Category Archives: retail
The Lowest Price And The Best Deal.
x Last Saturday, Amazon invited customers, while browsing brick-and-mortar retailers, to use its new price-check app and earn up to five dollars off any three non-book items. Today, the novelist Richard Russo penned an op-ed for the New York Times gathering … Continue reading
Dear Woman Who Tried To Pay For A 99 Cent Coffee With A Hundred Dollar Bill At The BP On Madison Road This Morning,
We understand that the store’s credit card machine being down was a major inconvenience in your day. We don’t understand why you were paying for a 99 cent coffee with plastic. But that’s another matter. You know who had even … Continue reading
Filed under letters to people who won't write back, retail
Surreal Moments in Retail History: November 11, 2010
x CUSTOMER is female in her 70s. BEN is working at the information desk. CUSTOMER: Where’s Broke? BEN: It’s up front on our bestseller table. Let me run up and get a copy for you. [BEN retrieves book.] CUSTOMER: And … Continue reading
Riding on Slippery Pavement
One of the joys of being a bookseller is deciphering what exactly customers are looking for when they can’t tell you exactly what they’re looking for. I (Ben) am not talking about customers who want recommendations for, say, a historical … Continue reading
Why I Work For An Independent Bookstore
If you haven’t heard of Mockingjay — or The Hunger Games, or Catching Fire — you will soon enough. There will be movies, which Hollywood hopefully won’t butcher the way it did the first two Harry Potters, or Percy Jackson … Continue reading
Tragic Moments in Retail History
The following conversation took place tonight at Ben’s place of employment. The customer was on the phone. CUSTOMER: Yes, I was wondering if there might be a new book by Tony Hillerman coming out sometime soon. BEN: Uh, I don’t … Continue reading
Filed under retail
Pain, Suffering and Inheritance: The Tricky Art of Handling the Customer Complaint
x At my job I (Ben) often get to handle customer complaints. Whether I’m any good at it may best be answered by those doing the complaining. As with all things, you get better with practice. So this little Saturday … Continue reading
Filed under faith, retail, Uncategorized
Tragic Moments in Retail History
CINCINNATI, OH [AP] — A customer at a local retail establishment approached employee Ben Vore today and asked him where the Bibles were shelved. “Right over here,” Ben said. “Let me show you.” As the two men walked to the … Continue reading
Filed under retail, things that make you sad
Friday Recommends: Food
One of our New Year’s resolutions was to eat healthier. We’ve made this resolution before, with mixed results. This year we made the resolution less from a vague desire for general self-improvement and more because of a … Continue reading
Filed under books, food, Friday Recommends, retail
Voreplay
A sampling of what we’ve been spinning lately. Before we get started, let’s revisit Ben’s favorite retail moment from the past month: BEN (standing at music counter at place of employment): Hi, can I help you find anything? CUSTOMER (going … Continue reading
