Not Cut Out To Be Good Customers

(It’s noon and there’s a huge sale on so naturally the store has quite a few customers.)

Employee: *as she dashes from the cutting table to the register* “I’ll be right back, sweetie! Let me just check out those two ladies, okay?”

(I nod and patiently wait the few minutes it takes for her to cash out the other customers.)

Employee: *slightly breathless as she returns* “Whoo! I’m getting my exercise today!” *smiles brightly* “How much of this did you need, miss?”

Me: “Three yards please, ma’am.” *glancing around at all the other customers* “Where’s your help? They had to know it’d be busy today with the sale and all.”

Employee: *as she cuts* “Well, there’s supposed to be another girl here but she called about ten minutes ago and said she has a flat so I don’t know when she’ll be in.” *tags and passes over my fabric* “Here you go. Just let me know when you’re ready to check out, okay?”

Me: *nods* “Sure. I just remembered something else I needed.”

(I pick up the thread I needed then wander about the store a bit looking at the sale items near the register. Two older women walk up to the register and just stand there for about ten minutes.)

Customer #1: *wrinkles her nose* “The service here is awful.”

Customer #2: *purses her lips* “It is. I knew we should have gone to [Store’s other location] instead.”

(The two customers toss their large amounts of fabric and notions on the counter then flounce out the door. I walk back to the cutting table where the employee has just finished up with another customer.)

Employee: “Are you ready to check out yet, hon?”

Me: “Yes, ma’am, and I thought I’d let you know those two women left all their stuff at the register. Sorry.”

(We return to the register and she puts the fabrics and notions aside.)

Employee: “Now those will go in the remnants.” *sighs* “I told them to tell me when they were ready and I’d come up here!”

Me: *rolls eyes* “I guess they thought they were too good to come to you.”

(She rings up items with a smile.)

Employee: “Your total is $38.57.”

Me: *stares at her in disbelief* “That can’t be—”

Employee: *suddenly sounding nervous* “But the fabric was on sale for $12 a yard—”

Me: *cutting her off as I cover my face with one hand* “And the pattern was on sale for $1. The rest is taxes and the thread.” *grins sheepishly* “I thought it should be MORE! I forgot that the pattern was on sale!”

Employee: “Oh!” *looks visibly relieved then scans something near her register* “Since you’re so nice and waited so patiently, I’m giving you the 10% student discount! Your new total is $34.71!”

Me: “You don’t have to do that! I really did think it should have been more! I wasn’t trying for a discount!”

Employee: *smiling* “I know but you could have just left like those others did. So, cash or card, miss?”

(This is my new favorite location because she is always so sweet!)