Thursday, November 20, 2008

JUST WRAP IT...TO GO

Do you ever have the feeling that the strange, weird and incompetent people of the world just seek you out?

While shopping recently, I purchased several gifts and some decorative Christmas items. In one store, I bought 2 very lovely mercury glass vases. Not outrageously expensive, but not cheap either. The clerk put one of them into a plastic bag and was attempting to put the other one in the same bag when I stopped her. "I think these need to be wrapped before they are bagged, please,"I said. "Oh, ok then," she replies. Then she proceeded to put the second vase into its own bag. She got a bigger bag and was going to put both of the vases into the bigger bag. "Mam, I am travelling and I am afraid these will break if they are not wrapped," I said as kindly as possible. "I wrapped it in the bag," she answered sharply. "Well, do you have any tissue paper you can wrap around them so they won't knock against one another?" I said. "No, all I have is this white paper...you will have to go to the back if you want them gift wrapped," she answered. (What she had was a stack of white butcher paper used for wrapping fragile items). So, I asked her if I could have a few sheets of the white paper. "I'll have to find out how much it is...there is no price on it." YES, she really did say that! So, I decided to just watch and see just how looney she really was. Turning to the girl at the register next to her, she asked her how much to charge me for the sheets of paper. Clerk 2 looked at her like she had lost her mind. I could have told her that I had already ascertained that yes,indeed, her mind has gone on a permanent walk around the block!
"You talking about the wrapping paper?, she asked. "No, I told her where the wrapping was...she wants to buy some of this paper here." The Clerk 2 looked at me like 'is she for real?'. I explained, "I bought 2 glass vases and just wanted them wrapped in some tissue to protect them since I am travelling. Clerk 2 looked at Clerk 1 and said, "Give her the paper." "Just give it to her?" asked Clerk 1. "Just give her the paper!" There was quite a line formed by now and several other people were enjoying this spectacle of "ain't got a clue". Clerk 1 is still looking at clerk 2 trying to figure out if she was going to get in trouble for giving me the wrapping paper. "Oh for pete's sake!" said Clerk 2. She then left her register and walked over to the register where I was. She took the vases out of the bags and proceeded to wrap them in the butcher paper. Then she wrapped each one in several plastic bags, she cushioned the bottom of the shopping tote bag and carefully placed them inside and then cushioned them with more tissue. Those vases were gonna ride safe and as well protected as possible. Clerk 1 was just standing back, watching, and chomping on her hot pink bubble gum. When Clerk 2 finished, she turned to Clerk 1 and said, "that is what you do with fragile items." And Clerk 2 walked back to her register. (NOW THIS IS TOO GOOD.) Clerk 1 said to Clerk 2, "Well, you still didn't tell me how much to charge her for the paper." Clerk 2 turned around very slowly, she smiled sweetly, "Honey, we're giving that paper away today." Clerk 1 said to me, "Wow, it's a good thing you came today." "Yes," I told her, "I was thinking the same thing!"

22 comments:

Love Being A Nonny said...

This seems to be the *norm* around my parts now. Lots of people who *Don't Have A Clue*. I laughed out loud at this story!

kristen said...

That is too funny!!!

elizabeth embracing life said...

OMGoodness!!! And to think this is not an isolated case. I think it gives new meaning to the words "terribly funny".

Anonymous said...

LOL! That was too funny!

I just can't believe some people are that stupid.

andi said...

Unbelievable! Blows my ever-livin-mind.

Kellie said...

that is hilarious - I have been reading your blog for awhile now.. I grew up in Dothan and saw your link on Andi's blog - love your stories!

Paula V said...

You have GOT to be kidding me. If I didn't believe you were a very honest women, I'd have to say you are so pulling our legs.

I can't believe she topped it all of with "It's a good thing you came today."

I would LOVE to know if this genuinely was this gal's very FIRST day on the job...maybe first day in the store. She's definitely never purchased anything fragile to know it's a given and a must.

Thanks for this today. What a stress reliever. However, I do feel sorry for her.

Terrie's Lil' Piece of Serenity said...

Oh, my!! I think we need to go back to good customer service training in this country. It's
really sad. It's funny. But, sad!!

Jean said...

Wow, that is just pathetic. Dick has been getting all kinds of frustrating eye-openers when it comes to customer service via telephone these days. He could soon write a book.

Dianne said...

Boy, what a ding-dong! I wish I had been there to see all that transpire. I would have also liked to have seen you WATCHING it all happen...:-)

He Knows My Name said...

wow tonja...what a patient saint you are.

if you told her, lady you take the cake, she might think you were accusing her of stealing from a bakery!

Angela Baylis said...

This story is priceless, Tonja! Oh my goodness! This reminds me of something my daughter has recently learned about her mother... She cannot stand when she buys an expensive (or cheap for that matter) piece of clothing that the clerk refuses to fold nicely! That bugs me SO much and I usually insist on re-folding the item they try to roll up in a ball before putting in the bag! I think I should add this to the 100 Things About Me post I did a long time ago!
Thanks for sharing this amazing story! I'm shaking my head!
Love you,
Angie xoxo

Adam R. Owens said...

That's great!

Southern Lady said...

Tonja, bless your heart, I'm still laughing out loud ... that's just unbelievable and would be sad if it wasn't so funny.

Sincerely,

Janie

Leah Belle said...

that is TOOOOO much! how hilarious! that girl was missing a few brain cells!

nancygrayce said...

It is the new generation of workers! It's everywhere....they are so dumbed down they have now passed dumb and gone to dumber! It's really sad, but I'm afraid that may be happening more and more! We just have to laugh!

April said...

My sis-in-law, leah belle sent this to me. I laughed so hard I cried while trying not to wake my daughter. Great story. With the holidays here, I'm sure there will be more stories like this one.

Main Street Mom said...

Leah Belle sent it my way as well....too funny! Sadly sounds too much like a "blond moment".......

Sharla said...

i am dying to know where this store is and if she still is working there!

Sherrie said...

Oh my goodness!! That is hilarious!! I wish that I could have been there with you!! I can just see the expression on your face!!! I am afraid that I would not have been has patient as you!!! LOL!! Priceless!!!

Justabeachkat said...

Oh.My.Word!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for a good belly laugh.

You need to send this post into the paper!

Hugs!
Kat

Anonymous said...

Go out and shop some more! LOVE this one, too! Goodness...you are making my week!