Amac Productions

Dust Jackets

Welcome to Listen To This!

If you’re new here, welcome! Every month, I’ll drop a new wild story from all my years working in retail! Names and other identifiers have been changed so everyone may remain anonymous. All terrible customers will be referred to as Karen.

On with the show!

Here at the General Nonsense Store, we discuss what it’s like to work in retail day in and day out! And well, I have a doozy of a story for you this month.

Holiday crazy had finally set in on all the shoppers. This story takes place during the Christmas Crazy when all the customers suddenly forget they’re dealing with real people.

You know those retail workers? They’re human. Try to keep that in mind as you shop. They don’t like being screamed at for things beyond their control.

Which is what happened here on this fine day at the General Nonsense.

A coworker of mine, Stacy, was approached by a customer looking for some help regarding a title we have on display. It’s been given an award. An official stamp of nonsense from our company. Meaning there’s now two versions of the title.

A General Nonsense exclusive and a regular version.

Karen started the exchange off perfectly normally by asking what the hell the difference was.

I mean, she didn’t ask it like that. But the sentiment was there, because the difference isn’t obvious.

Now, Stacy here. Well, she didn’t know beyond the obvious, one is a different color than the other.

So she clarified it can be different from title to title. Sometimes they have sneak peeks for the next one in the series in them. Sometimes, it’s literally just the color difference. Other times, there’s bonus content too. Like a map or poster or something. In order to know, Stacy had to take a closer look at the books.

And it was never established what the difference was, because well, this is when Karen flips the switch and goes full Karen for no reason on Stacy.

She starts in demanding. Not asking anymore – demanding to know why the book has a dust jacket.

Um, because that’s how hardcovers usually come, Karen.

That’s what I would have wanted to say.

Except, Stacy bit her tongue. I’m assuming hard. And answered that it’s just how it is.

Karen told her it was ridiculous that a children’s book has a dust jacket when the kid will just lose it in five seconds, and she shouldn’t have to deal with the jacket. Or pay for it.

How lovely.

If you ever feel the urge to do this to a retail employee, know from the bottom of our hearts, we don’t care.

At all.

We’ll fake it. But you’ll be a story like this as soon as you’re gone.

She wants the dust jacket removed and doesn’t want to pay for it. Stacy suggests taking it off and keeping it somewhere safe before giving it to the child. Which is a pretty fucking amazing thought gifted to you by someone who probably doesn’t give a shit.

But no.

Karen doesn’t want the book jacket to exist.

To have to deal with it.

To have to pay for it.

And I’m pretty sure that’s what it all comes down to – money.

I want to get something for nothing because I am special, and I deserve it and whatever else these people think. That they get something just because they believe they are special.

Newsflash, you’re not.

The book will be the same price regardless of the jacket.

In fact, if you keep bothering me, I’m going to scan the book twice.

I wouldn’t. But it’s what I like to imagine when it comes to these people.

Eventually, Karen walks away. Leaving Stacy alone and another coworker overheard the exchange and commented that that was crazy and they chatted about what happened.

Mind you, nothing they said would spark the lady’s rage when she somehow overhears them talking about the situation.

Sparking her return with another book that is apparently according to Karen published by the same publisher without a book jacket and cover art right on the book itself. It’s a special edition book mind you. One not typically sold, but it’s attached to a popular movie, and well it gets special treatment.

Unlike the other book.

So you know.

Points for knowing nothing about what you’re asking for Karen.

Karen then declares that Stacy is the one making the issue out of things because she was talking about her after she walked away. And she’s not understanding what she wants Stacy to do.

To which, Stacy tries to clarify what Karen’s asking for.

I’m here at this point and overhear some of this conversation which basically goes like the adults in a Charlie Brown special. Just utter nonsense from Karen.

Who keeps demanding that Stacy call the publisher to explain to them why they shouldn’t have book jackets on children’s books.

Which let me tell you something, if you call a major corporation about a small ridiculous issue, they’re promptly filing that in the trash. The person on the other end of the phone – if they even pick up – isn’t even listening to you.

Lady, get a grip.

The publisher doesn’t care.

We don’t care.

We work in a store like this getting yelled at by people like you, no one cares what we think, and we have nothing to do with those decisions. If we made those decisions, we wouldn’t deal with people like you on a daily basis. We’d be sitting in a cushy office somewhere with a great ability to ignore you.

Unlike us, who have to listen to you complain.

I mean, you can feel free to call them yourself, but that’s not our job to tell a major publisher how to publish their books.

Nor is it in my job description here.

So, just go away.

Karen then flips out completely declaring that Stacy isn’t understanding her and she’s the problem and this is not too much to ask for. My goodness while storming off.

Well, jeez lady. It’s nothing to get this upset over either, but somehow, you’ve managed to work yourself into a rage. So….

Maybe you’re the problem here.

Not Stacy.

Stacy – confused and annoyed – about being berated for trying to explain that is not within our control, flips her shit.

I mean it too.

She threw up her hands looking at me and the other managers asking what she could have done to explain it better. Like, there’s nothing.

Nothing Stacy.

Nothing could have made a woman who had already made up her little Karen mind about your lack of help could have made her understand. She wanted what she wanted and she wanted it right now.

And how dare you not comply? I mean, don’t you know who that Karen is?

No one.

Absolutely no one.

Just a thorn in our side during the already super stressful holiday season.

Don’t be this Karen. Be better. Treat the staff at the next store you go to with some care and respect.

Thank you.

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