A Cheap Comeback

I work for a gas station that is in the middle of a residential area. The next closest station to mine is over five miles away so we don’t really have anyone to compete with as far as prices go. Since I’ve been working there (almost a year) the gas prices have changed twice: once to go down and more recently they went back up.

I am stocking behind the registers when I see a man approaching from the corner of my eye. I stop what I’m doing and turn to him as he sets his fountain drink on the counter.

Me: “Good mo—”

Customer: “I wonder if those people out there pumping gas know that the [Station five miles away] is twenty-five cents cheaper.”

He hands me exact change for his drink.

Customer: “I don’t know how you guys stay in business charging people that much for gas when [Station] is so much cheaper.”

Me: “[Station] is only cheaper if you also purchase a car wash.”

He glares at me and turns to leave as my manager says:

Manager: “Their fountain sodas are cheaper, too… Just sayin’.”

That customer might not be coming back.