Sold Out

Sold Out. It's a common phrase in customer service. It's also a phrase that turns a completely sane person into a screaming, profanity using, psychotic lunatic. But it makes for a good story to tell.

Crayons

At the office supply store 'Back to School' was the biggest time of the year. It's when the store made the most money and when we were the busiest. Because we were so busy, unfortunately the copy center had to help ring up the customers.

A little note about back to school is that there is always a sale. Even if the sale is shitty, it's still a sale. The biggest thing for the store were the crayons. Each box of crayons was one penny. Granted, they weren't Crayola crayons but since a five year old is only going to draw with them or eat them, they really wouldn't know the difference.

Due to the fact that crayons were so cheap, they went fast. They went on sale weeks before 'back to school' actually happened. People who worked in hospitals, teachers, and parents with way too many kids were coming to the store in droves. Obviously we sold out of crayons instantly (even with the 10 per customer limit) and when back to school night actually happened, all hell broke loose.

Working Girl/All Other Employees: We're SOLD OUT.

I feel as if when we said "sold out" time had started to move much more slowly and our voices became distorted in the customers eyes. Soooooold ooooouuuutttttt.

Customer #1: What do you mean you're sold out?
Customer #2: Do you have more in the back?
Customer #3: Well why would it be advertised if you were sold out?

*Side Note: An advertisement for a corporation with over 100 locations is not specific to just 1 location. People never seem to understand that.

Customer #4: When is your next shipment?
Customer #5: Oooh Oooh Oooh AH AH!!! (begins to throw feces)

If something is sold out then it is sold out. No amount of begging, pleading, cursing or screaming is going to make 1000 boxes of penny crayons appear.

No Room At The Inn

As a hotel employee, if you work in a nice enough hotel, you will say the phrase 'We're Sold Out' at least 10 times in a 2 month span. At my hotel, we say it at least 10 times a day. That does not go over well with people.

Working Girl/All Other Employees: We're SOLD OUT.
Customer #1: Really?
Customer #2: Why?
Customer #3: WELL WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO NOW!?
Customer #4: But I just called 3 hours ago.
Customer #5: Are you sure?
Customer #6: What about just 1 bed?
Customer #7: So you don't have ANY rooms?
Customer #8: I just saw that you have rooms online.
Customer #9: Well do you think someone will cancel right now?
Customer #10: FUUUUUCCCCCKKKKK!!!

This is not an exaggeration. These are all things potential guests have either said to me, one of my coworkers or one of my employees in person or over the phone. People do not like you to be sold out.

It's a weird concept. You want to stay in a nice hotel that obviously other people want to stay in as well but yet you don't want the hotel to ever have enough guests to sell out. If a hotel never sells out, the hotel must not be all that great.

Hotels with rooms for $500 a night sell out because they are nice hotels and people are willing to pay that much for everything they offer. There are some hotels with rooms for $50 a night and they have availability. Why do you think that is?