The Couponator 48: The A**hole Tax

Clothing Store, Coupon, Editors' Choice, Karma/Comeuppance, USA | Right | February 22, 2025

I work at a popular clothing that has coupons most of the time and special deals for people who have their charge card every so often. On this particular day, we are having a “lowest prices of the season” sale – essentially everything is priced as low as it will ever go to clear the stock and make room for next season’s stock.

I get called up to help on register while I’m already knee-deep in clothing from fitting rooms. A regular is standing there and is the reason I have been called up to help, as she’s holding up the line.

Customer: “Your lazy checkout girl is telling me you don’t have any coupons on right now?”

Me: “That’s right. It’s the “lowest prices of the season” sale so we’re not running any coupons.”

Customer: “You always have coupons! What do you mean you don’t have coupons?! I want to see your manager!”

Me: “I’m the manager, ma’am, so I’ll tell you what. I’ll give you a manager’s coupon of 50% off the full price of everything in your basket.”

Customer: “…fine.”

I process her sale separately and she’s on her way. One of the checkout operators talks to me later when she gets a chance.

Checkout Operator: “Isn’t everything around 60% off right now?”

Me: “Yup.”

Checkout Operator: “So… she paid more?”

Me: “Yes… but she used a coupon!”