Well well, I have found a small retail business that apparently is thriving in this economy, and so much so that they don't need customers. I stopped by Cartridge World thinking I'd check them out for printer ink and maybe save some money. (Why does a tiny piece of plastic with a teaspoon of ink in it cost more than a Xerox copier?) I found the store with its red neon OPEN sign on, and headed in. There was a customer being helped by one employee, and the other came toward me as soon as I got in the door. I was pleased to get quick service.
What I got instead was "I'm closed."
"Closed?"
"Yeah, we close at five." Not sorry, we're closed. Just closed.
I glanced at my watch. Five minutes to five. I checked it against the clock in the car. Five to five. I checked the time on my cell phone. Five to five. I figure it would have taken about 2 minutes max to hand me a cartridge and take my money, and he with no customer service skills could have still been gone by closing time.
By 5:07 I was at Target, where the employees were friendly and helpful. I bought my ink and 57 dollars worth of other stuff just to prove I don't need Cartridge World Discount Ink Clerk Boy.
But I did save that flyer his boss gave me last time she stopped by my office trying to round up business - I can't wait to see her again.
