The Convenience Store Saga.
I’m a regular customer of Speedway, mainly because of the Speedy Rewards program and I can get free frozen Cokes after the 6th one. Yesterday evening I stopped in to get a pack of cigarettes, they’re cheaper on my brand than other stores in the area. The line was a little long, because as usual the second person working the register was “pretending” he was doing some very important paperwork-with a pencil.
I stand in line for what seems like 10 minutes, the woman at the front was complaining because her check wouldn’t go through the system. Finally, after standing there smelling a guy who obviously hadn’t bathed in months, if in fact he had ever heard the term, “bathe”, I reached the register. This is what the cashier said:
Cashier: Man, I have to pee like a race horse, wish these customers would hurry up and get what they want and leave.
Me: Well, dude, thanks for sharing that bit of information. I need one pack of Marlboro Lights, soft pack.”
Cashier: You want the hard or soft pack?
Me: I said once, I want the soft pack, maybe your need to piss has floated up to your brain.
Cashier: Huh? That’ll be $3.38.
Me: (Taking my sweet time, even though I had a $5 bill and some ones I decided to play with him). I handed him two $1 bills and counted the rest out in change. He squirmed the entire time so I thought ok poor guy he really needs to tinkle.
Once I paid and started to walk out the door I heard him tell the other cashier, “Dude, I’m gonna finish smokin’ my cig then head to the potty, (yes this guy said potty), and take a leak.” So you see, it really wasn’t the fact he had to pee so bad, the idiot wanted a cigarette. Now I don’t feel so bad for screwing with him. That’ll teach ‘em!
That “very important paperwork” the other cashier was doing was either a cross word puzzle or suduko, or whatever that game is. God forbid them doing their job will get in the way of their cig break.
Oh man. Good for you, Beth. I’m so tired of poor service being acceptable in the customer service industry. I’m sorry the poor guy is actually getting paid to ring up customers and deal with people. But since he is, I expect him to do it without making me hear him whine about it.
Arthur: I think he was trying to subtract something- since you know, 2-1 is so difficult to do in your head.
Loq: I’ve noticed, the older I get the crankier I am with people with customer service jobs. I mean, I would never tell a total stranger I had to pee, ok I’d tell my best friend in public but that’s different, but come on, telling a line full of customers who’s food, cigs and money you’re handling? Sheesh.