Okay, SERIOUSLY?!

[ADeMartino]

We have a regular customer who, frankly, we all wish would just go away. Oh, the stories I could tell, she’s an absolute pain in the ass every time she shows up. I’ve always suspected that her grip on reality is tenuous at best; well, last night was pretty damning evidence that I’m right. She came in and bought a few things, including a single can of Sprite, paid for her stuff, and left. The only thing not normal up to this point was the fact that she HADN’T made a single snarky, holier-than-thou comment.

Fast forward about a half hour and she’s back, raising hell because that (now-empty) can of Sprite was – gasp! – DENTED.

Not punctured, aside from the usual spot where you pop it open. DENTED. And very, very empty.

Yes, she finished the drink. Did it taste odd? No. Was the soda flat? Uh-uh. Her entire beef was focused on the dime-sized dent in the EMPTY can.

I tried, I really did, to see her problem. I mean, okay, the can is dented – but by her own admission, it didn’t affect the taste or fizziness of her drink in any way. She, in fact, FINISHED the drink and was now waving an empty, disposable can in my face complaining there’s a dent on it. And she’s getting more agitated by the moment because I can’t seem to comprehend the issue. Finally, she stomped out, muttering, and tore off out of the parking lot like a bat out of hell.

Yeah, this hit about 9.0 on my Weird-Shit-O-Meter.

[sirwired]

Hell... even if it had a hole in it, was half-empty, sticky with dried syrup, and flat, who on earth makes a special trip to complain/return a SINGLE can of soda?

[ADeMartino]

You don't know this woman - and you should fall upon your knees and thank whatever deity you worship for that mercy. Admittedly, this was a little over-the-top even for her, but she's ALWAYS a pain in the ass. I'm not normally a violent person, but every time she comes into the store I end up wondering where, and how, I could hide a body.

[thehuckster]

And, of course, there's no way you can tell when the dent occurred. For all you know, it could have even been after she drank it.

[Mikkel]

For all you know, it could have even been after she drank it.

That is even likely. It is very difficult to dent a pressurized can.

[EricKei]

who on earth makes a special trip to complain/return a SINGLE can of soda?

Someone who thinks they can badger their way into getting a case or two of free soda AND a nice fat gift card as compensation for their horrible trauma, that's who >_>

[ADeMartino]

I don't think 'freebie' was the goal here. This woman is..... different. I'm going to post more stories about my encounters with her, you'll soon see the pattern. There's a damned good reason we'd like her to just go away.

[EricKei]

Ah. I've had...odd ones ... like that as well. Like the "Professor" and his mom, both at DaddyJim's pizza and at BoutiqueGrocery (same street, they frequented both)...

Long story short: He dressed up in such a way as to resemble an Oxford-or-similar prof (complete with smoking jacket), with attendant haughty attitude. I think I recall seeing him out on the street ONCE without his elderly mom in tow. What made him sucky was not so much his treatment of us -- he was generally quiet -- but rather, the fact that he overruled pretty much any and all of her requests when buying stuff, was generally domineering over her to the point of being rude at times (tho *I hope* not abusive...I was fairly certain that she could take him if it came down to it) and, almost always, had her carry all of the bags when he left, despite the fact that he was physically capable of doing so. He just made many people...uncomfortable..., both workers and other customers. He was a neighborhood fixture for a good 20+ years, always walking with her. I'm thinking the mom passed away a few years ago, cuz it's been some time since I've seen either of them,

[Opalin]

er... you're not buying the can... you're buying the liquid in...side...? I do not... understand... *brainmelt*

only time I've ever seen someone return a can of soda was when we opened it and there was what looked like a wad of gum floating around on the top

[Eevie]

er... you're not buying the can... you're buying the liquid in...side...? I do not... understand... *brainmelt*

only time I've ever seen someone return a can of soda was when we opened it and there was what looked like a wad of gum floating around on the top

I've sadly seen worse. My mom drove up to the neighbor's house to find her dumping a can of Pepsi out on the street. The poor woman said something hit her lip. Turns out not only was there chewed gum, but what my mom identified as rat poop. The neighbor was promised a free case of Pepsi from the company. Understandably she didn't take them up on the offer. I don't think she's had Pepsi since.

[downforit2008]

If the woman didn't think it was a problem enough to actually FINISH THE DAMN SODA, then she shouldn't be pissing and moaning about wanting a refund or a new drink. That would be getting a free drink at the company's expense!!! I can't tell you how much soda I've bought where there has been a dent in the can, or where the bottom is partially crushed, but I've never looked twice at it or thought much of it at all because it's going into the recycling bin anyway. Idiots!!!

[Deevil]

Heck, unless the bottom of the can is so bad that it won't sit upright, I would never even notice any dent. The only time I have ever said anything about a can of soda I had purchased was one one can out of a twelve pack was fully sealed but only had (guessing by weight) half the soda that it should have in it and also the can wasn't pressurized (sides would dent in like it was already open if you squeezed it)...and even then it was more of a call to manufacturer to let them know than a bitchfest about defective product.

[EricKei]

I've seen the odd can of soda where the can is distended outwardly (puffed out, especially at the bottom), but never with a dent pushed in >_>

As for Pepsi ~_~ They used to have a bad reputation regarding the relative cleanliness of their bottling/packing plants back in the 80's, to the point where some people would refuse to drink straight out of their cans. That seems to have changed since then, thank goodness.

[ADeMartino]

I've seen the odd can of soda where the can is distended outwardly (puffed out, especially at the bottom), but never with a dent pushed in >_>

As for Pepsi ~_~ They used to have a bad reputation regarding the relative cleanliness of their bottling/packing plants back in the 80's, to the point where some people would refuse to drink straight out of their cans. That seems to have changed since then, thank goodness.

Usually the distended bottom comes from the can being frozen. The concave bottom is actually there to allow the contents to expand without bursting the can.

And yes, I remember the difficulties with Pepsi back in the 1980s. I used to deal with an auto parts store; they had a Pepsi on display at their counter. It was one of the old 16 oz glass bottles, and it was sealed. With a soda straw floating in the liquid inside.

It wasn't just Pepsi, either, though they got the lion's share of the bad publicity.

[gremcint]

As someone who has drank enough pepsi in his time to conduct a study that wouldn't count as anecdotal I have not had any problem with there being gross stuff like that in it.

I have however come across the odd batch that had too much sweetener or something in it and tasted wrong. I tell people it's too sweet and they won't unless until I make them try it.