Have you ever called the Target in Albany, CA? Were they out of stock on the item you were calling about? Well, it turns out they might have been lying. Reader David was at said Target waiting by the dressing rooms for his wife to finish trying on clothes when he overheard an interesting conversation. From his email:

Two employees where gabbing with one another. One took a call. She listened patiently to the customers who gave a detailed description of an item….The customer wanted to know if a item was in stock. She said, “Yes. I’ll check.” and put the call on hold. Without so much as a check against a computer for the item, she continued her insipid conversation with the other employee. About 30 seconds later, she picked up the phone and said that they were out of stock.

According to David, the employee then explained her technique of never checking to see if things were really in stock to her coworker, while standing right in front of David.

“Yeah. That’s what I do. When someone calls looking for something, I don’t check. I put them on hold for 30 seconds and tell them we’re out.”

On his way out of the Target, David stopped by customer service and had a little chat with the manager…who promptly marched over to the dressing room with fire in her eyes. Bravo to David for taking the time to politely report the lazy employee. Maybe the next time someone calls the Albany Target, the “swearing” Baby Bratz Dolls will be “in stock.” —MEGHANN MARCO

David’s email inside.

David writes:

Was with my wife as she was trying on some clothes at the Target in
Albany, CA yesterday.

As I waited, I determined that the employees in the women’s dressing
area were also tasked with fielding calls from customers – e.g. stock
checks and the like.

Two employees where gabbing with one another. One took a call. She
listened patiently to the customers who gave a detailed description of
an item. The employee repeated the description back to the customer.
The customer wanted to know if a item was in stock. She said, “Yes.
I’ll check.” and put the call on hold. Without so much as a check
against a computer for the item, she continued her insipid conversation
with the other employee. About 30 seconds later, she picked up the
phone and said that they were out of stock.

This seemed weird – I’d just seen a full display rack of the item the
customer asked about.

Then I heard the one employee tell the other – paraphrased: “Yeah.
That’s what I do. When someone calls looking for something, I don’t
check. I put them on hold for 30 seconds and tell them we’re out.”

Of course, these employees are idiots. They lie to their customers on
the phone – while other customers are in their presence. Then, they have
the audacity to loudly chat about their technique in front of the same
customers.

On my way out, I stopped at customer service and asked for a manager.
Gave the manager the info, and she immediately marched over to the
dressing area. She looked ready to cut limbs as she turned… I didn’t
stay to find out what happened.

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