Since the bookstore where I work is not yet open (the Grand Opening is this Friday), I have been sadly short of amusing customer anecdotes. I can, however, assure you that my coworkers are almost as amusing as their fellows on the other side of the counter. For instance – and I hope you will indulge my amusement at the expense of the older generation – a lady with grandchildren – inquired, quite earnestly, during the digital aspect of our training, “What is an upload? Is it like a download except backwards?”
Yes, actually, it is. A download is when files go from the internet to your computer, and an upload is when files go from your computer to the internet.
And, “What’s an MP3? Do you use it with aTunes?”
An MP3 is a music file. You can play them with a music software program that is actually called iTunes.
But what I wonder is how this person will really be able to help customers who want any product that will require her to use search software to locate. I really do think that some level of computer literacy – and I’ll even grant you an ignorance of technical terminology – is required for any kind of customer service these days. Scenario:
“Why isn’t the search program opening?”
… You have to double click.
On a brighter note, we sell the very awesome Sony Reader. I don’t want to own one, being still too much enamored of the ink-on-paper idea, but I did enjoy playing with it today.
Mostly About Books 