I Hate Kinkos

It’s a good thing there is nothing more to document my latest Kinkos experience except for the words on this page. An angry me mean-mugging the camera and Hayes whining is not a photo series anyone wants to see. Besides that, who’s in the mood for picture taking when they’re completely ticked off? But really, I should have just done it. I should have taken a shot of the outside of the place that looks like all the other Kinkos—clean, calm, orderly, a place where people go to get their business needs met. Send a fax, make a copy, place a large professional order, and maybe even use a computer to get it all done fast. Then I should have taken a few shots of the inside. A shot of the five black and white copy machines—some working, others not. And one of the lonely color copier with the “out of order” sign taped to it. I should have gotten a shot of the three long lines of customers growing more and more impatient as time dragged on. And the two employees behind the counter making themselves busy ignoring us all. At one point a third employee emerged from nowhere and began shouting that there was only one line. Then said employee proceeded to pick a fight with a customer for skipping the line. Oh! And I really should have gotten a shot of the employee who asked everyone in line to move out of his way as he vacuumed the floor. {It was around 2pm, by the way. Cleaning up behind the lunch crowd perhaps?}

Finally at the counter, I explained my very reasonable request—one hundred color copies. Easy enough for Kinkos, right? Wrong. I was told by a very simple-faced girl, whose picture I should have taken, that the only way to make color copies was on the machine with the out-of-order sign stuck to it. And if I wanted to get copies made, I would have to place an order and pick them up tomorrow. {To-mo-rrow?!?!} I resigned myself to the absurdity of it all and decided to leave. {But let’s be clear, leaving was the only choice to take}. Before walking away I asked simple-face if she knew of another place where I could get a hundred color copies made today. And she actually referred me to another Kinkos. {You should’ve seen the look on my face}.