People are so wierd

[trystinn]

Just received a phone call that went something like this.

H: My boss wants to know if you've heard of those "What to Expect When You're Expecting" books. You know those books?
T: Yes, of course. That's a very popular series.
H: So you have them in stock?
T: Yes, I have it.
H: Do you have it in Chinese?
T: We don't carry Chinese language books. Out of curiosity, do you need it in Mandarin or Cantonese?
H: What are those?
T: Two of the main Chinese languages.
H: Oh. I'll ask the boss. Oh, he's eating so I'll ask him later. So can you get them in Chinese?

Now, let's take a second. First off, she doesn't even know which specific Chinese language we're talking about. There's quite a few, and this is especially important in character-driven languages like the Chinese family group. I checked our distributor and Amazon, just out of curiosity, but couldn't find anything.

T: No, miss, I'm sorry. I cannot order any books in Chinese. The only other written language our distributor carries is Spanish.
H: So you can't just order something like it in Chinese? Maybe by another author?
T: No, ma'm. English or Spanish only.
H: Well, could you do some research and call me back with someone who does?
T: No, miss, if I can't get it from our distributor then I cannot order it for you.
H: What I mean is - can you find some website where I can order it?
T: No. I recommend you try Amazon China or ask folks who read Chinese for their recommendations.

*head explodes*

This reminds me of the gal who wanted me to order a book "in sign language". Took me a few seconds to realize she wanted something in braille but she kept insisting it was called sign language because it was in "signs".

Comments

[lore-of-lore.livejournal.com]

Can this one be crossposted to customers suck as a WTF? lol. Obviously that woman needs a personal shopper. Maybe you should have told her "Of course I can research that for you - on my own time which will cost you $__/hr, plus the cost of the book, shipping and delivery."

[rimrunner.livejournal.com]

Welllll, as I understand it there's basically no difference in the written language aside from some colloquialisms. There are variant writing systems, though.

[formerlyfb.livejournal.com]

I suspect that these were people to whom books were foreign (not as in Mandarin, or Malay, but as in "what is a book?). They were shopping for someone else. There are times when I fear that we are truly in a post literate world. And then I remember, that there will always be people who love and hoard books, and that the other technologies, so beloved today, will be unusable in 100 years time. But if we teach our grandchildren how to read, the books will live! There, now we have a mission!

[wild-heart.livejournal.com]

You were far more polite than I would have been.

[tryst-inn.livejournal.com]

Did I ever tell you about the furtive kid who came in looking for the "Satanic Bible - the real one?"

That took awhile.

[wild-heart.livejournal.com]

Well of course it took a while! I'm sure you had to stop laughing, first.