I just started my Christmas shopping last night (yes, I’m a bit late), and I must share my experience. Overall, it wasn’t bad, since it was a weeknight and therefore not as crowded. But doesn’t it always happen that you end up in the wrong checkout lane. You think you just swooped into the shortest line, when BAM! something happens with the transaction in front of you.
I was at a clothing store and there was a woman who bought almost $200 worth of merchandise. It had already been bagged, so I thought I was golden, but then she brought out her checkbook. Who writes checks anymore in stores? That commercial came to mind about people waiting in line and everything’s fine until someone wants to pay in cash instead of using, if I remember correctly, a VISA card. The music stops and everyone stares until this person pays with their card instead.
Well, the music stopped for me. Not only did it take awhile for her to actually fill out the check, but then the register kept denying it and spitting it back out. It was probably saying, “What the heck is that? I remember my grandmother talking about something called checks in her day, but I haven’t seen those in awhile.” So then the supervisor had to be called…more waiting. I considered moving to another line, but you know how it goes… everyone else shifts just before you think of it. Besides, another cashier had also called for a supervisor, so that wasn’t an option.
Just before the supervisor came to my cashier, the parked woman with the check pulls out a coupon and asks if she could use it. AAAAAHHHH! I’m considering putting my items back, but I realize I had to get some shopping accomplished. The cashier deserves some credit because she never lost her cool. She accepted the coupon and the woman had to write another check, since the amount was less. And the cycle began again!
By that time, another cashier had opened a line, and I thankfully jumped at the chance. Using my credit card made the checkout quick.
