A Salesperson Who Acted Impatiently
Question: I went to an exclusive women’s wear shop to buy a certain dress, but they didn’t have it in my size in the color I wanted. The salesperson suggested I pay in advance and order the dress, and that’s what I did. A few days later, on a very stormy day, they called to tell me the dress had arrived. When I said I’d come by later in the week, the salesperson snapped at me. She said the dress is getting in their way, and if I don’t come immediately, she’ll put it on the shelf, even though I’d paid for it already. She didn’t soften up even when I threatened to call the shop owner, whom I know well and who I know cares very much that her customers are treated nicely. Am I allowed to call her?
Answer: It’s important to recall the exact words the salesperson said to the customer in that phone call. If she said she can put aside the dress just for that day, and if the customer doesn’t come, she’ll put the dress on the rack, pinning on it a note that it’s sold and allowing other customers to try it on, then she can’t be blamed.
But if the conversation was precisely as written in the question, the questioner may speak to the store owner and tell her it’s important to set aside a special place in the shop for pre-ordered, prepaid-for dresses, so as to avoid a situation in which the buyer must come the same day the garment arrives, regardless of the weather. She can then share what happened to her with the salesperson, adding that apparently, the shop doesn’t have a special assigned place for garments that were pre-ordered and prepaid for.
RABBI HERSCHEL SCHACHTER
MISHMERET SHALOM
