Mood:
hungryNow Playing: My wife singing along to Sheena Easton singing Morning Train (9 to 5)
The Dumbest Customer (A Rant)
BASED ON A TRUE STORY
By Stephen Allin
[The bookseller is quietly going about his duties. A customer and her daughter enter the bookstore.]
Customer: Do you have a book written by Trinny and Susannah?
Bookseller (Points to a prominent display): They?re right there.
Customer: How much are they?
Bookseller: With the 4 pounds off special, it?s 16 pounds.
Customer: Do you have other books by Trinny and Susannah?
Bookseller: Yes I do. If you?ll follow me, I?ll show you where they are.
[All 3 go to a part of the bookstore where Trinny and Susannah?s 4 other books are prominently displayed. The customer picks up two of them ? one has a gold cover and is titled WHAT NOT TO WEAR 1. The other is silver and titled WHAT NOT TO WEAR 2. Without looking at them:]
Customer: What?s the difference between these?
Bookseller: Well... that one?s the first book in the series and that one?s the ? second book.
Customer: How much are they?
[Bookseller looks inside the cover for the price.]
Bookseller: 6.99.
[Pause.]
Customer [quietly]: Do you think we can make a deal on the price.
Bookseller: Um, no. That?s the price. It?s printed on the book.
Customer: If I went to another bookstore would they give me a deal on the books?
Bookseller: No. The price is actually printed on the book. That?s its price. [Pause.] No matter where you go.
[Pause. The customer and her daughter stare at the books. The bookseller walks away. Later in the back room, a 6 year veteran of the business informs him that it?s not uncommon for people to ask if they can get a deal on books if they pay cash.]