by Cheyenne Crossett

Created on: February 03, 2007   Last Updated: May 01, 2007

My experience with stupid questions I've heard from customers at work has kind of a humorous twist to it in that not only did the customer look a little foolish, but so did I.

I had only been working at the Simoniz Car Wash and Express Lube a few days when this event took place, and I was under the impression that my slip-ups had finally come to and end and that I'd found my 'groove', if you will. I was a Tire Checker and Ticket Writer in the shop so all I had to do was greet the customers, write down thier information and preferred service package (because each one was priced differently), invite them to wait inside, check thier tires, and then give them their invoices when they printed out. Apparently, I hadn't taken into consideration that someone would ask me for specifics as to what services and perks we provided. This is where it gets a little ridiculous...

One day, a lady pulls up in her car and before I even have a chance to recite the same welcome wagon speech I'd rehearsed for everyone else, she inquires: "Do I get a free car wash with my oil change?" The question seemed harmless enough but I didn't know the answer - it wasn't like I'd ever needed to know before! So, as always when in doubt, I asked my Supervisor and fellow employee (who also happened to be my love interest at the time AND the one who got me the job). Neither said a word; instead they simply looked at one another, then back at me, and simultaneously pointed upward at what I then realized was a giant banner draped across the front of the shop which broadcasted the words FREE WASH WITH EVERY OIL CHANGE! in bright yellow letters. I couldn't have felt more foolish. I suppose the only thing that denied insult from adding itself to injury was the fact that while I spend all day with my back to the bomb shell banner, the lady in her car would have been facing it dead on - damn her poor attention to detail! But, hey, at least it was funny - and humbling!

And I thought being the only girl in the shop was the worst of my alienation! :-)

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