Customers expect us to know if other shops in the area sell certain items

I definitely think they might do 😊

I work for a company selling a range of one product.
I sit in front of a computer screen that works by finding the product code to check stock. The product code is on every catalogue, every outer/inner box and every invoice the customer will have received.
The number of customers that call to order something and start describing it to me (oh, it's the red one, y'know in crushed suede with the satin bow....) is mind boggling, I think they envision our office as a showroom with every product labelled neatly on a shelf for us to look at.....they are most put out when I tell them I have no idea what they are on about and they need to get me the product code to place an order🤷‍♀️
Customers are just a pain in the arse, I always say my job would be great if I didn't have to deal with them!!

Retail customer service should be like that.
I worked in a shop in the 80s and 90s and would volunteer the information myself if we didn't have it. And if I didn't know, and the customer asked, I'd say no, sorry, no idea.
Being nice costs nothing.

Edited to add that I'd absolutely expect someone working in a shop to know what items they stocked and where they are. And if I asked, and they didn't know, I'd expect them to find me someone who did. Surely that's basic information if you work in retail?

There's an increase in stress everywhere, I agree customers should be more polite but I think it's a bit of a crazy world just now.

Don't take it to heart.

I dont know - rude
I dont know but I will take you to the section and I will try and help you / find out for you - not rude

Its not rude to ask store staff for help. Quite often people ask this because its a stock item that is an obvious fit with what you sell, so is a commonly asked about item and the store staff are often knowledgeable about other local stores.

Ive asked this sort of question loads of time and got useful information in response almost every time.

When you returned from your surgery your employer/manager should have brought you up to date on stock changes.

No! Customers need to get an understanding that we are human, stop being rude

I agree that NOONE should be rude about it, but the actual fact of politely asking if you know anywhere else it can be found is not rude or out of order. I worked in retail as a student and this question didnt offend me when asked nicely, why would it? just say sorry I dont know if you dont.

Customers are strange human beings, sometimes when I try to tell them another shop it might be they just walk off and don't listen😂 people are gone very rude I feel in the past few years, entitled maybe? There should be a obligation to do a month of retail. People wouldn't be long remembering their manners then 🤪

You shouldn't be in retail!

I think perhaps people are assuming that you are local and therefore might have had to buy whatever it is yourself, for example if your shop doesn't sell paperclips they might think that you might buy your paperclips elsewhere and ask you where in the area paperclips are.
They certainly shouldn't be flipping out at you though.

I personally hate asking staff even if I have looked online and I know that the stock checker thinks there should be 57 in aisle 10 I will search aisle 10 for ages before resorting to finding a staff member

maybe you need a career change then

That's not a new thing know what customers have always expected to you to know what the local area sells .

I don't think it's unreasonable if you work for a chain and they want to know if y store has x item. There should be a way for you to check. If however you work for Home Bargains and they want to know if B&M stock an item then how the hell would you know? The idiot that flipped out is just that an idiot.

I would never flip out but staff should be trained on what they are selling and sometimes I ask at one shop and they look it up to see if another branch of the shop sells it, I am always
polite but it is rude for an interaction like ''Excuse me do you sell X" and the answer is "i don't know"

I sometimes as this, and like PP I have had some good advice/info. It's out of order if people get annoyed if you don't know but perfectly fine to ask if you do.

I've asked this before and most people have suggested places I could get it so its been useful.

I dont expect people to know and I certainly wouldnt "flip out" but every time I've asked, they have known.