Miss Wisabus Goes Rogue on Hastings

Posted on 19 November 2009

I went to Hastings this evening to buy my copy of Going Rogue (coworkers gave me a giftcard there for my birthday & did you know that the book sold 300,000 copies on its first day?) and first thing, just as soon as I walked through the door, a youngish employee walked up to me carrying a sign advertising happy hour at their cafe, kinda dancing around with it. That was weird enough. Then she said, “I think I’ll just let Sarah Palin’s book table (at the front of the store, where I was walking) prop up my sign. It’s not good for anything else, right? Haha.” I smiled politely, picked up my copy (one of the dozen or so left on the long table) and walked on.

What do you do in a situation like that? Say, “I’m going to overlook your ignorance and go ahead and make my purchase here, rather than at a more professional establishment.” What in the WORLD? It may not be the first rule, but somewhere near the top is, “Do not make disparaging comments about your product.”

Honey, you are working in a retail store. You sell books, DVDs, CDs, and the occasional cup of coffee. Keyword here? SELL. You SELL. You sell your personality as a retail salesclerk and every product in the establishment. If you have a problem with something you are selling or feel SO STRONGLY about it that you cannot keep your mouth shut around a customer who just walked in the door (I was literally 5 steps inside the store), you need to find yourself a different job.

Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate an employee being knowledgeable about a product. I love when I can ask a bookseller a question and get a good answer. It is so rare to find that anymore. So, yes, your opinion does matter…when your customer asks for it. Even then you should use some tact.

And I’m not just saying this because it’s Palin. I understand that there are a lot of people who don’t like her. This is “I Work in Retail 101″ and a notice to the Hastings in Norman, Oklahoma that you have a rogue employee you might want to get under control. You have a right to your political opinion and a right to share it. But not to customers in your place of business.

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4 comments to Miss Wisabus Goes Rogue on Hastings

Melessa says:

November 19, 2009 at 8:32 am

Amen!

Kim says:

November 21, 2009 at 10:42 am

This post makes me feel justified that I held this book proudly as we waited in line to meet Glenn Beck at his book signing the other night. Which really wasn’t that brave, considering I was surrounded by like-minded people. But what WAS brave was turning all the Clinton/Obama/etc. books around backwards. Just trying to do my part.

Rammi says:

November 21, 2009 at 3:01 pm

I want to read that book. Is it any good?

• Elizabeth says:

  November 21, 2009 at 4:54 pm

  The bits of it that I have read are good, but I am waiting to dig in after the book signing in December. I have to keep track of my receipt between now and then and I know if I open the book I’ll lose it