A woman comes in to buy a 1L bottle of soda. She counts out her change and comes up 12 cents short of the total. After rummaging uselessly in her pockets, she spies our penny tray, which is unusually full. She takes two, then counts her change again. Still short. I start to feel just a teensy bit embarrassed for her, until she grabs a couple more pennies from the tray. Counting again, she of course comes up short. Then she starts to scoop up the ENTIRE contents of the penny tray.
I reach out and remember just in time that I'm not dealing with my 7-year-old here, and that swatting customers on the hand is frowned upon. Instead I pull the tray away from her, and I can't help using my "Mom" voice as I tell her, "You can use one or two, but we need to save some to share with the rest of the customers."
She draws her hand back and says, in a mopey whine reminiscent of Eeyore, "I guess I'll just go get a smaller one, then." I personally think this is an excellent idea, but a customer in line at the other register declares that he'll take care of it, and gives the woman a dollar. To her credit, she does give him a quick "Thanks," but she then pockets the change from the dollar (89 cents) and leaves without a word.
I reach out and remember just in time that I'm not dealing with my 7-year-old here, and that swatting customers on the hand is frowned upon. Instead I pull the tray away from her, and I can't help using my "Mom" voice as I tell her, "You can use one or two, but we need to save some to share with the rest of the customers."
She draws her hand back and says, in a mopey whine reminiscent of Eeyore, "I guess I'll just go get a smaller one, then." I personally think this is an excellent idea, but a customer in line at the other register declares that he'll take care of it, and gives the woman a dollar. To her credit, she does give him a quick "Thanks," but she then pockets the change from the dollar (89 cents) and leaves without a word.
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