Howdy. I'm brand-spanking new to this group. I am currently working at my fourth independent bookstore. I wish I could do it full-time and forever. Alas, it is a labor of love, not of monetary rewards
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it's a bit of a different situation for me as i don't have the "cute female" problem, but what i do is respond in monosyllables and stare intently at the computer, continuing to type intermittently throughout their lectures. now, this SEEMS like i'm doing work, but i am actually probably posting on a message board or some such. but eventually the blatant lack of attention gets to them and they shut up.
This is probably not what you wanted to hear...dragatheimpalerJune 20 2005, 23:29:12 UTC
...you should probably just suck it up. It's a customer service issue, and these people are probably just desperate for intelligent conversation and hoping to find it in you. If you are nice to them and converse with them, you might even learn something about German philosophy and how it relates to the Wagner bio (I'm interested, how does it relate?). I have developed good relations with customers, who became regular repeat customers by listening to lectures on Ambrose Bierce and having long discussions on Roman history. I've learned a lot from my customers. About the old woman with the leaks, well...she's probably lonely and childless and just wants a little human contact. Hell, that will be me in 30 years! Please be nice to me when I'm old and lonely and have no family because I was the weird book girl and didn't bother with fake nails and a boob job. At home it's just me and the cat, and I just wanted to go out and talk to another human about the only thing I could think to talk about.
Re: This is probably not what you wanted to hear...ewigweiblicheJune 21 2005, 00:47:34 UTC
Actually, I learn a lot from most of the customers. As for sucking it up, that's all I can do. The way the store is shaped, if some one stands where most of the talky types do, then I am trapped behind the counter. I'm quite talkative myself, so usually conversation is encouraged. But there are limits. The woman with the leaks I've just stopped asking questions or even engaging in the conversation. I just listen. She seems to be getting the hint.... The first type of customer tends to be an older educated man and I feel talked AT not WITH. There's very much a "let me tell you, young thing...." Ugh. It's just so hard not to be rude to people with low social skills.
I do recognize this as a hazard of the job. Most days I feel lucky to work at job where conversation is encouraged. We often have one or two people hanging around the store just hanging out and discussing things. I like that.
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I do recognize this as a hazard of the job. Most days I feel lucky to work at job where conversation is encouraged. We often have one or two people hanging around the store just hanging out and discussing things. I like that.
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