An Alarming Lack Of Overstock
GIFT SHOP, MARYLAND, STUPID, USA | RIGHT | JANUARY 15, 2019
(I shop I work at has a ton of artist-made, one-of-a-kind items. It’s is also quite small and built in a historic building.)
Customer: “Do you have this bowl in blue?”
Me: “I’m afraid what you see is all we have.”
Customer: “Could you check the back?”
Me: “All of our product is on display; we don’t have overstock.”
Customer: “Don’t be lazy! Just check the back room.”
Me: “There is no back room to check.”
Customer: “Then what’s that?”
Me: “That’s our back door.”
(The customer rolls their eyes and huffs but continues shopping. A few minutes later, the alarm shrieks out. The customer has opened the back door, setting off the alarm and stepping outside. I rush to disable the alarm, and there’s a minute of silence before I hear a knock at the back door. Outside, there’s a narrow, private alley locked on both sides by a tall gate, and the customer has obviously found himself caged in. I open the door to find him looking sheepish, and he quickly makes his way through the store to leave. I can’t help calling after him
Me: “Did you find overstock in the back room?”