This is a true story: Last Tuesday, December 30th, I stopped by a local liquor store to pick up a bottle of champagne to celebrate the New Year. I typically buy a bottle of champagne only once or twice a year and it’s usually the same brand: Moet & Chandon White Star.
I made my way to the champagne aisle and spent a minute or two scanning the shelves but did not see my favorite brand. I didn’t see any store employees in the aisles, so I returned to the front of the store and noticed a cashier who was busy doing side work because there were no customers checking out at the time.
Here’s our conversation, pretty much word-for-word:
Me: “Do you know if you carry Moet & Chandon White Star Champagne?”
Her: “Did you see it on the shelf?”
Me: “No.”
Her: “Then we don’t carry it.”
About that time, I recalled there was a cooler in one corner of the store where they stocked chilled white wines. Perhaps they also stocked chilled champagne? Sure enough, I discovered a whole row of bottles of Moet & Chandon White Star Champagne priced at $52 per bottle.
I reached for the bottle but then decided not to reward this store—and the poor customer service I received—with the purchase. Instead, on my way out I informed the cashier that, should another customer ask, they did in fact carry Moet & Chandon White Star Champagne. I mentioned that it sells for $52 per bottle and they’ll find it in the cooler.
She seemed surprised that I wasn’t buying a bottle though had she really thought about it, she wouldn’t have been surprised at all.
