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I almost went to customer service and asked where I should send an invoice for my labor.
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Last week I was working on my kitchen, long story short this was a 4th out of 6 trips I would be making trying to find plumbing fittings that worked with my house.

I am wearing old jeans and a really old Oscar the grouch shirt. They both have paint, and whatever else collects on sacrificial work clothes.

It’s 8:30pm and I’m in the plumbing section of a large hardware store (the blue one not the orange one)looking at fitting when an older couple with a small section of hose walk up and start looking at the wall of fittings.

They look for a few minutes and eventually the guy looks at me and asks “so I’m trying to .... what do you recommend” I looked up like Jim from the office thinking to myself “what?! Me?! Dude I’m trying to figure this stuff out too”.

By shear happenstance I had done what he was trying to do and said he needed to go to lawn and garden on the other side of the building and they sell hose repair/extension kit and it’s super easy, I explained the process and he left that isle.

I turned to leave when another guy hearing our conversation had a plumbing fitting in his hand started right in with his issue. He explained what he was doing and sure enough it was going to take 2 parts but I pointed them out and showed him the stuff. He said thanks and I started down the isle.

But a 3rd person shouted out “hey I have a question too”

All I could think was “where are all the employees?!??” I came back and said I don’t work here to the lady and she said “oh, but your answering questions.” I let her know I was just trying to be helpful.

Not even kidding she just asks away. Funny thing is she is looking for a new refrigerator water line, she was standing next to them, they were labeled “ice maker water line” I asked“those?” And pointed. After a few embarrassed thank yous I left.

I helped 3 customers at a store I DON’T work at. I was really close to asking a manager “what would you say you do here?”

It’s frustrating that these stores staff so far down that customers get desperate enough to ask complete strangers.

Edit: Thanks everyone for the kind words. For the record I LOVE helping and training. I was a trainer at a local maker space and held free classes on woodworking and now continue to do so at my own shop.

For those who work at the big box stores, I feel your pain, I worked at a large (blue polo) electronic store for about a year.

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6 years ago