Sixty-nine Cent Broccoli

Canada
October 19, 2008 9:42am CST
As some may know I am a cashier in a grocery store. I was at work yesterday and on the express lane. A man came through with only Broccoli and so I said, "That's comes to sixty-nine please" He then asked was that dollars or cents...I told him (jokingly) that if he wanted to give me dollars that would be fine but he continued with, "I asked you a question" So, I said "Sixty-nine cents please" Do you think all of this was necessary by him? I've been doing this job for three and a half years now and I did it for over two years around ten years ago as well! I don't see the necessity of declaring dollars or cents.....What do you think? Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this! ~Heavens~
3 people like this
6 responses
lilybug
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
19 Oct 08
He sounds like a jerk to me. I have had cashiers joke with me before that my total was $489 instead of $4.89. I think it is great that they care having a good time at work unlike some of the cashiers I see.
2 people like this
heavenschild
@heavenschild (4777)
• Canada
19 Oct 08
The thing is I wasn't joking in the beginning! I just was telling him the total! When he asked for clarification then I said if he wanted to give the dollars.... He got really short with me then! ~Heavens~
1 person likes this
ersmommy1
@ersmommy1 (12587)
• United States
19 Oct 08
Some people don't have a sense of humor. Others (like me) will appreciate the joke. If he had truly thought about it, that little bit of veggies wouldn't come to $69. I know food prices have gone up but come on. I think you did ok.
2 people like this
heavenschild
@heavenschild (4777)
• Canada
19 Oct 08
Well, I actually think that he was being picky about the way I was asking for the money....I know he didn't think the purchase was $69 I just wasn't pleasing him with the way I asked for the money....He must have been having a bad day! You can't please everyone I guess! ~Heavens~
1 person likes this
Debs_place
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
21 Oct 08
Maybe he just finished reading 'soylent green' and was confused. It is hard to say with some people. Maybe he is OCD and needed to hear the whole thing...some things it is easier not to try and make sense of things.
1 person likes this
heavenschild
@heavenschild (4777)
• Canada
21 Oct 08
How True Deb! He was very agitated and once I started to Joke he abruptly told me that he had asked me a question and so I just continued with "Sixty-nine cents please" He still was not happy but what more could I do! ~Heavens~
someonesmom
@someonesmom (5761)
• Canada
19 Oct 08
Hi heavens, Wow. I think that's really strange. Assuming like you've mentioned here, that he knew there's no way a bunch of broccoli could cost $69.00, what was his problem? I'm curious as to the approximate age of this man? I think it's refreshing when somebody actually displays a bit of a sense of humour, as long as it's not overdone. In your case, there was nothing inappropriate about this. I guess if you'd have asked him where the cameras were hidden (I'm thinking of Candid Camera and the likes here), he would've really hit the roof. I hope you don't have to deal with him again, anytime soon. Take care.
1 person likes this
heavenschild
@heavenschild (4777)
• Canada
20 Oct 08
Hmmmmm I'm a bad judge of age but definitely I would say old enough to be my Dad anyway! It caught me for a loop and so I said well if you want to give me dollars that would be fine but he cut me off before I actually finished my sentence there and said "I asked you a question" In a tone.....So I just answered "Sixty Nine Cents" He paid and left and I could tell he wasn't impressed! I did thank him and told him to have a good day but it made no difference I don't think! Very strange...And it was the same day as Mr Bath Robe! Yesterday actually!!! All I could think of was that I must share this on My Lot! I love it when discussion topics just fall in my lap like that! Love and Hugs ~Heavens~
1 person likes this
carmelanirel
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
19 Oct 08
I think maybe he was tired or something, because if he was serious, then he thinks the economy is worse than I thought.. I don't think what you did was wrong other than he probably was embarrassed to realize that of course you meant cents and not dollars.. So maybe you just caught him having a bad day, because if I said it, I would have thought, duh, of course it was cents..
2 people like this
heavenschild
@heavenschild (4777)
• Canada
19 Oct 08
I agree Carmela there's inflation but then there's inflation!!! He was very abrupt with me when I went to say "If you want to give me dollars then....." He was so not impressed with me! I really did wonder what was wrong with him or if it was me but I was in the best mood I could be yesterday! Ah Well, can't please everyone! ~Heavens~
1 person likes this
suehan1
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
20 Oct 08
he really was not in very humourous mood was he.he must of been tired ,or his head was some where else,because i certainly would not pay $69.00 for a piece of broccoli.maybe he got a bit angry with himself,when he realised what a dipstick he was for asking you that in the first place.lol.cheers sue
1 person likes this
heavenschild
@heavenschild (4777)
• Canada
21 Oct 08
I honestly feel that he was quite serious! I don't think that he thought it was $69 but I think that he was just being very picky about how I was asking for the money!!! It definitely did throw me for a loop and was really strange but I handled it as best I could but my attempt at a joke just made him worse of course...Ah Well! ~Heavens~