Asking Dumbass Questions

A publisher sent out an email
asking authors to tell them
when their books were releasing
and what the titles were.

WTF?

That is information
that a publisher SHOULD know.
Publishers make release date decisions,
not authors.

Sounds silly, right?
We wouldn’t ever make that mistake, right?

I’ll fess up.
I’ve made that mistake before.

While talking to a customer
I’ve asked them how units of so-and-so product are selling
when I SHOULD already know this information
by their re-order numbers.

I’ve asked them what their top selling products were
when a simple scan of grocery shelf facings
would have told me the same information.

I’ve asked
and I’ve looked like a dumbass
and my credibility has slipped.

Asking intelligent questions is very good.
Asking dumbass questions isn’t.
Think before you ask.