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The Fine Differences.

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  • #1

    The Fine Differences.

    Here is the same situation with two different customers I had yesterday. I work in a convenience store with an attached gas station.

    When it gets wicked cold, the keys on the pumps tend to freeze up so it gets harder to run your card at the pump. You can still pump gas, you'll just have to come in and use the card at the till and pre-pay. (Which I, personally, think is better because you won't get the $100-$200 hold on your card that you get at the pump, but to each his/her own.)

    Guy #1:

    ~Guy #1 is talking in a tone that clearly states everything that has gone wrong with this life is my fault for just existing.~
    G: I tried to use my card at the pump but it won't go through.
    Me: Oh, sorry about that I can prepay you here and you'll be all set.
    G: I wanted to use my card at the pump so I wouldn't have to come in here. ~This phrase is coupled with a look that tells me the real reason he didn't want to come in is because he didn't want to have to deal with the lowly cashier.~
    Me: I'm sorry about that, but sometimes in really cold weather the pumps act a little wonky.
    G: Well we live in fucking Massachusetts so you should have a way to fix this shit. You should go the fuck out there and fix those keys. I shouldn't have to fucking come in here and wait in line (there was no line he came straight to the counter) when I have other places I need to be.
    Me: Yes, sorry. *transaction finishes, thankfully.*
    Next Customer: Really? Did he just ask you to find a way to unfreeze the keys when they'd just refreeze in the cold weather?

    Seeeeriously, minimum wage is better than no wage at all. I have student loans I need to pay and I'd rather be working hard at a "lowly job" with my awesome new boss and coworkers than making as much as you and still having such a suck-ass-life that you need to take it out on people who make less money than you.

    Guy #2:

    G2: Couldn't use my card at the pump.
    Me: Oh, I can run it here and you can still pump gas.
    G2: Okay, put $XX.XX on pump 3 please.
    Me: Sure. Sorry about this, sometimes the cold weather makes the pumps go screwy.
    G2: No need to apologize, it's not your fault. I still got my gas -- and now a candy bar too. Oh scratch tickets, can I get some of those too?

    ----------

    It's just kind of funny how people react differently to the same situation sometimes.
    My Writing Blog -Updated 05/06/2013
    It's so I can get ideas out of my head, I decided to put it in a blog in case people are bored or are curious as to the (many) things in progress.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    If fixing temperamental machines in inclement weather was so easy and simple, why can't Mr. SC do it? Hmmmmmmmm?

    Gotta love the "Fix it! It's easy! The only reason you can't is because you're stupid!" crowd. Because they're the ones who call me when they have a dead battery/flat tire, even though that's such an easy fix THEY shouldn't need help at all from me
    - They say nothing good happens at 2AM, they're right, I happen at 2AM.

    Comment

    • #3
      Speaking of dead batteries my car battery died when I was seeing The Hobbit last week, and I couldn't jump it no matter how hard me and my friend tried. We had to call Triple-A. The guy comes out, pretty much goes "SHA-BANG!" and jumps the car within minutes... this made me feel like a total failure in terms of basic car troubleshooting.
      My Writing Blog -Updated 05/06/2013
      It's so I can get ideas out of my head, I decided to put it in a blog in case people are bored or are curious as to the (many) things in progress.

      Comment

      • #4
        Quoth AmbrosiaWriter View Post
        Speaking of dead batteries my car battery died when I was seeing The Hobbit last week, and I couldn't jump it no matter how hard me and my friend tried. We had to call Triple-A. The guy comes out, pretty much goes "SHA-BANG!" and jumps the car within minutes... this made me feel like a total failure in terms of basic car troubleshooting.
        If you hadn't tried this, I find that revving the engine of the feeder vehicle gives a power boost that would always start even a large truck.

        Comment

        • #5
          Quoth Dadeo View Post
          If you hadn't tried this, I find that revving the engine of the feeder vehicle gives a power boost that would always start even a large truck.
          Tried that. We think it was the corrosion on the positive side of my battery that was blocking the connection and we couldn't find the wire brushes that originally came with our kits to get it off. We thinks someone took them for whatever reason and never put them back. -.-
          My Writing Blog -Updated 05/06/2013
          It's so I can get ideas out of my head, I decided to put it in a blog in case people are bored or are curious as to the (many) things in progress.

          Comment

          • #6
            Quoth AmbrosiaWriter View Post
            Speaking of dead batteries my car battery died when I was seeing The Hobbit last week, and I couldn't jump it no matter how hard me and my friend tried. We had to call Triple-A. The guy comes out, pretty much goes "SHA-BANG!" and jumps the car within minutes... this made me feel like a total failure in terms of basic car troubleshooting.
            Dontcha just love that kind of thing?

            Long long time ago, but I had a cassette recorder wouldn't work. Back then I prided myself on not being one of these women to run to a man to fix things, but I finally gave up, and asked my Dad to have a look (he could tinker with almost anything and get it working, back when things were more mechanical than electronic). He gave it back to me a few minutes later, and said he wished everything was so easy to fix. I asked him what he did, he said he turned it on. Guess some people just have "the touch".

            Madness takes it's toll....
            Please have exact change ready.

            Comment

            • #7
              The differences between the two customers dealing with the same problem illustrates why I always try to have a positive attitude about things. I know a lot of people who deal with much the same things I deal with, but just seem to hate life. I don't have that problem. I am single, haven't had a date since the Pyramids were built, and I am still pretty much thrilled with my life. Could it be better? Sure. Could it be a whole hell of a lot worse? Absolutely. And that is why I tend to be a happy guy when so many people around me are utterly miserable.

              "The Customer Is Always Right...But The Bartender Decides Who Is               Still A Customer."

              Comment

              • #8
                Quoth AmbrosiaWriter View Post
                Speaking of dead batteries my car battery died when I was seeing The Hobbit last week, and I couldn't jump it no matter how hard me and my friend tried. We had to call Triple-A. The guy comes out, pretty much goes "SHA-BANG!" and jumps the car within minutes... this made me feel like a total failure in terms of basic car troubleshooting.
                Heh. That's like any of the "fixes" I do for my poor, techbane of a Mom. She tries, and she's getting better, but most things electronic have a tendency to rebel against her.

                There was the time her car radio wasn't working. She tried everything-- including checking the volume-- and finally takes it into the shop to get it fixed. First thing they did was turn up the volume, and it worked fine.

                There's been all those issues with her and the remotes for our TV/DVD/Blu-Ray/Cable/DVR, but those have largely been resolved now we've consolidated them into one remote, and she's learned to use it properly.

                I don't know how many times I've had to help her fix the computer, which eventually got to the point where it would fix itself when I walked over, and then got to the point where all I'd have to do is stand up from where I was sitting, and then it would work.
                PWNADE(TM) - Serve up a glass today! | PWNZER - An act of pwnage so awesome, it's like the victim got hit by a tank.

                There are only Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse because I choose to walk!

                Comment

                • #9
                  Quoth Jester View Post
                  The differences between the two customers dealing with the same problem illustrates why I always try to have a positive attitude about things.
                  <snip>
                  And that is why I tend to be a happy guy when so many people around me are utterly miserable.

                  <punchline>
                  I try to keep a positive attitude about my depression.
                  </p>



                  Sorry, it really sounded in my head like the leadup to a punchline like that.

                  Seriously, however - I do. And it's hard, but it helps. Also, making a point of avoiding causing others to be miserable just because I am, helps ME as well as them.
                  No need for me to act like Oscar T Grouch just because my neurochemistry is fubar.
                  Seshat's self-help guide:
                  1. Would you rather be right, or get the result you want?
                  2. If you're consistently getting results you don't want, change what you do.
                  3. Deal with the situation you have now, however it occurred.
                  4. Accept the consequences of your decisions.

                  "All I want is a pretty girl, a decent meal, and the right to shoot lightning at fools." - Anders, Dragon Age.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    This exchange, or one like it, has happened fairly often in my life.

                    ME: "This day sucks!"
                    SOMEONE ELSE: "Try to be positive, dude."
                    ME: "Okay...I am POSITIVE that this day SUCKS!"


                    "The Customer Is Always Right...But The Bartender Decides Who Is                     Still A Customer."

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Jester,

                      I love you.

                      We're very, very different people, but I'm honoured to be your friend. And your sense of humour is one of the major reasons.
                      Seshat's self-help guide:
                      1. Would you rather be right, or get the result you want?
                      2. If you're consistently getting results you don't want, change what you do.
                      3. Deal with the situation you have now, however it occurred.
                      4. Accept the consequences of your decisions.

                      "All I want is a pretty girl, a decent meal, and the right to shoot lightning at fools." - Anders, Dragon Age.

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Are you positive about this?

                        "The Customer Is Always Right...But The Bartender Decides Who Is                         Still A Customer."

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Quoth Jester View Post
                          Are you positive about this?
                          Reminds me of this exchange from Django Unchained--

                          Django: "No, I'm not."
                          Schultz: "So you're not positive?"
                          D: "What's positive mean?"
                          S: "It means 'are you sure?'"
                          D: "Yes, I'm sure it's him."
                          [BANG.]
                          D: "Well, I'm positive he's dead."
                          PWNADE(TM) - Serve up a glass today! | PWNZER - An act of pwnage so awesome, it's like the victim got hit by a tank.

                          There are only Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse because I choose to walk!

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Pffftt..easy fix. Just build a little fire next to the pumps.

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Quoth AmbrosiaWriter View Post
                              G: Well we live in fucking Massachusetts so you should have a way to fix this shit. You should go the fuck out there and fix those keys. I shouldn't have to fucking come in here and wait in line (there was no line he came straight to the counter) when I have other places I need to be.
                              Mechanical stuff is a serious issue in cold weather. Does this doofus think you'd leave it stuck if you had a choice in the matter?

                              And, does this guy think you can just go modifying the pump head to try to fix it? Because you almost certainly do not have keys that will get you further than the receipt printer. And if you tried to mod that key pad in ANY way, it would probably stop working, and you'd surely bring allegations of fraud and/or safety violations down on yourself.

                              Remember, that key pad is where people type their pins - if your pumps are even semi modern, then that keypad has tamper proofing, to prevent pin theft via software.

                              Stupid customer.
                              Life: Reality TV for deities. - dalesys

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