When Lunch goes BAD.
True Story.
I occasionally have lunch at an undisclosed location very close to TheCodeFactory. I was gathering change to pay the $6.77 and pulled out a $5 bill, loonie, 3 quarters and gave the money to the cashier. I then proceed to search for two pennies to complete the transaction. I handed in the two pennies and was ready to go on my way.
The cashier then said “That will be $6.77”.
I said “I gave you $6.77.”
She showed me her hand and there was only $5 bill and 52 cents. I was certain that I had provided 3 quarters so I said, “Well what’s in your other hand?”
She showed me her other hand and there was a loonie and toonie. I had mistaken a toonie for a quarter and paid too much. I am guessing that this person thought if they could get me to give them another quarter they could pocket the toonie for themselves. I took back the toonie and gave her a quarter and didn’t think much of it.
After reflecting on it I thought, HEY WTF! Had she quietly taken the $1.75 extra I never even would have noticed the mistake. By trying to get the whole toonie she lost the $1.75 she could have had.
Not sure what the lesson is here but I am sure there is one.
From my perspective I’ll be keeping a close eye on my change at this particular place and am blogging about the experience.
Ian Graham
The $2 was for the mistake that she made earlier
And, it happens all the time. Most never notice; for example, I rarely check my change — that’s the other “strategy” …
Agree, too, that I think there is a lesson here, though not certain what it is.
I’m all for being opportunistic, but greed cost her the gift that fell in her lap.
thank you for the comments Eldon and Andrew.
Reflecting on it perhaps these is a VERY important lesson here.
Unbounded greed based opportunism can lead to losing everything. He says while pondering our recent economic history and lessons learned.