Please Be Kind. . .

. . .to cashiers. Why? Well a little bit of background first. Many of you know I manage a coffee shop in a noble bookstore that is not in a barn (yes, that was big hint and not a non sequitor) and as such sometimes I help out on the book floor. Well last night I had to man the front cash registers for an hour and it was hell. I really don't know how the usual cashiers do it all day!

The first was a guy who brought a book with the cellophane ripped off of it. He wanted a discount because the cellophane wrapping was torn off (probably by one of the three out of control brats he had with him). "Okay, I can give you a 10% discount," I conceded reluctantly knowing he was just scamming. Then he tried to tell me that at another of our bookstores the book was 5$. Nope, not true, and I politely informed him of that. Then he said that it was 5$ at our competitiors. . .would I match it? Hmmm, let me think. Nope. Especially not after running through the other scams. He probably should have started off with that one if he hoped to catch someone, not break it out third. "Fine, maybe I'll just go there then," he said trying to threaten me. Well the nearest one of our competitior's stores is about 20 minutes away and he was a dick so I replied "Okay, I'll just have someone put this back on the shelf for you. Have a great night," in my cheeriest fake perky voice. Needless to say he caved when his kid started wailing and bought the book. . .and I didin't give him the 10% either.

Next up was a woman who plopped eight books on the counter and told me to "Wrap these!" in an imperious tone of voice. Alright, whatever. I pulled off some paper and she started bitching "That is the paper you are using?"
"Yes ma'am," I replied continuing on.
"I want that paper," she said pointing to a display of wrapping paper we had on sale.
"Sure," I said. "If you want to buy that wrapping paper I'd be happy to use it to wrap your gifts."
She looked perplexed at this. "But then it wouldn't be free gift wrap," she told me as if she was speaking to a retarded four year old.
"That's right," I replied calmly.
"Fine," she spat. "Just wrap it in that. I'll be back."
Whatever, so I calmly proceeded to wrap the books up for her. When I want to I can be a good gift wrapper and I was taking my time wrapping the presents up for her when she stomped back and looked at the three I had already wrapped. "There is a wrinkle in the paper," she practically shrieked at me pointing to a corner where the paper was indeed wrinkled where it was folded to wrap around the corner of the book. "I can't have that! I am very partciular and picky about the way my gifts are wrapped." she stated staring at me.
"Well, I can give you paper if you want to wrap them yourself," I said foolishly thinking that that was the simplest answer. "Rewrap these," she said pointing her clawed finger at me.

OH HELL NO.

I just pulled off a huge chunk of paper and handed it to her rolled up neatly and told her "I think you would be much happier wrapping these yourself since I can't seem to do it well enough."
What the hell does she think she is gonna get from free gift wrapping at a bookstore?

UGH!

Sometimes work is enough to make you hate people!