Why I love Amazon
The other day I went to my local BAM (Books A Million) in search of Patricia A. McKillip's new hardcover Od Magic. Can't find it in the puny sci fi/fantasy section. Look in the lit section. No dice. HEave a huge sigh & wait my turn at the desk. Spend 15 minutes listening to a non-spelling, snail paced clerk order a book for a man with the patience of a saint. Finally, I score a clerk of my own & ask her about the book I want.
"Uh..can you spell that again?" Wait pregnantly. Get led back to the sf/f section. She should be right here." Points to Anne McCaffrey. I remind her, gently, that I'm actually looking for McKillip- which ought to be a short way down the shelf from McCaffrey. Unfortunately, there are none. We schlep back to the desk. The clerk rummages around in the 'puter some more and says,"Well, if you call every few days we can check the shelves for you & you can come & get it."
"Could you reserve one that's already on it's way?"
"Oh no, ma'am, we don't do that."
"Where else might I look for her books?"
"Oh, she's listed in mystery & romance & literature too. She could be anywhere!" This said with a bright, vacant grin. "Happy hunting."
With that I was left to my own devices. It's a wonder BAM makes any money at all at that location it's so disorganized. I never did find the new McKillip.
2 comments:
We don't have a BAM locally, but we do have a disorganized Media Play, I can't tell you the last time I actually looked for books in that store, what a mess.
Well,everyone, I worked for a long time for a BAM competitor & I found the customer service, such as it was, appalling. Unfortunately for me, the service & alphabetization at this store is representative of all of the bookstores in my immediate area- including at my former employer. I've found myself assisting other customers & have also been mistaken for a secret shopper. Which actually was much, mischevous fun!
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