The Couponator 54: Fanta Flour Power
As a student, I worked as a supermarket cashier for one summer. There was one woman who was notorious for trying stupid s***, and they hadn’t warned me about her.
She puts her groceries down; I scan the first two items, which were bottles of Fanta.
Customer: “I have a coupon!”
She hands me a coupon for 50% off, but it’s for some generic orange soda.
Me: “Ma’am, this doesn’t apply to Fanta.”
Customer: “Yeah, but I don’t like the generic brand.”
Me: “I can’t validate it unless you buy [Generic Brand].”
Customer: *Yelling.* “Yes, you can! I know you can! You have a special override button! I’ve seen it!”
The manager shows up, thanks to the yelling, and has the exact same discussion with her. After a few minutes, she finally gives up and doesn’t want the bottles of Fanta anymore. My manager leaves.
The next two items she’s buying are a bag of sugar and a bag of flour.
Customer: “I have a coupon!”
She hands me another coupon for “buy one bag of flour, get one free.”
Me: “That’s not how it works. You need two bags of flour.”
Customer: “But I want sugar.”
Me: “I can’t put sugar through as flour.”
She starts yelling again.
Customer: “I don’t need two bags of flour! A bag is a bag!”
The manager comes over and explains… again. After the customer doesn’t want these items either:
Manager: “Ma’am, do you have any other coupons you intend on using today so that I may… verify them?”
She holds out a bag containing dozens of coupons.
Manager: *To me.* “I’ll take over. Go on your break.”
He was still explaining to her why yet another coupon wouldn’t work when I came back half an hour later. It’s a good thing this didn’t happen on my first day because I would have quit after that.
Related:
The Couponator 53: Binder Of Fury
The Couponator 52: The District Doppelgänger
The Couponator 51: Dawn Of A New Stupider Age
The Couponator 50: Endgame
The Couponator 49: The Level 99 Checkout Clerk
