[Public] Gum
Every other Thursday, a cleaning service comes and cleans my apartment. This is one nice thing about living in temporary corporate housing.
However, I have to tip her. Or well, i suppose I don't HAVE to, but it's the nice thing to do, especially since I'm getting her service for free as it is. To do this, I need cash. I typically do not carry cash, a habit I've picked up in the last few years. So I went to CVS. They are basically across the street, so it's not a big deal.
I spent a while deciding what to purchase, and then remembered I am out of gum, which is a horrible thing to happen to me - I chew many sticks of gum every day. You'd think I just quit smoking or something, except I have never smoked.
Anyway, I got my pack of gum and went to the self service checkout. And then I apparently went on auto pilot, because the next thing I know, I have paid and am walking out the door with my gum... but without my cash. So I turn around and walk back.
"Is something wrong?" one of the cashier guys asks me.
"Oh," I say, "I just was supposed to get cash back and then I forgot, so I'll get another pack of gum and get cash back on that."
He tells me it's ok, I can return the gum and then buy it again. I tell him this is sort of silly, and I don't mind buying something else. I'll use the gum anyway. But he insists, he doesn't want me to have to pay more. I eventually give in.
We spend a seemingly long time going through the routine of returning the gum, crediting my card, signing a slip, getting the manager to sign the slip, and then re-buying the gum and getting my cash back. Much longer than it would have taken me to just buy another pack of gum, if you ask me.
And then the guy looks all proud and says "see? i saved you $1.37!" I thanked him and now I am home.
However, I have to tip her. Or well, i suppose I don't HAVE to, but it's the nice thing to do, especially since I'm getting her service for free as it is. To do this, I need cash. I typically do not carry cash, a habit I've picked up in the last few years. So I went to CVS. They are basically across the street, so it's not a big deal.
I spent a while deciding what to purchase, and then remembered I am out of gum, which is a horrible thing to happen to me - I chew many sticks of gum every day. You'd think I just quit smoking or something, except I have never smoked.
Anyway, I got my pack of gum and went to the self service checkout. And then I apparently went on auto pilot, because the next thing I know, I have paid and am walking out the door with my gum... but without my cash. So I turn around and walk back.
"Is something wrong?" one of the cashier guys asks me.
"Oh," I say, "I just was supposed to get cash back and then I forgot, so I'll get another pack of gum and get cash back on that."
He tells me it's ok, I can return the gum and then buy it again. I tell him this is sort of silly, and I don't mind buying something else. I'll use the gum anyway. But he insists, he doesn't want me to have to pay more. I eventually give in.
We spend a seemingly long time going through the routine of returning the gum, crediting my card, signing a slip, getting the manager to sign the slip, and then re-buying the gum and getting my cash back. Much longer than it would have taken me to just buy another pack of gum, if you ask me.
And then the guy looks all proud and says "see? i saved you $1.37!" I thanked him and now I am home.