This contest pits Val, a former valedictorian, against a 20-something grocery store cashier.
Place you bets.
Friday, I popped into Country Mart to buy Hick's bananas. That's all. No grocery list. Just bananas, and of course a stop by the lottery machine for scratchers. I got in line behind a person with half a cart full of groceries. The checker was a gray-haired old lady I hadn't seen there before. I was in no rush. It's not like I'm on a schedule.
A dark-haired, well-kempt, 20-something dude in a store apron came up behind me, and said he could help me over on the short register. I guess it used to be an express lane, but they don't have a limit on items. I moved over and set my bananas on the short conveyor. I had my debit card in my shirt pocket as usual. In fact, I had it ready to insert into the card reader when Dude said,
"That's a dollar sixty-five."
"Oh. Well. If I have three ones in my pocket, I'll just pay cash. I gotta have one left for the lottery machine!"
I did indeed have three ones, so I peeled off two and handed them to Dude. He put them in the register, closed the drawer, and tore off the receipt.
"Do you need your receipt?"
"No. That's fine."
I went to the scratcher machine, surveying the floor for loose coins around the kiddie dispensers, and finding none. I got my tickets. Went to T-Hoe and stowed the bananas on the passenger seat. And then it hit me:
DUDE HAD NOT GIVEN ME CHANGE!
Huh. It was not worth walking back inside, tracking him down, and asking about it. I didn't have a receipt, either, though I'm sure he would have remembered me, and the register would have the transaction on the tape. Still. Not worth it for 35 cents.
Huh. Just more proof that young whippersnappers don't know how to make change. Don't understand the concept of a cash purchase. Dude had just turned to ask me about the receipt, dismissively, as in, we're done now. Not that he was rude. He was very nice, a good customer service dispenser, aside from KEEPING MY 35 CENTS in his register!
Of course it wasn't my fault! You shouldn't have to ASK for your change! It's understood (by people of a certain age) that you hand over your money, and get back the leftover part that the item didn't cost. Nope. I wasn't wrong! Dude is the one who varied from societal norms, not me!
I was telling Hick about it later, and he agreed that kids these days have no idea how to handle cash. He pointed to the marred coffee table, where a small mound of coins lounged besides some ones folded into a small rectangle, and a folded over couple of bills that were a five and a ten.
"The Pony don't know how to treat money. Look at that! I oughta pick it up and take it to Vegas on my trip!"
"No. That's not right. Wait a minute! Seeing those coins... the LAST time I went in Country Mart, they had a sign taped on the sliding glass doors. Something about the 'coin shortage,' and thanking people for using their cards instead of cash! Maybe Country Mart isn't giving back change right now! What if that Dude was just following store policy, not handing back coins?"
No. I refuse to believe that scenario. I don't remember the sign saying they would KEEP your coins. Surely Val is not stupider than a grocery store cashier! Stop that ENGLAND IS AN ISLAND talk right now!
We're going to need an investigation before those bets are paid...
Seems like I remember reading once that banks tally up their numbers at the end of each day and, if the tills have more money than they should, the tellers have to stay until it's all sorted out. Could be that young lad at Country Mart is still there, sweating out his interrogation.
ReplyDeleteGood thing he's not working in a bank! When I worked at Casey's convenience store, the clerk was responsible for missing money. It came out of your check. If you had a gas drive-off, too bad, so sad. I guess we were supposed to run out and grab onto the bumper and stop the thief and collect the payment!
DeleteAnyhoo... not sure what the grocery store policy is.
Even a kid can figure that if the till is over by 35 cents, it is easer to pocket the 35 cents than to stay and figure out why the till was off.
ReplyDeleteThat does put quite a dent in your Pennymillionaire quest.
No effect on my Future Pennyillionaire Fortune! That is separate money.
DeleteIt puts a dent in my 44 oz Diet Coke and scratcher money. My weekly allowance. That 35 cents is 21 percent of a daily magical elixir.
Maybe that kid is scamming old ladies 35 cents at a time. Or maybe he's an exemplary employee, following store policy and hoarding change for some dastardly corporate purpose.
You were too slow not noticing the lack of change. When he asked did you want a receipt you should have said no but I would like my change please. Once you are out of the store it's too late, especially without a receipt. You'd have to go through the whole transaction with the manager then wait while he called up the young man to check your story. Too much trouble for 35 cents.
ReplyDeleteThank you for not being afraid to point out that VAL IS STUPIDER!
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