Not Quite A Golden Opportunity
Me: “Your total is $64, ma’am.”
She opens her purse and starts pulling out what looks like little gold nuggets.
Me: *Smiling.* “Will that be cash or credit?”
Customer: *Looking at me like I’m an idiot.* “Obviously, I’m paying with these!”
She gestures to the little gold pebbles now littering the counter.
Me: “Is that… gold?”
Customer: “Duh!”
Me: “We can’t accept that as a form of payment.”
Customer: “Gold is legal tender!”
She says this so forcefully and confidently that I actually have to check the truthfulness of her statement on my phone.
Me: “I’m sorry, but gold is not considered a form of legal tender, at least in this state. Does cash or credit work?”
Customer: “Get your manager!”
I call my manager over and give him a “you’re gonna love this” look. It takes him a moment to compose himself after I have explained the situation to him.
Manager: “Ma’am, sorry, but no. How are we even supposed to value this? Weigh it and then look up the price for gold today?”
Customer: “You need to accept it as payment!”
Manager: “We really don’t, ma’am.”
Customer: “Yes, you do! I—”
My manager looks at his watch and holds up a finger, silencing the customer.
Customer: “—what are you doing?!”
Manager: “Just checking the time. Nope, it’s not the 1800s. Cash or credit only.”
She swoops up the nuggets and storms out. Considering that some gold residue was left behind on the counter, I’m guessing it was some kind of scam involving pebbles and gold paint…
