Sucky cigarette customer

[ds_36]

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.

Everybody's saying that he should've just entered anything for the guy's DOB because he originally said

Yeah, sure, I could always enter one, but it's just as easy to ask the customer for a birthdate.

Which seems to suggest that he's done that other times, or he (usually) wouldn't have a problem doing it.

[Special Patrol Group]

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.

True but it's not like the old man was confused about why the cashier needed it. In fact he said "I don't care about that. How much is the total?"

So old man doesn't care about the rules. It's not like he's confused, he's a the rules don't apply to me smart aleck. Certainly so was the cashier, but I don't think he's totally denying it and personally I think the old man was asking for it. For goodness sake the old man didn't even want to hand him the money, like the cashier was sewer scum or something!

Now, as charming as both parties were I think perhaps we all need to cool the who was a bigger jerk argument.

[kibbles]

Like I said before Special Patrol Group, it is unusual not to even be able to get a total without giving a DOB. That was my point, and for the record I don't think anyone was having an argument..I think everyone (on both sides) have stated their opinions in a very respectful manner.

[Jadedcarguy]

It's interesting that the OP is taking so much flack for this. He/she had a rule to follow, was trying to follow it, SC was giving out shit. What's not to understand? Sure, a bit of "smartassness" crept in, but we are all guilty of doing that at one time or another.

Personally, when I ask a customer for information that makes my job easier and they flip me shit over it, I don't get nicer. Even if I can do what is needed without that info, once they hassle me, I will require every last bit of info from them that I request or they get NOTHING. Absolutamente NADA. Niente. Bu-bye. I don't ask for VIN numbers for my health, I ask because it facilitates getting the correct parts. The OP doesn't ask for a birthdate because of curiosity, it's to help do a job. The sooner SC's realize this, the sooner they can get their damn smokes!

[Broomjockey]

Which seems to suggest that he's done that other times, or he (usually) wouldn't have a problem doing it.

And yet *this* time, he did ask. As I said. That's the rule his corp has. Ask for DOB. This time he asked for it, so this time he should have gotten it. Doesn't matter what he's done with other customers, unless he's doing it to deliberately provoke someone. Why does it matter that he's (maybe) done it before? We're not talking about those times. We're talking about some cheesefaced-toe rag that can't be arsed to cough up 6 digits. I can tell my DOB in less than a second. About one second even if I use 19XX format for the year. Just because it would have been as easy to do it wouldn't make it right to do it.

It seems that people who are saying "You should have just entered a random DOB since he wouldn't give it up mean (IMO) that:
a) we should roll over for difficult customers
b) break rules that customers whine about

That might not what you guys mean to say, but that's what you're giving off to me, which is why I'm not going to agree. Sorry, but until someone comes up with a new argument, I'm staying firm on my opinion of this. I'll agree to disagree, but that's as far as you're moving me.

[NightAngel]

People may as well get used to the fact that we have to ID, get DOB's etc. because it isn't going to go away.

I went to Wal-Mart and bought an R rated DVD tonight. This particular Wal-Mart is being completely remodled and is getting all new equipment.
The pretty new cash register locked down the sale of the DVD until she slid my ID through the card reader. The register then popped this message up on the screen:

"Date Of Birth: 03/04/1972
Okay to proceed with sale."

But see, I'm not an SC so when she said, "May I see your ID?"
I said, "Of course." and handed it to her thusly saving myself and her time, trouble and headache.

[JuniorMintz]

It's interesting that the OP is taking so much flack for this. He/she had a rule to follow, was trying to follow it, SC was giving out shit. What's not to understand?

Personally, when I ask a customer for information that makes my job easier and they flip me shit over it, I don't get nicer. ...

It seems that people who are saying "You should have just entered a random DOB since he wouldn't give it up mean (IMO) that:
a) we should roll over for difficult customers
b) break rules that customers whine about

People may as well get used to the fact that we have to ID, get DOB's etc. because it isn't going to go away...

I went to Wal-Mart and bought an R rated DVD tonight...
But see, I'm not an SC so when she said, "May I see your ID?"
I said, "Of course." and handed it to her thusly saving myself and her time, trouble and headache.

All quotes chosen because I agree 100% and I'm too lazy to write my own post.

[aurelemsrealm]

OP posting again.......

There are a couple of points I wanted to address:

1. Somewhere along the way, it seems that the context of what I wrote was taken to indicate that I have no problem with sometimes fudging a birthdate when the customer looks old enough, but chose not to do so in this case. No, I always ask for the birthdate, no matter how well I know the customer. I have some customers who come in multiple times a shift, and I still ask each time. It may seem a minor point to some, but I don't feel like it's my job to come up with a valid birthdate when the customer can just as easily tell me his/her birthdate. I'm usually running the store alone, and have about five other thought processes going besides the customer's immediate transaction in efforts to keep the store running as smoothly as possible. The customer wants the product, so let the customer put in the creative effort to think up a valid birthdate if they don't want to give out their real birthdate. They should be glad that I've decided not to push for an ID on cigarettes even though I can tell they are old enough. All I need is a valid birthdate which will allow me to ring up the sale.

2. There is a sign at the register which states that ID is required on all alcohol and tobacco sales regardless of age, no exceptions. State law here requires ID on all alcohol sales regardless of age. Tobacco sales are less restrictive about the requirement of ID, but there is still an age restriction which applies. As a matter of company policy, tobacco and all other age-restricted products are handled at the clerk's discretion. The sign is a discolored, tattered piece of paper, but the message is intact and this sign is plainly visible in the customer's field of vision at the register. The problem is that most customers don't pay attention to signage, as we all know. At the moment, I had even forgotten about the sign in order to point it out to the customer, but it probably wouldn't have mattered.

3. I won't deny that I can be a smartass toward sucky customers if I can find an opportunity which won't get me in trouble. My opinion is that they don't deserve to be treated respectfully if they're going to be jerks. They can show me or my coworkers the same respect if they plan on having a positive shopping experience. Personally, I'd rather not do business with someone who gets off on making others miserable just because they know their victims aren't at liberty to fight back lest they be reprimanded by management or even lose their jobs. It's all about showing respect to fellow human beings, in my opinion. If that makes me seem sucky or like an asshole, then I'll just have to be proud to be a sucky asshole about it. That's just my opinion, though.

4. All things considered, I'm not offended by those whose opinions were not in my favor. They may have some valid points, but I disagree with anyone who thought I was out of line. I feel justified in my reaction to that customer. After all, I was the one in that situation. I just want to ask you, though, how many of you have dealt with selling age-restricted products like alcohol and cigarettes? I may be going insane or imagining things, but it seems like those who were less sympathetic had little to no experience with age-restricted sales while the more sympathetic ones had more experience. I also want to thank those whose opinions were in my favor.

[It's me]

she slid my ID through the card reader

I'd be really, really worried about identity theft. Just becasue all that was displayed was DOB doesn't mean that a whole lot of other info was stashed for future analysis.

[Pedersen]

I know credit card numbers and social security numbers are ripe for fraud, but I can't imagine it would be possible to victimize someone by knowing their DOB.

Whenever I'm asked and am purchasing alcohol or cigarettes, I just...well, I just give them my DOB. I guess I really don't see what the big deal is.

Well, here's how it could be useful (sorry if somebody else said this, just replying with my own imagination): You have a DOB. If you can get a name, you can start searching public birth records. Once you can identify someone's birth, a little bit more legwork will let you get your hands on a birth certificate.

Once you've got that, things are much easier. Check county tax records, look for any land holdings by your victim. Find the victim's house, and figure out when mail delivery is.

Now, call up the Social Security Administration, and claim you lost your card, could they send you a new one to the address they have on file? A little whining, a little SC-ness, and it's all too likely it's on its way.

Intercept mail at the mail box. Snag the day's bills while you're at it, you might need them. You've now got a SSN, card, and birth certificate. Pop down to the DMV, and present your current information, and ask for a replacement driver's license. They might need the bills to confirm your current address, but they'll give you a new one.

SSN, Birth Certificate, Driver's License. File a change of address with the DMV afterwards, then "lose" your current DL to get it replaced again, this time with the new address.

Open a few credit cards, so you get some bills coming to your current address. Go get a passport, too, if you wish it.

Say hello to the new version of your victim. All from birth day and name. And the government will fully endorse that you are the new name you've given yourself. If you pay off those cards, and close those accounts, your victim will likely never know there's a dupe out there.

Sorry if I've scared anybody. I do think about these things from time to time.

[Pedersen]

I guess I'm just old enough to remember a time when people minded their own business about what you chose to put into your body.

Wow, that is fricking ancient!

Since the drug laws have been on the books since at least before the 1960's, and let's not forget prohibition, so there's the 1920's. I'm pretty sure there were laws against opium use and heroin use even before that. Add in that you actually remember this time, and you would have to have been at least 5. Reasonably, teenage years. You might not have been born in the 20th century.

Sure you wanna stick with that claim?

[Andara Bledin]

*shakes head*

I don't get it. Why on earth would even a single person on this forum go with the "You should have just totally broken your own rules and risked being fined and/or fired rather than sticking to your guns and getting the DOB"?

The man was being a twat, and it was right that it didn't get him anywhere.

I'd be really, really worried about identity theft. Just becasue all that was displayed was DOB doesn't mean that a whole lot of other info was stashed for future analysis.

Feh. $25 will get you the full SSN of anybody in the US with the exception of the current president. His is $35. Oh, and credit reporting companies already trade this data with each other (mistakes intact) all the time. Oh, and don't forget all the other data mining companies out there who regularly trade identity data every single second of the day.

If someone has any interest in stealing identities, he's not going to be the schmoe hanging out next to you at the video sales counter. He's going to be on the Internet, or standing near some contactless payment system (boy are those things just about as stupid exposed as you get), or hijacking some ATM system that never had the master password reset (because, yes, people are just that stupid).

^-.-^

[Becks]

At my old job we had a code to enter into the computer if we deamed the customer was of age to buy cigs. We used '19010101', as in year/month/day.

At my store, they use a bunch of 1s.

And I was only carded there once, a few months ago...and I'd bought smokey treats there for years before that.

I imagine a lot of people would be put-off having to give their DOB...especially women.

Unfair comment!!

Even though I'm vaguely depressed by being 28, I don't mind people asking for ID/DOB.

[wanderingjoe72]

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?

You nailed it. A lot of state agencies operate under a zero tolerance policy and will send in "customers" in order to test that laws are being followed.

I worked with seniors too long to let them get by with anything.