Can’t Pay For A New First Impression

(I work in a private cafe for a multi-billion dollar company in their office. Only office workers or people approved by security are allowed to access the cafe, so we tend to know everyone there by name, besides the few strays. We also tend to have people grab condiments, cups, and extra supplies of ours thinking they’re free to use because they work there, but we’re strictly contracted with the company and aren’t funding by the company itself. On one particular day, I have an interesting first impression of a new office worker.)

Customer: “Do I have to pay for this?”

Coworker: “Yes, of course, you do. Just around the corner there, where the ‘one way’ sign is.”

Customer: “Oh… okay.”

(I am at the till waiting for her to cash out.)

Me: “Your total is $3.55.”

Customer: “Do I have to pay for my coffee, as well?”

Me: “Of course; you pay for everything here from condiments to meals.”

Customer: “Oh, I walked out with a coffee yesterday and I didn’t know you had to pay! It was my first day, and there were so many people in here.”

Me: “I did see that, but since I have never seen you before and was clearly too busy at my till cashing people out, I didn’t run after you, but now you know, right? Would you like to pay for the coffee from yesterday now?”

Customer: “Why? It happened yesterday, though.”

(First impressions last a lifetime, especially in this cafe, since we’re considerably extremely personal with our customers. I assume she’s not going to last too long with her attitude.)