A Customer Service job...

makes you lose faith in people.

Seriously, I think it's created a bit of a cynic out of me. For example, when a lady today brought up a children's hat without a tag and asked for the lower price of some of the other hats on the rack, I immediately doubted her honestly. I went and grabbed a matching hat priced at $3 more, and explained to her that was the price. Sure, perhaps she might have just picked up the hat and brought it to me, not knowing the actual price. But the cynic in me (who no longer trusts people) immediately thought that she must have pulled the tag off, and specifically requested the lower price, so that she could "fool" me.

And a week or so ago a man brought up 2 funky wire necklaces packaged in the same plastic packaging, priced as only 1. I honestly wouldn't have noticed this man was about to sneak 2 of the necklaces out (instead of the 1 he was buying), unless Jared happened to open the package and catch the difference. Could it have been a mistake? Or did he put that extra necklace in, tear off its tag, and try to pass it as one? My question, exactly...

So, what I'm saying is...

I don't trust customers.

And anyone who asks for further discounts might as well just be stabbing me with a knife. Ouch! I even told a guy yesterday, "It's people like you that are putting me out of business!" And, we both laughed about it--but I have to admit it's the honest truth.

People want "Alaska Made" or "US Made," which I have often tried to give them. They also SAY they want "quality" and "useful" products...but the truth is that they'd rather buy a $5 piece of junk that says "Alaska" on it (that will shortly after go in a garage sale back at home), than buy a nice quality souvenir that may actually have a useful function for years to come. And I feel that turning my business into a souvenir knickknack shop, or "fine" jewelry store, is akin to sleeping with the enemy. No interest. No thank you!

And that ends my rant today...