From Penny Foolish To Pound Wise

(I work in a well-known UK pound store. A middle-aged customer and her teenage daughter walk up to me.)

Customer: “Excuse me. How much is this?” *holds up item*

Me: “It’s £1; everything here is £1.”

(I smile kindly, nodding towards the 20-foot sign hanging on the wall for all to see.)

Customer: “Oh, wonderful! Thank you very much!”

Me: “No problem!”

(No less than 5 seconds later, she calls to me again.)

Customer: “Oh, excuse me! How much is this?”

Me: “It’s £1. Everything is £1.”

(The customer’s daughter covers her face.)

Customer: “Are you sure dear? Maybe you should check…”

Me: “I don’t need to madam; I know it’s £1. Everything here is.”

(Not believing me, the customer huffs, asks another member of staff, and gets the same answer.)

Customer: “Well, that seems cheap.”

Customer’s Daughter: “For god’s sake, mum, that’s the point! It’s a POUND SHOP! EVERYTHING IS £1!”

Customer: “Well, they should put up a sign and make it more clear!”

(Simultaneously, her daughter, my colleague, and I all point at the giant sign.)

Customer: “That’s not clear! You should make it CLEAR!”

(The customer turns and stomps off.)

Customer’s Daughter: “I’m not taking her anywhere again.”

(Two weeks later, the same customer returns. This time, another customer is asking me a similar question about pricing.)

Another Customer: *to me* “How much is this?”

Customer: *jumps in* “It’s £1! Everything is £1!” *huffs* “Some people are SO stupid!”