Coupon And On And On, Part 2

(I am waiting in line for a register. This particular store only has one register that technically is not self-serve. I need to use it because I am paying with my student ID. A woman in front of me is being rung up by the cashier, an older, nice-looking woman who seems a little uncertain throughout the transaction.)

Customer: “No, no! This is wrong! See, I have this coupon and it takes this much off the order, not that much!”

Cashier: “Um, okay, let me fix that for you then.”

(This customer has an entire envelope filled with coupons. I am feeling pretty sure by this point that this woman has calculated everything down to the last cent and is refusing to accept anything else. I end up standing second in line for over twenty minutes.)

Other Cashier: *to me* “You can use this self-serve over here if you’re ready.”

Me: “Oh, no thanks. I’m paying with my student ID so I need to be in this line. I’m not in a hurry anyway.”

Cashier: *looks at me apologetically*

(After the manager has finally had to show up because the customer apparently thinks that she’s been charged for one extra bottle of lotion than she bought – I’m not entirely sure what was happening at this point anyway – the woman finally leaves and the cashier breathes out a sigh of relief. I quickly grab a Snickers bar before I walk up to the counter.)

Cashier: *to me, looking frazzled* “I’m so sorry about the wait. It’s my first day and I’m still figuring things out.”

Me: “That’s okay; we’ve all been there.”

(She rings me up with no problem and just a moment of being shown how to process my student ID by the manager. She bags all my things and I quickly reach in to grab the candy and put it back on the counter.)

Me: “Thank you. Here, this is for you!”

Cashier: “Really?”

Me: “Yup!”

Cashier: “Wow, thank you! Have a great night!”

Me: “You, too!”

(I really do hope her night got better! First days are hard enough as it is.)