Phone Rant

While this happened in a photo store I’ve seen it occur in many other places so I’m sure a lot of people have been a victim to this plaque.

I was in the local photo store the other day to pick up a replacement dome diffuser for my flash. I knew what I wanted and where it was so I thought it would be a quick in-and-out kinda thing.

Boy, was I wrong. Both customer service reps were with other customers. One was getting some prints done and the other was a guy checking out a camera he had heard about. It was clear that he wasn’t there to buy but wanted to gab as some of us are wont to do. No problem – they are busy, I’ll just wait my turn by the register to let them know I’m ready when one of them breaks free.

Then the phone rings.

One of the reps excuses themselves, leaves their customer and answers the phone.  Someone asking about store hours. The rep rattles off the store hours for the week and then goes back to their customer.

I wait.

A few minutes later the phone rings again. The other rep excuses themselves and answers the phone. I can tell by the answer that its a “do you sell this?” question. Another answer given and then they go back to their customer.

Wait a minute…when did a phone call get priority over a living, breathing customer waiting to make a purchase? The guy doing the printing has a few minutes while the printer is doing it’s thing. He just gabbing with the customer. The other rep is just swapping war stories with a veteran while looking over a new pocket camera. Fine and dandy. They were here first and they should be taken care of. I understand and accept this.

But, If you will make the time to answer a call from someone who may or may not be a potential customer then why can’t you make the time to take care of an ACTUAL PAYING CUSTOMER RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU??

Granted, I was out of there in 10 minutes. I’m not that egotistical to think that that was 10 irreplaceable minutes in my very important life that I will never get back. But still. When did phone calls become so important? When did it become good business to do this? Am I becoming overly sensitive in my advancing years?

Don’t even get me started on cell phones.

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