The Gift Card That Keeps On Giving, Part 12

The cashier has efficiently tallied a customer’s items and presented her with the final total to be paid.

Customer: “I want to use my gift card to pay for this.”

Cashier: “Okay.”

The cashier runs the card through the reader.

Cashier: “Uh, sorry, the card doesn’t seem to work. Have you used this card before?”

Customer: “No, I don’t think so. Can you run it again?”

The cashier runs it through the reader several times. No luck.

Cashier: “Let me get a manager.”

The manager tries running the card and it won’t read, so he keys in the card number into the register and is able to read the card.

Manager: “Your card only has [amount] left. You’ll need to pay the $0.47 difference to purchase your items.”

Customer: “Really? I don’t remember using this gift card before.” *Checks wallet* “I don’t have any money; let me charge it on my credit card.”

As I am the next customer, I just speak up.

Me: “Here’s a dollar. I’ll pay the difference. I gotta get home today.”

Customer: “Why thank you. That is so nice of you!”

Twenty minutes after I’d gotten in line, I was freed from the checkout line and heading home!

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