Dear no name lady,
I was working at the register the other day when you came up and requested to talk with a manager. You were a bit abrupt and looked all sorts of cranky. I knew one of our managers had recently been out on the floor but I always seem to give her the crazies, so I asked my co-worker if any other managers were in available. He gave me the name of another (male) manager who should be around. You overheard all of this and learned both managers names.
I left to get the male manager from across the store when the younger, female manager walked right past me. I had to give you over to her, it wouldn’t make sense to bother the other manager just to avoid annoying this one. You gave her a once over as she asked how she could help you and immediately said you were supposed to be talking to the other manager, even calling him by his name. Way to eavesdrop and be a jerk. She could help you just as well as he could, was she too young? Maybe you’re just too crabby and old.
She tried to help you despite your misgivings, asking your problem and nodding along politely. She tried to take your name so she could mention your issue to our general manager, since you obviously didn’t think she was high enough up the ladder. You said no. She explained why she wanted to know, but you interrupted and were adamant in your refusal to give any information. Why? How could giving your name hurt you? You knew her name and you used it, a lot.
You didn’t want to give anything, but you did want the number of our corporate office and the names of the owners. You mentioned the other manager by name a few more times and made it sound like you had some sort of appointment with him. You were supposed to be talking with him. She was clearly wasting your time. Giving up on trying to assist you herself, she went to the other information desk to get the manager whose name you repeated like a mantra. You were clingy and followed her, probably because you thought she might say bad things about you. You were right, we do like to warn each other about difficult customers and you were vying for worst of the day.
Before you could talk to the other manager, you set your sights on the woman in charge of our used books section. Your problem dealt specifically with her. Turns out she didn’t buy all the books you brought in. Well? That happens. Sometimes we have too many of a particular title. Sometimes the books people bring in are dirty or marked up. Sometimes they are so off the wall we don’t think anyone would by them, so we don’t buy them from you. But you wanted to yell at someone.
Do you understand the system? Why would we buy books we couldn’t sell? We aren’t doing you a favor. We didn’t ask you to clean out your house and bring us your left over crap. This is a place of business, not a book storage depot.
Then the male manager you had such an affinity for came up to the counter. You saw him approaching and shook your head immediately. Turns out you recognized him. That right, the male manager, who is older than the manager you were previously talking to, helps run the used books. You’ve dealt with him before. He knows all about you, probably even knows your name. Your precious, secret name no one else could have the privilege of writing down.
Now there was no one left to deal with. One manager was incompetent in your eyes, the other one knew your MO. You complain about the system a lot. You bring in over 25 books at a time, so the buyer picks up the first 25 and give you the rest back without looking at them. Of course she isn’t following the rules, she is specifically picking on you and choosing titles she won’t buy anyway. She wants you to go home with as little money as possible. She’s a horrible person and has a grudge against you. Did I get it right?
You got the number for corporate and after redeeming your used book memo for cash, stomped out of the store. As the doors closed we all crowded around the register you got your money from. After hitting a few keys, the drawer popped open and five of us looked over the slip of paper from your transaction. Printed on it clear as day was your name, address, and phone number.
Sincerely,
Kelly
