be Monday. Or a full moon. Or maybe our first real snow of the year has driven everyone bonkers. Doesn't matter. There is just so much dumb today I don't think I can handle it.
First is a regular who had a couple books he ordered come in recently. He and the family are asking all sorts of questions about different books we have carry, when we're expecting different books, questions about Christmas presents.
I get the lucky task of following this family around for 20 minutes and them not letting me escape! Every time I went to help someone else they would drag me back before I could run away! "Just one more question!" over and over again.
Finally the guy says "Can I just see which books I ordered have come in?"
Of course, I take him to the holds room, find his books and bring them out to him. I swear he DOESN'T EVEN LOOK AT THEM. His eyes are on a display the whole time.
He tells me "Oh, I'm broke right now I can't buy them for a while."
Why did you have me root around in the holds room to not even look at the books?! I could have easily looked up on the computer which of your books had come in!
Of course they leave without spending a dime while I'm left to clean up the mess their little piggies have left around the store while the parents took up my time. 
After that I got the lucky chance of answering the phone to someone who wanted some obscure book that hasn't been in print for 15 years.
I let him know that.
"Can't you order it for me?"
I explain no, once a book is out of print I cannot get it.
"Why not?"
I explain again how out of print means it's not being made anymore. I suggest he check online.
"Can you do that for me?"
NO I CANNOT. I let him know my computer is only able to check my own server and database.
"Oh.... can you check ebay for me?"
NO!
"Oh... how about your main competition store?"
GOD NO.
Finally he relents and tells me he'll check back in a few days.
I try to explain the chances of that book going back into print are less than ZERO but instead he hangs up on me.
Delightful.
And best of the best?
Two custys who are looking for an art book by a popular local artist for a Christmas gift. I show them exactly what they're after without them knowing the title.
The woman actually doing the shopping is impressed, but her friend doesn't like that I "JUST ASSUMED WHAT MY FRIEND WANTED!!!"
Sure I assumed. Since you said "art book" and "popular local artist" and I only have ONE of those, it was a safe bet.
They see the price is close to $50 and again, the custy buying the book is fine with it, but the friend FLIPS HER SHIT at me.

She demands to know why the cost is so high.
I explain the artist is self published and it's to cover his costs.
NOT GOOD ENOUGH! She rants on and on about the price but I finally realize that I need not convince this woman since SHE isn't the one buying it!
Her friend makes her purchase and I can finally move on to one of our nicest, most polite regulars who has been waiting very patiently for my time.
BUT WAIT!
The non-buying custy has seen we have an original piece of art in the store given to us by the artist whose book her friend just bought.
So instead of waiting for me to finish up with our nice custy she decides the best course of action is to holler across the store:
"HOW MUCH IS THIS?!"
Frankly I've had enough of this woman's shit and yell back:
"IT'S NOT FOR SALE" in my most Superbitch tone and go back to helping Mr. Nice Custy.
Thankfully that got her to shut her noise and get out of my store.
And Thankfully I only have one month left of this crap until Christmas is over and I can go back to my normal non-Christmas shopper routine at work!
--Book Wench
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