Unclear on the concept

[CarcinogenCrunchies]

In the dining area at the store, we sell coffee refills to people who bring in their own mugs. We have people bring in everything from styrofoam cups (some even bring in used ones from McDonald's) to small thermoses, but we charge them the refill price. I don't run into a lot of people who try to cheat the (quite lenient, IMO) system on coffee, but today I got two.

SC: I'd like to pay for two coffee refills, please. Oh, and can I have two cups?
ME: One dollar, please. <hands over two small water cups>
SC: No, I need coffee cups. I forgot to wash these. <indicates his two coffee mugs>
ME: So you want two regular coffees, then?
SC: No, we have cups for refills, but they're dirty.
ME: You have to use your own cup if you want a refill.
SC: Fine, I'll just go wash these, then.

Less than an hour later...

SC: My mom wants a refill, but she forgot her cup.
ME: So you want a coffee?
SC: No, she wants a refill, but she forgot to bring her cup. The girl over there said it was okay, and she told me to talk to you.
ME: The whole idea of a refill is that you fill your own mug. If you don't have a mug, you can't re-fill it.

After the fact, my co-worker - otherwise known as "the girl over there" - told me that the guy who "forgot" pulled the same thing yesterday. She said she'd told him she would give him the refill price just once, but next time he'd better remember his mug.

[bainsidhe]

Back when I worked fast food, we weren't supposed to refill anything except a plastic or ceramic/glass mug. Due to sanitary/safety reasons, we weren't supposed to do refills on styrofoam or paper cups. That rule wasn't too popular.

[XCashier]

When I worked at a popular fast food roast beef joint, we sold senior coffees for 25¢ with free refills. We also used the coffee cups for water glasses. More than once, a senior would order water with his or her meal, then later bring the cup up and ask for the free coffee refill!

I called one jerk on it, and he acted angry and insulted. Later, his wife called our manager and apologized, saying she gave him the idea! Pretty sad that you're so cheap you'll try to cheat your way out of paying a quarter for coffee!

Some time after I left, they started issuing seperate cups for coffee and water, so no more of that.

[LillFilly]

I've made a game out of seeing how many times I can re-use my coffee cup (paying each time of course); the record number of refills a cup has lasted through is 6. I ruined one at 3 when it caught fire in the microwave...

[jjllbb]

When I worked at a popular fast food roast beef joint, we sold senior coffees for 25¢ with free refills. We also used the coffee cups for water glasses. More than once, a senior would order water with his or her meal, then later bring the cup up and ask for the free coffee refill!

I called one jerk on it, and he acted angry and insulted. Later, his wife called our manager and apologized, saying she gave him the idea! Pretty sad that you're so cheap you'll try to cheat your way out of paying a quarter for coffee!

Some time after I left, they started issuing seperate cups for coffee and water, so no more of that.

At least she was classy enough to call, admit it, and apologize. I'm actually shocked that she did it. Absolutely shocked.

[XCashier]

At least she was classy enough to call, admit it, and apologize. I'm actually shocked that she did it. Absolutely shocked.

I think she realized that they were actually stealing, and her conscience nagged her until she did.