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3 nights of Hell (long)
You'll have to excuse me if I'm not able to remember every little detail on this post, as I've been away from the job that this happened at for about 3 years now, but I remember enough of it that I can reasonably tell the three nights of hell.
A little background.
During the fall of 2005 I worked for a gas station/convenience store, we'll call it the 87-Square J, now this particular store was different than even the closest other store (about 3 miles away in the same city) because of three things. 1) being right next to a freeway on-ramp. 2) Being in the vicinity of a Club that served vast amounts of alcohol on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3) being right behind a park and ride that was nestled between two rival gangs. Long story short, We were one of the only stores in the area that did not sell the following things (at the time): Single Cigars, Blunt Wraps, Rolling Papers, High Proof Beer and Malt Alcohols, and (thankfully) Glass Roses. We also would close on the nights listed above, as in we would actually close and lock the doors.
This takes place over three days, one was a swing shift I covered, the other two were both graveyard shifts.
Take my $100 during the middle of rush hour...
My first encounter was with someone who decided in his infinite wisdom to try to pay for a Single Stick (a single cigarette which cost about $.75 at the time) with nothing but a Benjamin, even though it was plain to see that he had lower denominations in his wallet. I had my manager back me up when I refused, mainly because we were almost out of 20's (I think we had about 2 in the drop safe, mainly because of things like this), and the fact that we had people out the door with two registers, and the drop safe (I think that's what it was, basically you do a cash drop into the safe, but it also does things such as dispense various ammounts) that had a 2 minute timer for getting any extra that you needed.
In my head I thought, Hell I've used all sorts of financial institutions, and I know I can get something less than a Benjamin if I ask, next time, ask.
False Drive Off #1
Our POS would often beep if a customer who hadn't pre-paid took too long between pump and register, During busy hours, (both rush hours, and about 11 PM) we sometimes got multiple alarms going off as the customers were waiting right in line, usually behind the next person down (yes I'm only relating one on the next point, this happened so often it was routine, but that one wasn't).
Anyways, We just get finished with a rush, and suddenly I'm hearing the alarm (to this day I can't stand the default windows error sound) no car is at the pump in question, so my training tells me one thing, call in a drive off (yes I had this person's plate #) well as I get off the phone, a person walks up and says $XX on pump 4 (the same one that was alarming), I go through it, find out that they had driven from the pump to the parking at the front of the store (all about at most 100 feet) to pay for gas, but that it had taken them about 2 minutes to do, meaning I had to cancel out the drive off slip, and call back to let the police know it was a false alarm.
But the AM/PM does it...
Particularly witty banter with one particular person. Now as I said my store didn't sell single cigars, or blunt wraps, or even rolling papers and it was easy to see from outside that we didn't and yet every day we'd get someone asking for them, however this one took the cake as most of them when we said no we don't have them, would just go away, especially during a rush.
Not this SC, he would take no for an answer over his dead body.
Me- Glad to be away from there
SC- Oddly enough a white gangsta wannabe.
SC- Gimme a Swisher.
Me- ID Please.
SC: *actually produces it,
and he's legal.*
Me: *turns to pick up the 5 pack we have, as it's the only Swishers we have.*
SC: No no, a single.
Me: Sorry, we don't have singles, only the packs.
SC: But the other one does (note: the only other 76 in the area was the same as ours, no singles.)
Me: Well we don't sir. *about this time Customer turns from Stupid to sucky*
SC: But AM/PM does.
Me: Well sir we are not AM/PM, and we don't sell them.
About this time a small line is forming behind him.
SC: Couldn't you just open one of the packs and sell it to me?
Me (in my wide eyed innocence): I'm sorry sir, but the bar code for that is not on the ones in the pack nor would it be in the system, nor can I open one for you, you'll have to pay for the five pack.
SC: What an asshole, you just lost a customer.
My day was brightened when the next person in line said this to me, "You lost someone who can spend at least $20 on something, but can't afford to spend $6.25 that would last him his whole sack?" (yes we knew why 90% of the people wanted a single.)
That's right flash that gang sign where cops can see it.
On the second day I was on graveyard shift, almost right to the doors pulls a Black SUV, when i go to the doors (Graveyard CSRs are not allowed to go outside for any reason save dire emergency i.e. store is about to blow up) and ask how I can help them, I get one asking me for directions, while the other just shouts, yes you can come out here so i can kick your ass, now the real name of the place I worked, plus the color of their uniforms, is important here since (as I later found out these we Crips from another city.) Needelss to say he was probably not happy that someone who worked for a convenince store with the initials CK, and had red uniforms would be helping them. The girl asked for directions, and due to the noise I had to used certain things such as holding up two fingers to indicate that it was two exits down, then pointed right to the on-ramp next to us as to how they could get there) needless to say this was somehow interpreted as me signin at them. When I was finished I went inisde, they flashed me their sign, to which I responded with the infamous L-on-forehead, when prompted them on their way out to once again flash some gang sign...right by as a passing cop, never did know if they got caught or anything.
You live in the state but I know more than you, especially about Newcleear Wessels
About an hour later, I got about 7 people in a group coming in, all black trench coats, and well, needelss to say their first language was something slavic.
Me- Former CSR
Ivan- SC, imagine his lines spoken by a Russian James Bond villain.
Ivan- Can I get a pack of Marlboros?
Me- Can i see you ID please *Ivan's friends kinda went silent at this*
Ivan hands me over an obviously fake ID, printed out on white printer paper, photo on top of the paper, all of which was laminated with normal lamination, no DL#, no Expiratin date, just State name underlined, .photo, DOB, and Organ Donor actually written on it (To clarify, this state in 2002 changed from laminated cards to plastic cards which had certain directsion for under 21 and over 21, but have always had the DL#, and had had a holographic image imbded in the lamination when they did it.
Me- Sorry I can't take this.
Ivan- Oh the DMV said it's valid, it's just a temporary.
Me- No this isn't a temporary, it's printed on a certain type of paper.
Ivan- Well they were out.
Me- Still can't take it.
Ivan- Call them.
Me- They would be closed right now, making it pointless.
Ivan- All the other stores around here accepted it.
Me- Doubtful, they nearly turned down my Out of State unexpired ID, but looked it up and saw it was valid.
Ivan- If you think it's fake call the cops.
Me- No I'll just tell you to get out of the store.
*reason here is 7 people, who are probably your friends, yeah I'm gonna call the cops and I'm not gonna press the silent alarm since this is something that's really a non-emergency*
Ivan leaves, almost screaming in his native tongue, along with his friends and nothing to cure his nic fit.
What do you mean you're closed?
Now as explained earlier, we closed on Fridays and Saturdays (well technically Saturday and Sunday) right about 2 AM. The reason we gave was so that we could clean up unimpeded, the real reason was so that we didn't have to have the cops there every weekend to haul people away in the drunk tanks and clog up our pumps.
I swear this was the only time working these days (I worked them for all of my 3 month stint there) where I got more than the occasional Park and Ride bum wanting in.
to do a quick summary, they'd ask, I'd say yes, they'd ask why, this was store policy, and usually went away and the big joke here was the one that demanded at 3 AM to be let in, I asked why, he said, I need to buy a beer (yes because our registers which say no sir I wont ring up that beer bought after the sales cut off point would let you anyways.) Luckily I just said, sorry closed, and went back to my duties. *sigh* some people.
But I'm from Oregon....Oh...Sorry.
We'd occasionally get the rare driver from Oregon, but only once did I get someone demanding I come out to pump (since most lived in Portland, and worked in the city of Vancouver right across the Colombia River so knew they had to pump their own gas here.
However, these folks had to have come from someplace in the middle of Oregon, since the first thing was him honking after paying by card, to which I motioned for them to come inside.
Me- Wonder why I quit...see Swisher boy
SC- Seems to have no concept of state borders.
SC: Why aren't you coming out?
Me: I can't, company policy.
SC: Well I can't pump my own gas, it's the law.
Me: Only in Oregon sir, here in Washington every place is self-service.
SC: Come on.
Me: Sorry can't do it.
SC: But it's the law.
I'll shorten it here and say tat this continued for about 3 more minutes of me reminding him that we're in washington, and him telling me it's the law.
He did eventually and begrudgingly pump his own gas.
Why Smooth Jazz?
Not so much a sucky but still...
Had someone ask why the music I was playing softly behind the counter was smooth jazz, who then got in line behind one of those Swisher wanters, and another person without ID to make a cigs purchase, both of which threw tantrums.
His response when they were out of earshot. Oh that's why. 
That job did have it's perks though, free coffee, and guys with cute asses.
A little background.
During the fall of 2005 I worked for a gas station/convenience store, we'll call it the 87-Square J, now this particular store was different than even the closest other store (about 3 miles away in the same city) because of three things. 1) being right next to a freeway on-ramp. 2) Being in the vicinity of a Club that served vast amounts of alcohol on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3) being right behind a park and ride that was nestled between two rival gangs. Long story short, We were one of the only stores in the area that did not sell the following things (at the time): Single Cigars, Blunt Wraps, Rolling Papers, High Proof Beer and Malt Alcohols, and (thankfully) Glass Roses. We also would close on the nights listed above, as in we would actually close and lock the doors.
This takes place over three days, one was a swing shift I covered, the other two were both graveyard shifts.
Take my $100 during the middle of rush hour...
My first encounter was with someone who decided in his infinite wisdom to try to pay for a Single Stick (a single cigarette which cost about $.75 at the time) with nothing but a Benjamin, even though it was plain to see that he had lower denominations in his wallet. I had my manager back me up when I refused, mainly because we were almost out of 20's (I think we had about 2 in the drop safe, mainly because of things like this), and the fact that we had people out the door with two registers, and the drop safe (I think that's what it was, basically you do a cash drop into the safe, but it also does things such as dispense various ammounts) that had a 2 minute timer for getting any extra that you needed.
In my head I thought, Hell I've used all sorts of financial institutions, and I know I can get something less than a Benjamin if I ask, next time, ask.
False Drive Off #1
Our POS would often beep if a customer who hadn't pre-paid took too long between pump and register, During busy hours, (both rush hours, and about 11 PM) we sometimes got multiple alarms going off as the customers were waiting right in line, usually behind the next person down (yes I'm only relating one on the next point, this happened so often it was routine, but that one wasn't).
Anyways, We just get finished with a rush, and suddenly I'm hearing the alarm (to this day I can't stand the default windows error sound) no car is at the pump in question, so my training tells me one thing, call in a drive off (yes I had this person's plate #) well as I get off the phone, a person walks up and says $XX on pump 4 (the same one that was alarming), I go through it, find out that they had driven from the pump to the parking at the front of the store (all about at most 100 feet) to pay for gas, but that it had taken them about 2 minutes to do, meaning I had to cancel out the drive off slip, and call back to let the police know it was a false alarm.
But the AM/PM does it...
Particularly witty banter with one particular person. Now as I said my store didn't sell single cigars, or blunt wraps, or even rolling papers and it was easy to see from outside that we didn't and yet every day we'd get someone asking for them, however this one took the cake as most of them when we said no we don't have them, would just go away, especially during a rush.
Not this SC, he would take no for an answer over his dead body.
Me- Glad to be away from there
SC- Oddly enough a white gangsta wannabe.
SC- Gimme a Swisher.
Me- ID Please.
SC: *actually produces it,
and he's legal.*Me: *turns to pick up the 5 pack we have, as it's the only Swishers we have.*
SC: No no, a single.
Me: Sorry, we don't have singles, only the packs.
SC: But the other one does (note: the only other 76 in the area was the same as ours, no singles.)
Me: Well we don't sir. *about this time Customer turns from Stupid to sucky*
SC: But AM/PM does.
Me: Well sir we are not AM/PM, and we don't sell them.
About this time a small line is forming behind him.
SC: Couldn't you just open one of the packs and sell it to me?
Me (in my wide eyed innocence): I'm sorry sir, but the bar code for that is not on the ones in the pack nor would it be in the system, nor can I open one for you, you'll have to pay for the five pack.
SC: What an asshole, you just lost a customer.
My day was brightened when the next person in line said this to me, "You lost someone who can spend at least $20 on something, but can't afford to spend $6.25 that would last him his whole sack?" (yes we knew why 90% of the people wanted a single.)
That's right flash that gang sign where cops can see it.
On the second day I was on graveyard shift, almost right to the doors pulls a Black SUV, when i go to the doors (Graveyard CSRs are not allowed to go outside for any reason save dire emergency i.e. store is about to blow up) and ask how I can help them, I get one asking me for directions, while the other just shouts, yes you can come out here so i can kick your ass, now the real name of the place I worked, plus the color of their uniforms, is important here since (as I later found out these we Crips from another city.) Needelss to say he was probably not happy that someone who worked for a convenince store with the initials CK, and had red uniforms would be helping them. The girl asked for directions, and due to the noise I had to used certain things such as holding up two fingers to indicate that it was two exits down, then pointed right to the on-ramp next to us as to how they could get there) needless to say this was somehow interpreted as me signin at them. When I was finished I went inisde, they flashed me their sign, to which I responded with the infamous L-on-forehead, when prompted them on their way out to once again flash some gang sign...right by as a passing cop, never did know if they got caught or anything.
You live in the state but I know more than you, especially about Newcleear Wessels
About an hour later, I got about 7 people in a group coming in, all black trench coats, and well, needelss to say their first language was something slavic.
Me- Former CSR
Ivan- SC, imagine his lines spoken by a Russian James Bond villain.
Ivan- Can I get a pack of Marlboros?
Me- Can i see you ID please *Ivan's friends kinda went silent at this*
Ivan hands me over an obviously fake ID, printed out on white printer paper, photo on top of the paper, all of which was laminated with normal lamination, no DL#, no Expiratin date, just State name underlined, .photo, DOB, and Organ Donor actually written on it (To clarify, this state in 2002 changed from laminated cards to plastic cards which had certain directsion for under 21 and over 21, but have always had the DL#, and had had a holographic image imbded in the lamination when they did it.
Me- Sorry I can't take this.
Ivan- Oh the DMV said it's valid, it's just a temporary.
Me- No this isn't a temporary, it's printed on a certain type of paper.
Ivan- Well they were out.
Me- Still can't take it.
Ivan- Call them.
Me- They would be closed right now, making it pointless.
Ivan- All the other stores around here accepted it.
Me- Doubtful, they nearly turned down my Out of State unexpired ID, but looked it up and saw it was valid.
Ivan- If you think it's fake call the cops.
Me- No I'll just tell you to get out of the store.
*reason here is 7 people, who are probably your friends, yeah I'm gonna call the cops and I'm not gonna press the silent alarm since this is something that's really a non-emergency*Ivan leaves, almost screaming in his native tongue, along with his friends and nothing to cure his nic fit.
What do you mean you're closed?
Now as explained earlier, we closed on Fridays and Saturdays (well technically Saturday and Sunday) right about 2 AM. The reason we gave was so that we could clean up unimpeded, the real reason was so that we didn't have to have the cops there every weekend to haul people away in the drunk tanks and clog up our pumps.
I swear this was the only time working these days (I worked them for all of my 3 month stint there) where I got more than the occasional Park and Ride bum wanting in.
to do a quick summary, they'd ask, I'd say yes, they'd ask why, this was store policy, and usually went away and the big joke here was the one that demanded at 3 AM to be let in, I asked why, he said, I need to buy a beer (yes because our registers which say no sir I wont ring up that beer bought after the sales cut off point would let you anyways.) Luckily I just said, sorry closed, and went back to my duties. *sigh* some people.
But I'm from Oregon....Oh...Sorry.
We'd occasionally get the rare driver from Oregon, but only once did I get someone demanding I come out to pump (since most lived in Portland, and worked in the city of Vancouver right across the Colombia River so knew they had to pump their own gas here.
However, these folks had to have come from someplace in the middle of Oregon, since the first thing was him honking after paying by card, to which I motioned for them to come inside.
Me- Wonder why I quit...see Swisher boy
SC- Seems to have no concept of state borders.
SC: Why aren't you coming out?
Me: I can't, company policy.
SC: Well I can't pump my own gas, it's the law.
Me: Only in Oregon sir, here in Washington every place is self-service.
SC: Come on.
Me: Sorry can't do it.
SC: But it's the law.
I'll shorten it here and say tat this continued for about 3 more minutes of me reminding him that we're in washington, and him telling me it's the law.
He did eventually and begrudgingly pump his own gas.
Why Smooth Jazz?
Not so much a sucky but still...
Had someone ask why the music I was playing softly behind the counter was smooth jazz, who then got in line behind one of those Swisher wanters, and another person without ID to make a cigs purchase, both of which threw tantrums.
His response when they were out of earshot. Oh that's why.
That job did have it's perks though, free coffee, and guys with cute asses.
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