(My store is in a high fraud area – short change scams and petty theft are pretty common, so our corporate offices have actually instituted specific policies for stores in our area in an effort to stop them. One such scam is when people will steal credit or debit cards, then use them to purchase reloadable or those “credit gift cards” to get several hundred dollars in one swoop. Because of this, even though the gift cards go up to 500$, we only do 200$. Thankfully, part of our security means if it’s over a particular amount, then the register requires a supervisor card, which only head cashier’s have, so it’s next to impossible to get away with these scams in our store anymore.
I had just stopped one of these scams at one register, when another guy walks up to the desk. He has the same cover purchase items as the first guy – women’s products from maybe three feet away from the gift card display – the the same type of gift card the other guy tried to get. They say 20$-500$, and are functionally a credit card of their own – no store restrictions or anything.)
Me: Can I help you?
Man: Yeah, these, and 400$ on the card. And I want to complain about your cashier. She tried to deny my sale because I’m black.
(This is, unfortunately, super common to hear someone say. In the entire time I’ve been at this location, it’s never been true even once – it’s only ever been said when someone has an issue with our policies because it’s inconvenient to them. I’ve heard white people do it, Hispanic people do it, and African-American people do it – everyone magically becomes racist because they don’t want to loose their jobs. One guy was even called a race traitor for carding on tobacco products. Still, there’s always the chance, however slim, so I deal with that first.)
Me: What did she do, exactly?
Man: She tried to tell me she can’t sell me more than 200$ on this gift card. It says up to 500$ – I guess she doesn’t think a brother has that much money, or I must have stolen it or something.
Me: No, actually. She was just keeping to policy. Gift cards are 200$ max.
Man: Are you blind? It says 500$.
Me: I’m aware, and so is she. Doesn’t change the fact the limit is 200$ in this store.
Man: How are you going to tell me it’s 200$ when it says 500$? Look at the damn card and tell me what it says.
Me: Sir, it doesn’t matter what it says. Policy is 200$.
Man: But I have my bank card right here. I’m paying debit.
(The scammer I just stopped not five minutes before tried to pay credit – he left and not a minute later this guy came in. I figure they’re probably together, and the first relayed the “no credit” explanation I had given, because I can’t fathom why else this guy would be convinced that matters.)
Me: That’s great. The limit is still 200$.
Man: I’ll just split it on two, then.
Me: That won’t work. Limit is 200$, per person, per day.
Man: Are you serious? I need 400$.
Me: Sorry. 200$ is all I can do.
Man: Well, what are you going to do to make this right?
Me: I can either sell you one gift card for 200$, or you can go somewhere else and hope they can do 400$.
Man: Why the hell can’t you just do 400$? It says up to 500$!
Me: Our policy says 200$. It’s not negotiable.
Man: What f****** policy? I’ve never heard of that policy before, I buy gift cards here all the time.
Me: If you did buy them here all the time, you’d know that corporate enacted a policy limiting gift card sales, and that we can’t do over 200$.
Man: Since when?
Me: Since before I was hired a few years ago.
Man: There’s no policy that says that! I bet you just don’t want to sell to me! My money is as good as anyone else’s! Show me this f****** policy, because I’ve never heard of it!
(I probably do have it somewhere, but at this point, I’m not going to hold up my line to look for it. I’m not allowed to accuse someone of theft or scamming, but I can get pretty close.)
Me: Well sir, last year our store experienced a massive influx of scams where thieves with stolen cards would buy gift cards on someone else’s dime. Since our store doesn’t want to be a participant in a criminal act, our corporate offices decided to implement a policy restricting gift card sales. This means we limit them to 200$, per person, per day, debit or cash only, to eliminate the possibility of someone coming in and attempting to use stolen information or a card they never intend to pay off to get away with money that doesn’t belong to them. I’m sorry if that’s inconvenient for you, but unfortunately, I’m not willing to risk my job for a stranger. You’re welcome to go someplace else if you really need that gift card, but there’s nothing I or anyone at any other [Store Name] can do for you. Was there anything else I can help you with?
(The guy in line put his things down and walked out – without a word, so did this guy.)
