I Didn't Forget-It's Story Time

Did you remember that it’s Saturday? It’s a good thing I have a good memory so I know that it’s story time! Having a good memory is very important with what I do but there are times when even a good memory does not help.

Now, I can remember a lot of things. I know where every item on my shelves comes from. I can remember what all of the different products I carry do. I can even remember that some combination products would have the specific herb/amino/etc., which you are looking for. I can remember all this little, seemingly, inconsequential stuff. Don’t ask me to remember your name, that’s not inconsequential, so I have actually have to work at that one.

I bring this all up as a gentleman came in yesterday asking if I remembered him. “No, sorry, but I do not.” He said he had come in like a year or two ago. I apologize again for not remembering him. ‘Cause I’m supposed to remember someone who has only come in one other time a year or two ago. Let me add here that we have only been open for just under two years. He then proceeds to tell me it might have been 3 years ago and asks me how long I’ve worked here. I proceed to say that I’ve (meaning me and the store) have been here for just under two years. He then says, “Well, you must not have been working here then.” What?! I’m the only one here and have been so for just under two years, you could not have possibly come in three years ago. This is all said in my head to myself. There are a lot of things that I say to myself in my head that no customer ever wants to hear. It would not be appropriate. I digress. I finish ringing him up, say thank you, and send him on his way.

This brought up all the memories of past customers who would come in and just had to have something they purchased many, many moons ago. The conversation would go something like:

Customer: “Do you have that product I bought 6 months ago?’

Me:  “Do you know the name of it?”

Customer: “No, but I know I got it here and you helped me when I was here.”

Me: “Do you know what it was for?”

Customer: “No, but I got it here. It was in a dark bottle, “

Me: to myself, “all our stuff comes in a dark bottle”

Customer: “it had a yellow label,”

Me: to myself again, “that narrows it down to just a few brands”

Customer:  “and it had a purple lid.”

Me: thinking frantically of all the items that might have that description and then showing them every single product to see if they recognize it

Sometimes we would get lucky and they would find what they were looking for. Most times we would have no clue and would just have to start over. The best thing I ever did to help solve this problem was to get a point of sale system and start a rewards program. Now, if the customer were in the rewards program, we could look it up and find just the right thing. Oh, happy, happy day! All bow down to the POS that saves us from confusion.

So, I will end this with a Public Service Announcement, don’t assume we remember everyone we meet and please keep the bottle or take a picture so you can show it to the clerk. We greatly appreciate it.

Now to remember what I’m supposed to do next………..

            Until next time,

                        Have a Healthy Day