[Due to the forthcoming book release of 'Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops', I've removed some of the 'Weird Things...' quotes from this blog.
You can still find some here and here, and you can find all the information on the book over here].
Thank you. xx
Hilarious! Another great series of comments. People are unbelievable - especially the woman who wanted you to reduce the price on the book her son had just torn!
ReplyDeleteI love these. The guy selling the jackets is just priceless :)
ReplyDeleteI love these. The parent/child interactions are always priceless. Also loved, "Customer: If one wanted to steal your most expensive book, where would one look?" That will keep me laughing all day. The posts always make me wish I had kept a log of comments from working at McDonalds! So glad I found you on Twitter!
ReplyDeleteThanks, these made my day!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Ripping Yarns must be in a particularly odd part of London. Very funny post, as usual, however your holiday snaps are not good for my blood pressure!
ReplyDeleteA true story which I heard actually in a Library but which could I guess have been in a bookshop and is too good to miss. When Kaffe Fassett's GLORIOUS KNITTING came out yonks ago, I heard a customer in our local library in Manchester, UK asking the librarian on duty: "DO you have a copy of Glorious Knitting by Yasser Arafat?"
ReplyDeleteRacism in moderation. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteImogen: The world is full of the loveliest of people....
ReplyDeleteI worked in a bookshop some years back. It was a fairly large chain in Canada, but it was a small shop. One August, all the shops had to put out a sign "Everything you need for Back to School!"
ReplyDeleteUh huh.
Customer: Where are your shoes?
Me: Um, this is a bookstore. We don't sell shoes.
Customer: But the sign says you have everything for Back to School. My kids need gym shoes. No black soles.
Me: Um... I'm sorry. We don't sell shoes.
Customer: Well. That is BLATANTLY false advertising. I'm going to make some calls. I promise you, you will be selling shoes by Saturday!
Oh gods. The one about the page tears reminds me of a customer who asked if I could remove the plastic wrap from a book so they could look at it and then no longer wanted it because it wasn't sealed. O_o
ReplyDeleteLove the hardcover vs. paperback comment re: Kindle. Belly laugh of the month!
ReplyDeleteI've reading all your weird customer comments in a row and have been laughing so loud I just woke up my hubby. Had to post a link to it on my blog. So good!
ReplyDeleteTheir daughter: Why can't I fly?
ReplyDeleteCustomer: Because of evolution, sweetheart.
:(
Jen, a friend pointed out your blog to me because of your reoccurring 'Weird Things' section. I must say that after working in customer service for the last 12 years I feel your pain! If you are like me though, these daily wtf moments are fun to think back on. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteThese are SPECTACULAR. Is your notebook always at the ready, or do these leave enough of a mark on you to remember till you get home/write blog posts?
ReplyDeleteI just discovered your blog through some friends on Facebook. Thanks to several others being linked as well, I think it's time I share some of my own bookselling stories, but I'll be back here for more by far.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing!
HER: "I'm looking for a book on Fuchsias" ME: "Confucius?" HER: "No Fuchsias!" ME: "Sorry for the confusion!" badoom chsssss
ReplyDeleteThanks. If I'm ever in London I'll drop by and applaud you.
ReplyDelete"Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops" Grew over three years into one bookseller's collection of ridiculous conversations on the shop floor.
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