The Couponator 42: The Malicious Complier

At The Checkout, Editors' Choice, Grocery Store, Karma/Comeuppance, Malicious Compliance, Managers With A Spine, Math & Science, USA | Right | December 19, 2023

Customer: “I want to use these coupons.”

The customer presents a 10% off coupon for his entire purchase awarded by an affiliated brand. I scan the coupon, but then the customer presents a series of other store coupons.

Me: “Sorry, sir, but these coupons can only be used once per purchase. You can’t combine them all into a single purchase.”

Customer: “Show me where it says that.”

I show him the exact text that says that.

Customer: “Well, that’s so small and deceptive! Besides, I know you can override them on your register. Call over a manager.”

I do so, and the manager hears the customer’s complaint.

Manager: “Sir, the 10% off coupon for the single purchase can’t be combined with other coupons, but if you like, I can override the use of all the other store coupons so you can use them all in a single purchase.”

Customer: *Looking at me, smugly* “See? I told you that you could override it.”

My manager proceeds to override the register so that the customer can apply all the little [Store] coupons in one purchase — a $0.25 off here, a $0.50 off there, etc.

Manager: “Okay, those have all been applied for you. Your total is $64.29.”

The customer pays and throws one more smug look my way.

Customer: “This is why I drive a BMW and you’re a cashier. You need to have the fortitude to get what you want in this world.”

And with that, he waltzes off with his groceries.

Me: *To my manager* “His total was $64.29.”

Manager: “Yes.”

Me: “The value of all the coupons came to $2.50.”

Manager: “Also yes.”

Me: “If he’d used the 10% off coupon, he would have saved about $6.50-ish.

Manager: “Again, yes.”

Me: “And you knew that when you offered to override the coupons, didn’t you?”

Manager: *Winks* “Maybe yes.”