Posted 5/29/2014 12:30 AM (GMT 0)
This is a strange thing, but I know lots of us can relate at least to the reasoning behind it. Even so, I immediately felt stifled anger and resentment....
I drink a lot, a real lot of water, and buy it by the litre. Today I went in and picked up 12 bottles. There were about 3 bottles (of all the bottles, on the whole shelf) that had one of those removable coupons that just sticks over the bottle top that was $1.00 off the purchase of any 4 of these 1 litre bottles.
So, I grabbed one coupon, my 12 bottles, got to the register, and she only rang the coupon in for 'one group of 4 bottles.' I told her how these coupons were removable and only a few were there (despite rows of water) and I got the impression that this implied $1.00 off any purchase of 4 bottles.
Well,...I did purchase 3 groups of 4 bottles. I asked the cashier who was just annoyed at me saying that she can't ring it through two more times, it's only good for 'one purchase' of 4 bottles. I'd have to have 3 coupons.
There were two people behind me. Above doing what I deserved, which was to go get the silly remaining coupons that they probably just plop back over the tops of random bottles of this brand of water and recycle,....I was more concerned that I would upset the other customers and cause the line to become impatient.
The aisle with water in it was pretty close to the register. I wish I had the backbone to tell her, "Then I will go retrieve the other coupons and be right back," but I was more concerned with the "eyes" I would get, all the huffing and puffing, the irritated looks, the tut-tuts I'd be hearing, the delays that I'd cause (even though in retrospect, it would have been about a 2 minute delay).
So I'm home and still stewing about losing out on getting that $2.00 off my purchase. In fact, I wish I had the backbone,-- if she continued to be snippy,-- to even request to speak to the manager.
But I was too afraid. Too concerned and self-conscious. To me, when someone comes with a coupon that's so specific and it's just a tag of cardboard with a hole in it stuffed over the cap,....and they're purchasing 12 bottles,...it's kind of self-evident.
At the very least, she could have been polite. But she was curt, abrupt, snappy, and rude and wouldn't even look me in the eye. Of course it got topped off when after I paid, she realized she 'forgot' to scan some of my groceries in, and I had to do another transaction.
Yeah, I feel angry. Yeah, I'm stewing still. And while $2.00 may not be a lot of money to some, it's a lot to me. Plus, it's the principle. So many cashiers and clerks know me because of my regular purchases, several times every week, of large supplies of water. Miss Mary Kay the cashier, included.
I know, she felt it's not her problem, she's in a rush, people are waiting.
But I've experienced similar situations where a common courtesy was extended. I don't think what I saw on that coupon, and what I expected, was any type of preferential treatment.....but frankly, what I'd expect.
...........sorry guys. I had to blow off steam.
Hubby's away until next week so I don't have a sounding board.
Plus,....I'm sincerely suppressing my anger at how I allowed myself to demote my needs below that of strangers. I'm all bark now,....but believe me, I'm still frothing. I feel like a timid little turtle (not a HAPPY one!)
Thanks you all....
M.