Retail Reality Check

Why do people lie? Here's a true, unsuccessful attempt to gain something from lying...

This past Wednesday, we had a "One Day Sale". Emails were sent out to customers informing them that "for ONE DAY ONLY, everything was 50% off the original retail". (Again, this seems pretty clear cut.) Our store hours on Wednesday are 10am-6pm. Always have been.

So on Friday (2 days after the "one day" sale) this drunk dude (yes, the odor of alcohol was almost overwhelming) came in the store and complained that he arrived at the store on Wednesday at 5:55pm and we were closed... lights out, no one home. What a bullsher!! And I'm sure the only reason he made a "stink" about it was because he wanted me to "extend the courtesy" of allowing him to take advantage of the sale after it had expired. (Oh wait, I forgot to mention that he came in the store around 10:30am, which must mean inebriation was on the menu for breakfast.)

We were slower than anticipated in the afternoon in question, so I sent my other associate home at 5pm. And don't ya know... the floodgates opened as soon as she left the building. So I worked as efficiently as possible, desperately trying to take care of all the customers who came thru the door. And at 6pm, I still had a handful of people in the store. In fact, the last customer left at 6:20pm.

So to recap: Lights were on, customers were in the store, door was unlocked until 6:20.

I took great pleasure in telling Mr. Drunk and Obnoxious that his watch must be broken. Then I relayed that I was in the store (with lights on and doors unlocked) until 6:20. He tried back-peddle a little and now changed his story, claiming that it was a "friend" who said that we closed early. Really??? Who was his friend??? Was his name Jack? Jim? Jose? (as in Daniels, Beam, Cuervo?)

What an idiot!!! First of all, when you plan on being out in public, it would be nice if you showered. And in something other than 80 proof. Second of all, come up with a better "story" to tell. And when you realize your story is in the crapper, don't bother to change your tune. It makes you look like a bigger idiot than you already are.

If I were 12, I would have said "Liar, liar, pants on fire." Too bad I'm 29.