Paid In Fool

(I am in line when this happens to the customer in front of me, who is ordering an expensive piece of custom-made equipment.)

Customer: “I’m going to go ahead and order that, and I’ll pay cash today.”

Cashier: *enters order* “Okay, I’ll just need a credit card on file, in case we’re not able to contact you when it comes in.”

Customer: “I’m paying cash. Why do you need a credit card?”

Cashier: “Well, I’m not saying you WOULD do this, but what if we place the order and you don’t come to pick it up and pay? We have to have a way to collect. This is a custom order.”

Customer: “I’m PAYING CASH, IN FULL, TODAY. Why do you need a credit card?”

Cashier: “I just really don’t have any way to process the order without a credit card!”

(This went on for several more rounds. He eventually had to get a manager to authorize him just to take this guy’s cash!)