Sucky cigarette customer

[ArenaBoy]

Reading through this, I've come to these conclusions:

1. Tobacco of any kind has ALWAYS been a restricted item last time I checked. It may have been a lot easier to get it at one point in time but now restrictions are put in for myriad reasons.

2. Like Broom said, an explanation was given:

"It'll ring up tax and all once I get your birthdate entered."

That should be reason enough.

3. Even though the OP should have been able to see that the man was old enough, a birthdate was still needed.

4. One side was smart ass, the other sucky. That is all.

[myswtghst]

Honestly, I have no sympathy for the old man. Even on a bad day, when I want my ciggies, I walk into the convenience store, ask if I may please have a pack of my smokes of choice, have my ID at the ready, and pay, followed by a thank you. It takes minimal effort to be polite--far less effort than it took this guy to act like a jackass.

Also, again, I'm sympathizing with the OP, as once you step to me, I'm not going to play nice. If you can't behave like the adult you so obviously insist you are, why the heck should I pander to you and your attitude? I don't think we should be punishing someone for trying to do their job, being abused, and having a little bit of harmless smart-ass fun. May just be my opinion, but I'll stick with it.

[kibbles]

You go right ahead and enjoy making my work day harder because I've delayed your precious "smokie-treat" for 123 seconds. That will only make me pray harder and harder for you to eventually make your own family cry and weep for your premature, cancer-from-smoking death.

Ummmm...JMO but that's a bit harsh isn't it? No matter how sucky a person is, there is no reason to wish something harmful on them or their families. Like I said before, if the cashier had asked for ID and the customer acted that way I would wholeheartedly agree that the customer was the lone sucky person in the situation.

However, needing a birth date to even give a total is something that is not usually required so a brief explanation from the start wouldn't have hurt at all.


JMO of course

P.S. Not saying that the customer was justified in his suckyness but he wasn't the only sucky one in the situation.

[Broomjockey]

How precisely is asking for a guy's ID to buy smoke's an attempt to minimize offense to a race, culture or group?

GK beat me to it. It's not being PC to ask for ID, or to restrict and place measures regarding the sales of tobacco and related items. Being pressured not to smoke is a cultural shift, yes, but not politically correct.

Again, I say: This customer was teh suxxorz.

Being old doesn't exempt you from rules and laws. There's no being "grandfathered in" so that you don't have show ID, or provide a DOB. Someone, please TELL ME WHY should the cashier have to break the rules if they don't want to, just because this *ass-hat* didn't want to give his DOB? If the cashier wants to, fine. But it's the rules of the establishment to ask, and to have it given. We constantly crap on SCs for wanting a rule bent, why is anyone cutting this SC slack? Fine, OP might have been a bit sucky in return, though I call it smart-alec, which is a lot better than some other responses that could have been given. How about denying the sale? That would have gone over even less well.

And HowMayIHelpMe? may have seemed a little extreme, but I can see where he's coming from. We're not allowed to refuse sales on items like this based on moral/ethical grounds, and the customer doesn't know (they're not psychic, remember?) the backstory, so they don't know the kind of feelings that may be stirred up by the purchase of something like that.

[myswtghst]

Someone, please TELL ME WHY should the cashier have to break the rules if they don't want to, just because this *ass-hat* didn't want to give his DOB? If the cashier wants to, fine. But it's the rules of the establishment to ask, and to have it given. We constantly crap on SCs for wanting a rule bent, why is anyone cutting this SC slack?

You said it much more precisely than I could. Thanks! This is exactly what I was thinking--everyone keeps saying it would have bene easier to just put in a fake birthday, but why on earth should we expect the OP to break the rules for a jerk? Just so next time, he could give someone else a hard time for not breaking the rules for him?

[kibbles]

I never once said that the cashier should have fudged a date or broke the rules, but since having to give a DOB to even get the total is somewhat unusual, a brief explanation wouldn't have hurt at all.

[Broomjockey]

I never once said that the cashier should have fudged a date or broke the rules, but since having to give a DOB to even get the total is somewhat unusual, a brief explanation wouldn't have hurt at all.

I know you haven't, but others have said it. But saying "the total comes up after I input your DOB" doesn't count as a brief explanation?

[ShinyGreenApple]

But the OP did give a brief explanation. Either the old man wasn't paying attention or felt that he was above the rules, with the latter being more likely. At my store, we have the option to skip the age check with cigs, but not alcohol sales. You can either enter in the DOB when you scan the drinks, or simply hit the Enter key and keep going, but if you do that then the register is going to say "Underage check bypassed" when you total up and you'll need a manager with a key to come and override it. This being the "If they're obviously older than dirt" option. But it still requires seeing an ID (we've been told not to ask them their DOB, but to actually view something that proves it) or getting a second opinion from someone higher up.

I still ask customers with white hair to see their ID. Most either think it's hilarious and/or flattering and are more than glad to whip out a drivers' license. However, if I get eye rolling or smart-ass remarks, I keep scanning until the end. Then they wonder why I'm waiting for a manager and most of the time feel thoroughly humbled when said manager comes over and calmly explains that I am not hassling or being smart, but doing my job. It may seem dumb to do this instead of just entering any old date, but what if the person I fudge the date on is doing a sting?

Sorry, I need a paycheck just like everyone else and I'm not gonna lose my job just so you can have your Budweiser.

[kibbles]

JMO but for me, saying it won't give me a total until I enter a birthdate would be more of an explanation. Even with the explanation the OP gave, I would still question (although not in a sucky manner) the reason for the DOB. It's not the same as being asked for ID (that's usual practice) but like I said, I would find it hard to understand the need for a DOB.

JMO of course

[Broomjockey]

I would still question (although not in a sucky manner) the reason for the DOB. It's not the same as being asked for ID (that's usual practice) but like I said, I would find it hard to understand the need for a DOB.

JMO of course

As the Bard would say "There in lies the rub."

Alternatively, here we see the difference between suck and non-suck. There is a clear difference between asking for clarification (kibbles), and refusal (customer in OP). If the guy had just asked "What do you need my DOB for?" The whole thing would have gone differently. And this is why I've been saying all along the guy was sucky. He precipitated the whole situation. Rlm offered an explanation. If it was found wanting, then a better one could have been asked for. This guy went for non-compliance.

[kibbles]

I get what you are saying but I think we'll have to agree to disagree

[jparenti]

I can hear the guy you're talking about in my head now. When he says, "You don't have to get me anything" when you ask for a birthdate, he's being a complete smartass. He knows it's easy to rattle off a date. He just wants to express his frustration. But not in the right way. No one needs to say this is politically correct bullshit to ask for a birthdate. It's the law.
We enter "101010" for customers who are old enough, and "111111" for regulars who have been carded a zillion times. That's actually our corporation's policy, which is kind of nice, since they understand the situation and make it easier on us. Maybe you should suggest this for future use, since it's a hell of a lot easier than bothering to ask everyone who's 70 years old.

[napoleana]

He throws his money just short of my hand, like it's an affront. It just means that I'm not going to bother to hand your money to you either. I intentionally unfolded the money and sorted it, then set it on top of the open drawer. Then, I pulled out his change, gently placed it on the counter despite the obviously wiggling fingers of impatience on his outstretched hand, and went about putting the money on top of the open drawer in the register.

The husband of a friend of mine was giving me a ride to their place (back when he was working at Office Depot), and asked suddenly, "Are the customers here racists or just rude?"

"Huh?"

He goes on to explain that more often than not, people pay him by slamming money on the counter or, if he has denied them some strange request, throwing it at him.

"That would get you shot where I come." (Note: Apparently, some ghetto in Mississippi, by his own discription.)

So, apparently, a college town is more rude than a ghetto. We must be so proud of ourselves. He's probably right; not enough people being shot at.

[Rapscallion]

There are cultures that work by placing the money on the counter rather than in someone's hand. It means that everyone can see the money and there is the possibility of witnesses in the event of any dispute.

Rapscallion

[aurelemsrealm]

As the OP, I have to say that I don't feel I was acting out of line. Had the customer simply asked why, I would have been more than happy to simply explain policy without showing the attitude. I am good to the good customers. Business won't thrive without the support of good customers, and we need to take care of the GOOD customers. However, that doesn't mean we have to be doormats for the bad customers. They expect to be treated respectfully when they come into our establishments to do business, but they should also be willing to show the same level of respect as human beings. My opinion is that it's all about the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

The majority of customers are already on board with the way we operate. Most of them already have their ID out for beer since that is a matter of law regardless of age. Most of them already have their ID out for tobacco or anything else age-restricted as a matter of store policy. I don't mind explaining if someone has an earnest question and asks respectfully. All stores around here at least ask for a birth date if not an ID. I've been in enough other stores to know that firsthand. What I do mind is the nasty attitude when I'm just trying to do my job, and I will respond in kind. It may not be the ideal attitude for working in customer service, but none of us are perfect. I certainly don't act out like that when I'm a customer somewhere because I tend to sympathize with the person on the other side of the counter. I treat them the same way I like for customers to treat me when I'm at work. No one needs a bunch of extra hassles if they're trying to work for an honest living.