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video, un: draconium

[ It's been a rough day at work for Kaiba, apparently. He's back at the inn after a long shift at the trinket shop. His small blue dragon is off playing in the background, apparently amused by the oddities her partner brings home. ]

If I ever meet the person who first coined the phrase 'the customer is always right', they'll rue the day I find them. I've seen how the base engine of the business world churns...and I regret everything.

But as much as I'd love to walk away from the grind and start a business that better suits me, I lack the capital for that escape route. So I'd appreciate any other employment recommendations...or, failing that, advice on the art of politely tolerating customer mistreatment.

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There are few enough businesses here, I would assume you can simply ask them to leave and come back when they've decided to behave respectfully. There doesn't seem to be a massive competitive market.

[ Since there's only like.. a couple of cities, it's not like anyone has to compete with Starbucks. Midorima is absolutely certain you could be a cranky clerk and get away with it to an extent. ]

People will put up with anything if they need what you have.

[ This is a philosophy Midorima lives his life based on, since he's a "miracle" basketballer back home. ]

Hm. To an extent, that's true...but ultimately it's my employer's decision.

[ He's not all that happy about it, but. Such is life. ]

And I think I go beyond cranky fairly easily. Bartering is the norm in this world to an extent, but a single rat tooth for an entire gaming set is hardly a fair trade.

Is it enchanted to do anything?

[ If not, Midorima agrees. Even if he's not much of a gamer himself (though he's competitive enough he could certainly be dragged into it, particularly since his basketball partner collects cards for enjoyment so he can demand he teach him) even he knows that sounds like someone trying to trade trash for something nice. ]

No. It's just a potion ingredient. An exceptionally common one.

I'm still working on a foundation in alchemy, but one of the first things learned is that the strongest transformations come from quality ingredients. I was insulted.

But expressing that professionally is an art.

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accurately - 2021-02-02 08:46 (UTC) - Expand

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accurately - 2021-02-05 10:45 (UTC) - Expand

[Awe, lookit the cute little dragon having a good time. It certainly makes the smile more apparent in Kei's voice.]

Well, you may not have to work a job that deals directly with customers. [Not that he can understand the struggle; he likes working with people.] What if you work in smithing? Or being a sanitation worker? I worked that for a while back home, and I never ran into having to work with people then.

[Except for Towa. Which was... fine, given the boy's odd set of beliefs.]

I'm an inventor---I work with small wire, and I've welded occasionally, but I'm not sure the skill transfers to smithing.

{ He's not even going to entertain the other idea. But...
]

Have you seen anyone offering apprenticeships?

An inventor is great! I bet you can use that to help out here. We have devices, after all.

I don't think I've seen anyone, but I imagine a place like this would. What would you be interested in apprenticing? I can help you look.

Forging. Brewing. Anything that'll get me out of customer service.

[ He's...trying...to adapt his skills to the era. ]

Let me know if you see any openings. I'll keep looking too.

I... was gonna recommend working with horses, since they usually don't give you crap. [Usually.] Then I remembered this crazy woman who showed up one day and demanded I give her a horse to ride off with, even though she never rode one in her life. Started yelling at me and everything.

Where are you working now, anyway?

A trinkets and oddities shop. There's nothing powerful here, it's just stuff to mess around with. I'm supposed to upsell these as precious ancient relics.

[ He sighs. ]

Doesn't surprise me that people care so little, even when the horse's life is concerned.

Sooo, you're scamming people, in other words? You sure you should be telling us that upfront?

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blue_ice - 2021-02-04 03:20 (UTC) - Expand

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birdflipping - 2021-02-06 22:41 (UTC) - Expand

You sound like a pain in the ass so I don't have any recommendations.

Thank you for your input. I'm perfectly capable of giving respect if I'm treated like a human.

That's not how it works when you work in a customer facing business. You have to be the one to start showing respect.

If you're polite and respectful, you can even tell customers when they're wrong.

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blue_ice - 2021-01-29 18:12 (UTC) - Expand

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disasdeer - 2021-02-05 05:25 (UTC) - Expand

Man, let me tell you something.

If you ever get a customer that knows exactly what they want, they're either completely wrong or some kind of crazy godsend.

Do you know how many people I've had to talk down from buying gaudy, jewel-encrusted weapons? Or insisting that a particular set of armor was too heavy for them?

The saying needs to be changed to 'The Customer needs to shut the hell up and listen to the professional.'

[ That gets a small laugh from him. ]

Assuming the jewels didn't have any beneficial enchantments. I understand wanting to flaunt wealth in peacetime, but that makes you a bigger target.

With all the wannabe knights that must be tough.

They wish. They were just baubles. And I get it; sometimes you want to flaunt what you've got. But a battle with your life on the line is absolutely not the place. As a blacksmith, it's my job to make sure you, you know, come back from a fight. No sense losing a customer to something like that.

At least, that was back on my world. Are there a lot of people wanting to be knights here?

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forgeabettertomorrow - 2021-02-04 07:14 (UTC) - Expand

I don’t know if serving lattes and espressos in a cafe is a viable choice for you, but if the customer happens to be acting super rude to you, it’s either they are in a foul mood at the moment, they are on a hurry, or they are actually terrible people.

I am really sorry that you have to deal with some demanding customers, Kaiba. Even I have to deal with that kind of customers as a barista myself, my cafe co-workers also have to deal with them as well.

I could blend drinks, possibly...

[ He can just imagine the sugary concoctions and the fights over them. ]

Do you find people are worse in the mornings before coffee?

Possibly, some people can’t seem to function without having a cup of coffee. It usually depends on the person in question and their preferences.

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blue_ice - 2021-01-29 18:13 (UTC) - Expand

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phoenixwiz - 2021-01-29 19:32 (UTC) - Expand

If you are a businessman, Mr. Kaiba, could you not offer your advice to other businesses? [She's suggesting he be a consultant but doesn't know the word for it.]

And I have not heard the phrase "the customer is always right." But that sounds silly, no one can always be right. If the customer said the sky was green and grass was blue, that does not make them right simply because they are a customer.

[Alice, no, sweetie, that's not what that means.]

I plan to start my own when I have the money. But I'm stuck working here until then.

[ He laughs gently at her interpretation of the phrase. ]

You're right. In my case, what happens is the customer saying 'But i saw an ad for pink grass, so I demand you sell me pink grass immediately! At a 90 percent discount because I had to wait so long!"

And I end up in the back room with a pile of grass and a paintbrush.

What shall you do, Mr. Kaiba?

Oh, well, it is very easy to paint grass, at the very least. Your client must be someone near to the Queen of Hearts. She only wished for her roses to be red.

But I do understand. Why would someone act that way?

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madcuriosity - 2021-02-04 06:14 (UTC) - Expand

Where I'm from, if someone's treatin' you wrong, it'd be pretty customary to take'em outside and battle'm. Wasn't too odd to see a manager and a customer goin' at it in the middle of a shop or sommat.
Ruckus always caused a mess, but that's just how it was done.

'Course... seein' as how that's pretty much against the rules around here, you could always practice bitin' the inside of your cheek and givin'em a fake smile.
I doubt you'll find a place that's any different than where you are now 'less you make it yourself.

[Marnie's got a few... strong opinions about employment.]

Oh, the plan's to make it myself eventually. But I need far more in savings than what I have for that.

[ Hence...the work. ]

I used to resolve conflicts with duels as well. I doubt it would fly in most cases, but...a game challenge might be worth trying for the right customer.

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