At Walmart

On his very first day working at a big-box store, a young guy was paired up with a seasoned employee for training.

“Watch and learn,” the trainer said. “I’ll handle the first two customers so you can see how it’s done. You’ll help the third one.”

First up, a woman walked in.
“Hi there, can I help you find anything?” the trainer asked politely.
“Yes, I need a garden hose,” she replied.
“No problem—would you like a 10, 20, or 30-foot hose?”
“30 feet,” she said.

He walked her over to the aisle. “While you’re here, how about a lawnmower?”
She raised an eyebrow. “Why would I need that?”
“Well,” he grinned, “once you water your lawn, the grass will grow—and then you’ll need to cut it.”
She laughed. “You know what? You’re right. I’ll take one.”

The trainee was seriously impressed.

Next, a man approached.
“Good afternoon, how can I help you?”
“I need some fertilizer.”
“Great—10, 20, or 30-pound bag?”
“Let’s go with 20.”

After leading the man to the gardening section, the trainer added, “Interested in a lawnmower?”
The customer blinked. “Why?”
“Well, once that fertilizer kicks in, your lawn’s going to look like a jungle. You’ll want something to keep it in check.”
“Fair point,” the man nodded. “I’ll grab one.”

The new hire was blown away. This guy’s a sales ninja, he thought.

Now it was the trainee’s turn. A woman walked in, and he stepped up confidently.
“Hi! Can I help you find anything today?”
“Yes, I’m looking for tampons.”
“Of course—would you prefer a 10, 20, or 30-count box?”
“30, please.”

He guided her to the aisle, then tried to emulate his mentor.
“And when you’re done here… can I interest you in a lawnmower?”

The woman stared at him in disbelief. “A lawnmower? Why in the world would I need that?”

The poor guy froze. Yeah… maybe I skipped a step somewhere.

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