I Bet $100 They Knew What They Were Doing From The Beginning
A customer is getting a single small coffee and tries to pay with a $100 bill.
Me: “I’m sorry, but we don’t accept hundreds. Do you have a smaller bill or a card?”
Customer: “But this is legal tender!”
Me: “I’m not disputing that, but store policy is that we cannot accept them, legal tender or not.”
Customer: “But I don’t understand! This is legal tender!”
The line is long, and she’s not getting it. Since her drink is only $2, I make a call.
Me: “You know what, ma’am? Your drink is on us today. Please note in the future that we don’t accept $100 bills.”
She happily accepts the free drink, and we keep the line moving. She’s back the next day and tries to pay the same way. I remind her that we don’t accept $100 bills.
Customer: “This is very inconvenient.”
Me: “I can imagine it was yesterday, ma’am, but you were aware today before coming in.”
Customer: “But this is very inconvenient!”
She parrots this phrase and then stares at me expectantly. I just stare back.
Customer: “I got a free drink yesterday.”
Me: “Yes, I was the one that gave it to you, and I explained that since we don’t accept $100 bills, you would need to bring a card or something smaller next time.”
Customer: “But I got a free drink yesterday!”
Me: “…yes, but not today. Today, you should know better.”
Customer: “That’s not how you treat a customer!”
Me: “You’re right; the mistake was mine. As a customer, you should have paid yesterday. Please pay us the $2 you owe from your drink yesterday, and then we can talk about what you’re buying today. We do not accept $100 bills; how will you be paying?”
She walked out without a coffee that day.
