Comments on: Not a bricklayer, not an escalator, not a physicist, Jim. Just a tired bookseller. http://www.bipolarlawyercook.net/2010/06/not-a-bricklayer-not-an-escalator-not-a-physicist-jim/ Wed, 15 Jun 2011 04:07:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Leah http://www.bipolarlawyercook.net/2010/06/not-a-bricklayer-not-an-escalator-not-a-physicist-jim/comment-page-1/#comment-25256 Leah Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:48:35 +0000 http://www.bipolarlawyercook.net/?p=1936#comment-25256 I hope the coming weeks are not so hectic and that you get a vacation in this summer. I love how the new Star Trek movie gave a reason for McCoy's nickname. : ) I hope the coming weeks are not so hectic and that you get a vacation in this summer.

I love how the new Star Trek movie gave a reason for McCoy’s nickname. : )

]]> By: Jenn @ Juggling Life http://www.bipolarlawyercook.net/2010/06/not-a-bricklayer-not-an-escalator-not-a-physicist-jim/comment-page-1/#comment-25247 Jenn @ Juggling Life Wed, 23 Jun 2010 02:49:51 +0000 http://www.bipolarlawyercook.net/?p=1936#comment-25247 As tiring as it can be it seems like this is something you're really good at. As tiring as it can be it seems like this is something you’re really good at.

]]> By: Gwyn http://www.bipolarlawyercook.net/2010/06/not-a-bricklayer-not-an-escalator-not-a-physicist-jim/comment-page-1/#comment-25213 Gwyn Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:30:46 +0000 http://www.bipolarlawyercook.net/?p=1936#comment-25213 <i>Where’s the post office?” “How do I get to X?” “What’s the square root of pi?” (Okay, the last one might be a mild exag­ger­a­tion, but barely.) I have been asked the most irrel­e­vant, unre­lated ques­tions hav­ing NOTHING TO DO WHATSOEVER WITH BOOKS AND MY BOOKSTORE by a con­stant influx of peo­ple, and it’s been exhaust­ing.</i> Honestly, next time someone does that to you, refer them to your local library. That *is* what we librarians are for, and most libraries now-a-days have chat or text answer services so they don't even have to come in. They get their questions answered, the library gets some PR, and you get to not have to deal with them. Win-win-win. Where’s the post office?” “How do I get to X?” “What’s the square root of pi?” (Okay, the last one might be a mild exag­ger­a­tion, but barely.) I have been asked the most irrel­e­vant, unre­lated ques­tions hav­ing NOTHING TO DO WHATSOEVER WITH BOOKS AND MY BOOKSTORE by a con­stant influx of peo­ple, and it’s been exhaust­ing.

Honestly, next time someone does that to you, refer them to your local library. That *is* what we librarians are for, and most libraries now-a-days have chat or text answer services so they don’t even have to come in.

They get their questions answered, the library gets some PR, and you get to not have to deal with them. Win-win-win.

]]> By: Lisa http://www.bipolarlawyercook.net/2010/06/not-a-bricklayer-not-an-escalator-not-a-physicist-jim/comment-page-1/#comment-25134 Lisa Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:07:34 +0000 http://www.bipolarlawyercook.net/?p=1936#comment-25134 I really shouldn't take it personally when I've spent ages trying to figure out what a customer wants and then they tell me they'll go buy it off amazon because it'll be cheaper. I always do though. I also can't bear customers who treat me as if I am stupid. Or too young to know what I'm talking about. I get that quite a lot, customers who want to know about education books for their kids but won't take my advice because I look young (I'm 25; I can't pass for 18 yet) and so wait for me to leave and then ask one of my older-looking colleagues. We have a few regular customers like you described. There's one gentleman who is housebound and call every day to speak to us. He has definite opinions about who he'll let help him and if those people are too busy, he'll just keep ringing back and ringing back. This has been known to go on all day. Also, Graham Greene guy has now become a regular customer. Apparently I was too nice and too helpful. I really shouldn’t take it personally when I’ve spent ages trying to figure out what a customer wants and then they tell me they’ll go buy it off amazon because it’ll be cheaper. I always do though.

I also can’t bear customers who treat me as if I am stupid. Or too young to know what I’m talking about. I get that quite a lot, customers who want to know about education books for their kids but won’t take my advice because I look young (I’m 25; I can’t pass for 18 yet) and so wait for me to leave and then ask one of my older-looking colleagues.

We have a few regular customers like you described. There’s one gentleman who is housebound and call every day to speak to us. He has definite opinions about who he’ll let help him and if those people are too busy, he’ll just keep ringing back and ringing back. This has been known to go on all day.

Also, Graham Greene guy has now become a regular customer. Apparently I was too nice and too helpful.

]]> By: CTJen http://www.bipolarlawyercook.net/2010/06/not-a-bricklayer-not-an-escalator-not-a-physicist-jim/comment-page-1/#comment-25128 CTJen Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:48:21 +0000 http://www.bipolarlawyercook.net/?p=1936#comment-25128 This is exactly why people should always be nice to each other--because you have no idea what burden is being carried by the other person. My favorite spin on Doctor McCoy's catch phrase came from a comedian whose name I can't recall. "I'm a doctor, not a FLOOR WAX!" followed by "He's dead, Jim! But look at that shine!" LOL This is exactly why people should always be nice to each other–because you have no idea what burden is being carried by the other person.

My favorite spin on Doctor McCoy’s catch phrase came from a comedian whose name I can’t recall. “I’m a doctor, not a FLOOR WAX!” followed by “He’s dead, Jim! But look at that shine!”

LOL

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