I went to Auckland, NZ recently. I did a lot of shopping there.
I got annoyed at a lot of shop-assistants. When I found something with no price tag I would go to ask a shop-assisstant for the price. They would almost always reply ‘the price is on the tag’.
The price was not there. Why do you think I asked?!
I actually noticed that a few of my acquantances and friends had this bad habit also. The bad habit being answering questions with ‘it is just there’, when I ask for the bottle-opener for example. The bottle opener was not just there- it turned out to be at the neighbours.
I do not know if there is a name for this annoying practice.
And can someone help me get more vitriol to put this in the pit?
I think there is a related phenomenon: when people demand “Where is the such-and-such?” before they actually tried to look for it and it was in the obvious place all along. So for everytime you ask an obvious question and someone gives you a stupid answer, rest assured that somewhere someone is asking a stupid question that has an obvious answer. There is balance and harmony in the univerise.
Ohhhhhhmmmmmm…
I’ve gotten that sort of thing when something is in the sale flyer and not on the shelf.
I’ll be standing in front of the display for tapes and ask “Where is the one on sale” “It’s right there”
me: “Where exactly?” “Show me the ad”
me: “This one” “We seem to be out”
me: “Are there more somewhere” “maybe in the back”
me: “Would you check for me?” “I could check for you. Do you want me to do that?”
me: “Yes…” “I’ll have to go to the back”
me: “…” finally they go, and yes there’s a whole case back there
One related thing is when they ask if they can help but don’t want to move to do so.
Yesterday I was in the hardware store, looking hard at the end-cap display while the clerk was in the aisle.
He says “Something you can’t find?”
I say “I’m looking for something that was here yesterday”
He, not moving “Maybe I can help, what is it?”
Me, pointing, “One of these but slightly smaller”
He, not moving “What is it?”
Me, pointing “I don’t know what they are called, it’s one of these but smaller”
He, not moving, “show me”
Me, “They are locked in the case”
He, not moving “Would you like me to unlock the case?”
Me, to another clerk passing by “Do you have one of these but smaller?”
He, “You mean the cartridge removal tool?”
Me, “Yes, if that’s what you call it.”
New guy “Yes, that’s what it’s called”
Me, “So?”
New guy “So what?”
Me “Do you have the smaller size?”
New guy “That first clerk should be able to help you with that”
All leave the stage. Curtain comes down.
I’m pretty sure Home Depot has this move patented and trains it into all their employees. I think I have that exact conversation at least once a month there.
Yeah, the customers where I work. All day long.
This is a common issue between my husband and I… I’ll mishear something, or want clarification, so I’ll ask him a question, and he either gives me a non-answer or answers as if I should already know the answer.
I don’t know how many times I’ve had to remind him that if I knew the answer to my question, I wouldn’t have asked the question in the first place!
He usually apologizes; I think most of the time, he doesn’t even realise he’s doing it. It still pisses me off, though!
The reverse situation also needs a name. Scene: at home, with (now) ex-wife who’s ordering something from a catalogue …
Ex: “Do me a favour - could you get me my credit card?”
Me: “Sure - where is it?”
Ex: “It’s in my purse.”
Me: “And where’s your purse?”
Ex: “Where I always keep it - in my handbag!”
Me: “And where’s your handbag?”
Ex: “I think I hung it on the hall-stand … oh wait, it might still be in the car … or did I take it upstairs? Let me think …”
Give her credit, she didn’t mind being teased about that, since it happened so often it became an in-joke. It’s certainly not the reason we divorced!