Boy are you right! My husband went to Penny’s to pick up a gift and he had all the info and couldn’t find what he was looking for so he asked for someone to help. This woman walked in circles a few times then said nope we don’t have it. He called me and I said it’s there just take a second look because according to their internet site their inventory update says they do have the product. He took a couple more minutes at best and found what he was looking. Now the thing is this happens all the time, why I don’t know. When I worked in retail we had to know our products and inventory but not anymore. But it’s the same way with banks doctors offices anywhere you go because there are some people in this world who think they can just get by when working no matter what kind of job they have to do.
Yep. That was the first thing that we learned. Day one, minute one.
Occasionally, I'd get a wierd request from a customer that would stump me ("I see in the flyer that there are Dark Blue, Light Blue, and Medium Blue Widgets, but none in Sky Blue. Can you check in the back?") ... but knowing the stock was what it was all about.
Of course, that was before the internet. I'd think that having instant, lowest-cost competition would cause brick and mortars to step up their game a bit, but maybe not.....