Could a girl get a little space?
At Starbucks the other day, my latte cost something like $3.43. So I counted out 43 cents and gave the guy the change and a $10 bill. He thrust $7 back at me and before I could get it into my wallet and get my wallet into my purse, he was on his toes looking at the guy behind me asking him what he wanted to order.
Well, pardon me for wanting to actually put away my money before leaving the counter. This happens ALL THE TIME. At Target, at the grocery store, at the... the... the... wait. I think those are the only places I really shop. I've finally figured out why this happens.
People aren't used to dealing with cash anymore, so they're astounded when someone actually has something other than plastic to put away. When you deal with plastic, you don't have to worry about putting bills and change in the right places. (And they have to be in ascending order, all the bills facing the same way and being right-side up. I just learned a couple months ago that my dad does that too. He also deals almost exclusively in cash. Genetics. Wow.) Is it so hard to give someone (me) a minute to get stuff back in her (my) purse before shoving her (me) along? And the cashiers, they thrust money, a receipt and bags at you and then immediately start scanning the next person's stuff. Is a minute too much to ask? It's not like I'm on my phone in the checkout line holding people up. I'm just trying to do what you're supposed to do when someone hands you change.
Department stores are a little different. But maybe that's because I don't usually pay cash in those places. See how this is working out?
I know for the most part, we live in a cashless society. That's fine. But there are instances when you're gonna need cash. I just tried to come up with some and they're increasingly hard to come up with. OK, here's one. Say your card is declined because the bank's server (or whatever) is down and you've ordered lunch at Wendy's -- or gotten gas -- or a latte. It's a small charge, but what'll you do? You don't have $3 on you and your card doesn't work. Yeah, I guess you'd try another card. But you get the idea. My dad taught me to always carry some cash, preferably at least $20. When I was in college, that was laughable. Carry cash? I don't HAVE any cash to carry. But now, I almost always have a least a few dollars.
Most of my friends don't use cash very much, but for me, it's the way to go. I'm so much more aware of what I spend when I'm dealing in cash. How much do I want that latte? Enough to break this 20, which I know means it will be frittered away more quickly? Hmm... Sometimes yes and sometimes no.
All I'm asking is that when I actually do want that latte, could I get a second and little space with it? I just want to put away my money.
posted by Jasclo at 10/06/2005 10:22:00 AM
8 Comments:
I just paid for a .96 bag of Baked Doritos at the airport a few weeks ago - with my debit card. I wish I could be disciplined enough to carry cash. Great points. I've a customer service stickler, and it would be very annoying.
However, having worked in the service industry while I pursued my master's, I know how jerky people could be if you spent one GD second longer than necessary with the person in front of them. I mean, yeah, I worked in a bar and folks want their drinks, but come on. Sometimes they just have to do that because if you don't get to them ASFASTASPOSSIBLE, they'll crab at you. *grumbling*
I know exactly what you're saying. So I think the thing is that people need to chill out, or whatever the kids are saying these days. Haha.
Take a yoga class, people. Sheesh.
who you callin a jerk!? :) anyway, i don't arrange them in that order in line. i'm just sayin -- that's the way they go.
I'm usually pretty patient, but this happens to me at the grocery store all the time:
I get behind somebody in line, it's almost always and old lady, who has relatively few items, so I think it'll go quickly. Turns out each individual item is being purchased for someone else, who has given her the money to do so. So instead of pooling the money, adding it all up, buying everything at once, and figuring out the change later, the woman is carrying 6 different "banks," so each item is purchased in a separate transaction, requiring the giving of money and the returning of change.
The happens ALL THE TIME at a particular grocery store on a wide street in the city, owned by a midwestern chain. They also never have baggers and the checkout people will steal your stuff when you aren't looking.
Oooh, now that's another topic right there - the baggers. I'm at the point where I just gently nudge them aside and tell them to let the master do her job. I don't want 80 million bags, mm-kay? Just shove everything in there - three bags tops - and double bag it. Super easy, yet none of them get it.
BTV, hon, that's exactly why I shop at the locally-owned fancy schmancy grocer. Except, um, when we cheap out and go to Wal-Mart because they have some things that I can find ONLY at Wal-Mart.
Also -- my grandma used to do that!(separate piles of groceries) And she'd stand there and look at the ENTIRE receipt to make sure the cashier has charged her correctly. Because they're all out to get us, you know!
what about checks? is it wrong that I get annoyed when someone in front of me at the grocery pays with a check instead of using a check card? I think it probably is, but I can't help it.
Well... Nah. That's not wrong. :)
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