This story happened a week ago Friday during the evening rush. Both registers were going full blast. One of our regular sucktomers gets in my line to pay for $10 gas that he had just pumped. I can't stand this particular sucktomer because he is always rude and argumentative every visit. He is the typical crochety old fart who grumbles and groans whenever he doesn't get his way. Especially after this last stunt, I'm completely in favor of banning him permanently.
Sucktomer presents a check to pay for his gas. I groan to myself knowing what's coming next. More often than not, Telecheck declines his checks. Then, I have to go through the hassle of telling him the check was declined. Every time, he gets huffy and protests that the check should be good. Finally, after several attempts to get this point through his thick skull, he either throws some cash down to pay for the purchase, or he storms off. Voiding transactions is not a big deal so long as I write the reason on the receipt. Moving the items to the back counter out of the way is the hardest part of that, and that's not difficult either.
This time, however, sucktomer informs me that he has no other way to pay for the gas. I would have possibly been understanding had this been a fluke. However, his checks ALWAYS seem to be declined by Telecheck. I again tell him that he'll have to find some other way to pay. He again insists that he has no other way to pay. I've officially lost my patience with him at this point. I write down the information off his check and toss it back toward him. I'm mad enough that I don't care about politely handing it back to him. I write down his tag number and vehicle description. Then, I tell him again that he needs to find some way to pay for the gas. He again says that he can't pay for it because he has no money. So, I inform him that he will be reported as a drive-off if he leaves without paying for his gas. I'm sure as hell not going to take any sort of blame for a drive-off or any other shortage beyond my control. I have all the information I need for a drive-off report. He just keeps standing there looking blankly at me, insisting that he'll have to pay for it later.
I call the manager to my register to explain the situation to her. She tells me what I already knew, call it in as a drive-off if he leaves without paying. Sucktomer then tells me that he could pay for it Wednesday, five days later. Manager tells him that's not good enough. It has to be paid TONIGHT. She walks off. Sucktomer just keeps standing there staring blankly at me while I'm talking to manager. Other customers are still waiting in line behind him even though my coworker on the other register is diverting them to his line as quickly as he can handle them. Coworker hands me a piece of paper with sucktomer's tag number on it. I thank him even though I'd already written it down. I'm beyond frustrated at such blatant stupidity. I tell sucktomer one last time that I have no choice but to turn him in as a drive-off since he has indicated a refusal to pay for his gas by another method. He nonchalantly replies that it's fine with him, and walks off. In disgust, I throw my "Register Closed" sign out, log out, and take my notes to the office to call the police.
So, I call in the report hoping just to get a case number for my report. They want to send an officer to follow-up. I go talk to my manager, then return to the office to fill out our report. Officer arrives as I'm finishing the report. Officer interviews me, then coworker, and fills out his report. I go update manager after officer leaves.
The rest of the night goes on uneventfully, thankfully.
Then, on Sunday morning, sucktomer visits again. This time he wants to buy a bottle of orange juice. He hands me a bunch of change, insisting it's right. I can tell it's not just by looking at it, but I count it anyway. As I thought, it was 15 cents short. Sucktomer asks if he can have it anyway. I tell him no, and move the orange juice to the back counter. He goes and grabs a different brand, which is the same price. I already know without ringing it up. I just grab the bottle and slam it on the back counter. Sucktomer gets huffy because "I have a rotten attitude." I tell him that we just went over it. I grab the bottle, scan it, and point out that it's the same price. He asks if he can get something cheaper. I've had enough, so I tell him that he needs to leave now. He huffs up again, but leaves.
An hour later, he comes in to get a lighter. He slams some change on the counter, and grabs a lighter. He has enough for the lighter he grabbed, and I'm fed up beyond belief with his antics. I scan the lighter, toss it on the counter, cash out, and scoop the change into the drawer. I don't even want to talk to him long enough to ask him if he paid for the gas. It's already out of my hands anyway. I have the reports to cover my butt, so I don't care any more. I just log off the register, and walk away to the coffee bar area. Sucktomer leaves without saying anything. Thankfully, he did not return for the rest of my weekend.
Manager informed me later in the week that she has discussed the matter with regional manager. They've agreed that a permanent ban is in order. This is why I wish the company would get over being afraid to "inconvenience" whiny customers with making everyone prepay for gas. I'm sick to death of dealing with such nonsense at work.
Sucktomer presents a check to pay for his gas. I groan to myself knowing what's coming next. More often than not, Telecheck declines his checks. Then, I have to go through the hassle of telling him the check was declined. Every time, he gets huffy and protests that the check should be good. Finally, after several attempts to get this point through his thick skull, he either throws some cash down to pay for the purchase, or he storms off. Voiding transactions is not a big deal so long as I write the reason on the receipt. Moving the items to the back counter out of the way is the hardest part of that, and that's not difficult either.
This time, however, sucktomer informs me that he has no other way to pay for the gas. I would have possibly been understanding had this been a fluke. However, his checks ALWAYS seem to be declined by Telecheck. I again tell him that he'll have to find some other way to pay. He again insists that he has no other way to pay. I've officially lost my patience with him at this point. I write down the information off his check and toss it back toward him. I'm mad enough that I don't care about politely handing it back to him. I write down his tag number and vehicle description. Then, I tell him again that he needs to find some way to pay for the gas. He again says that he can't pay for it because he has no money. So, I inform him that he will be reported as a drive-off if he leaves without paying for his gas. I'm sure as hell not going to take any sort of blame for a drive-off or any other shortage beyond my control. I have all the information I need for a drive-off report. He just keeps standing there looking blankly at me, insisting that he'll have to pay for it later.
I call the manager to my register to explain the situation to her. She tells me what I already knew, call it in as a drive-off if he leaves without paying. Sucktomer then tells me that he could pay for it Wednesday, five days later. Manager tells him that's not good enough. It has to be paid TONIGHT. She walks off. Sucktomer just keeps standing there staring blankly at me while I'm talking to manager. Other customers are still waiting in line behind him even though my coworker on the other register is diverting them to his line as quickly as he can handle them. Coworker hands me a piece of paper with sucktomer's tag number on it. I thank him even though I'd already written it down. I'm beyond frustrated at such blatant stupidity. I tell sucktomer one last time that I have no choice but to turn him in as a drive-off since he has indicated a refusal to pay for his gas by another method. He nonchalantly replies that it's fine with him, and walks off. In disgust, I throw my "Register Closed" sign out, log out, and take my notes to the office to call the police.
So, I call in the report hoping just to get a case number for my report. They want to send an officer to follow-up. I go talk to my manager, then return to the office to fill out our report. Officer arrives as I'm finishing the report. Officer interviews me, then coworker, and fills out his report. I go update manager after officer leaves.
The rest of the night goes on uneventfully, thankfully.
Then, on Sunday morning, sucktomer visits again. This time he wants to buy a bottle of orange juice. He hands me a bunch of change, insisting it's right. I can tell it's not just by looking at it, but I count it anyway. As I thought, it was 15 cents short. Sucktomer asks if he can have it anyway. I tell him no, and move the orange juice to the back counter. He goes and grabs a different brand, which is the same price. I already know without ringing it up. I just grab the bottle and slam it on the back counter. Sucktomer gets huffy because "I have a rotten attitude." I tell him that we just went over it. I grab the bottle, scan it, and point out that it's the same price. He asks if he can get something cheaper. I've had enough, so I tell him that he needs to leave now. He huffs up again, but leaves.
An hour later, he comes in to get a lighter. He slams some change on the counter, and grabs a lighter. He has enough for the lighter he grabbed, and I'm fed up beyond belief with his antics. I scan the lighter, toss it on the counter, cash out, and scoop the change into the drawer. I don't even want to talk to him long enough to ask him if he paid for the gas. It's already out of my hands anyway. I have the reports to cover my butt, so I don't care any more. I just log off the register, and walk away to the coffee bar area. Sucktomer leaves without saying anything. Thankfully, he did not return for the rest of my weekend.
Manager informed me later in the week that she has discussed the matter with regional manager. They've agreed that a permanent ban is in order. This is why I wish the company would get over being afraid to "inconvenience" whiny customers with making everyone prepay for gas. I'm sick to death of dealing with such nonsense at work.
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