Retail

 I don't think I have mentioned yet: after being unemployed between December and May I have managed to get myself a job in the Salvation Army uniform shop ( I say uniform shop because it's easy but we also sell music, books, CDs, flags and other things....)

The shop manager has worked in various roles in the shop for 30 years so the customers know her and very often want her individual attention. It can  be quite amusing.

I recently answered the phone 

"Salvationist Supplies, Kylie speaking"

I recognised the "Where's Carolyn?" stutter before the caller said anything.

"Who's this?" she almost demanded

"Kylie"

"Is Carolyn there?"

I told her that Carolyn was on another call but I could help.

"Well I'm Victoria Snodgrass" 

I said yes, wondering what I was supposed to make of this information.

"Do you know my family?  Margaret Buttleworth is my sister"

I reassured the woman that I knew of Margaret Buttleworth and she seemed happier about that. She proceeded to make an order of shirts to take with her on a last minute trip to Africa. Margaret would be coming to pick up the order later in the morning.

"Is James there?" came the next little name drop.

"Jamie is here, he is with a customer"

"The last time we bought things for Africa, James sent them directly and gave us a discount on the tax"

I informed her that as we were not posting the order to Africa, we had to treat it as an Australian sale, including tax.

She went on to request an itemised invoice so tax could be claimed back at the airport.

When Margaret came to pick up the order, she wanted to add a shirt. We did that. 

And then came the long call to Victoria, waiting for a credit card number to pay for the additional shirt. Victoria was busy directing tradesmen. During the wait, Margaret chatted about taking the grandkids to Victoria's harbourside apartment for New Years Eve parties and the rigours of obtaining a good firework viewing point with the hoi polloi at the local park.

Eventually, the credit card number was supplied and the (second) sale processed. Then came a new request: could we make up a new invoice to cover the entire sale rather than have to take two separate invoices to claim the tax.

At this point I would have said two invoices would have to be good enough but Jamie was obliging and produced a new invoice. Victoria need not be burdened by two sheets of paper, a single sheet was all she needed in her quest to claim Goods and Services Tax back from the Australian government. 

The tax on the additional shirt totalled $4!