Webalina wrote:
I had a good example of this happen just today at work.
I'm a cashier at a convenience store. Two guys came in to day, one guy got a few items, then his friend came up to the counter with his items. They said the items were to be rung up together in one order. All during the transaction they were joking and kidding around, which is fine and I was going along in the same vein. When I informed them of the total amount, the first guy told me that he had already given me $20 to cover his items. I paused and got very uncomfortable because I couldn't recall if he had given to me or not -- the store had been very busy all day and I was tired. I kinda paused and looked at the guy's face. He was being very sincere and insisting he had already paid. I then told him that there was a way I could check the register to see if he had indeed already given me the money. When I said that, he laughed and slid a $20 across the counter to me.
I'm not sure if I should have known what he was up to. Was he kidding around from the beginning and I missed the clues? Or was he really trying to put one over on me, and when he found out I could double-check he backed off? He laughed the whole situation off, but it made me feel awkward and stupid because I didn't know. Not asking for advice or answers to the above questions....I'm just musing over whether an NT would have been able to tell if the guy was kidding or really trying to rip me off.
Ive spent a big chunk of my life standing behind cash registers dealing with the public.
Never had a customer exactly like that but- you handled it fine.
From what youve told me its hard to tell-since both guys were yaking and laffing -maybe it was a joke. But a lame and inconsiderate joke.
So...either (a) he was trying to rip you off -in which case you calmly politely respond to it without accusing him upfront- and laugh it off when he hands you a 20. Or (b) it was a joke. In which case you calmly respond to it and laugh it off when he gives the twenty ( even though you're probably NOT amused ).
Which is what you did.
It just one of those things- it really doesnt matter which it was- he was jerk either way- but you have to be polite to him either way.
06 Mar 2013, 12:08 am
