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What would you do?

June 13th, 2007 at 10:04 pm

Here are two actual money-related things that happened to me over the course of the last week. I am wondering how others would have handled them.

Incident 1: I walked into my local Starbucks last weekend at 12:30 p.m. and ordered my usual -- a venti black iced tea sweetened. I handed the cashier a $50 bill for a drink that cost $2.14 because that was all the cash I had on me (although I did have my debit card with me, but usually don't use it for "personal" purchases like this).

Without even opening the register, the cashier said she couldn't make change and asked her manager what to do. The manager said to give the drink to me for free. Would you have taken the free drink or insisted that the cashier put it on the debit card?

Incident 2: I went to the seafood counter at a grocery store that I had never been in before to buy mussels. The mussels were marked $6.99 for two pounds, but I only needed 18 mussels. The clerk, who clearly didn't work in the seafood department, counted out 18 mussels but couldn't figure out how to print a sticker with the price for 18 mussels. He went to get the guy who usually works at the seafood counter.

The guy walks up, takes one look at my measly 18 mussels and says they could only be sold in the 2-lb netted bags that were in the display case. I said I was making paella and only needed 18 mussels, but if he couldn't sell me less than 2 pounds I would take them all and steam the rest as an appetizer. He then said he would just give the 18 mussels to me for free. Would you have taken the free mussels or insisted on paying for them or the whole 2 pounds' worth?

After I see what all of you would have done, I will share how I handled each situation.

10 Responses to “What would you do?”

  1. Ima saver Says:
    1181769212

    I think I would have taken the products for free!!

  2. HouseHopeful Says:
    1181769890

    I would take them free too! Its a shame that businesses won't accomodate cash or small amounts of product. They lose money, but we win Smile

  3. wyozozo Says:
    1181769967

    I believe I would have said thank you very much and I'd be sure to shop there again due to their generousity.

  4. gruntina Says:
    1181771762

    Well honestly... I have always been a person to strive to do the right thing all the time. Up until pretty recently, I would have insisted on paying using a different method. But now I realize I miss out on many opportunities because I did not accept what was offered to me. My way of thinking has change to count my blessings.

    The issue with the store not being able to accommodate specific purchases items and they lose out by not getting money. However, this brings out red flags to the manager who needs to rethink how to improve sales and customer needs which is valuable and thus take this as a learning experience. They are the one offered so you should not feel guilty.

  5. koppur Says:
    1181775677

    I would have said thank you so very much and taken them. Hey it's not like you asked for the free stuff. Maybe this is just the Universe's way of helping you out financially right now.

  6. pjmama Says:
    1181780073

    I would have taken the stuff for free, but been sure to bring my business back again. The whole idea is customer service, and if an employee will give you the product for free because thier policy is unaccomodating, it is to keep you happy and satisfied with the quality of the business. Apparently they are doing thier jobs right!

  7. tinapbeana Says:
    1181782998

    I would have to accept the goods that were offered. I find this to be similar to the "if the price doesn't scan right, it's free" policy at my grocery store. And yes, I graciously accepted an $8 cake for free as a result of this policy.

  8. campfrugal Says:
    1181819785

    I with all of the above. Businesses need to accommodate the consumer. It is just good marketing and if they can't, then they want to make sure you will return.

  9. homebody Says:
    1181821761

    I of course would have taken them, like everyone said. Thank them and be sure to use them again.

    By the way, I have a free coupon for Starbucks in my purse right now, any size, any drink because DH stopped in one day and they had just run out of decaf and the regular wasn't done dripping yet.

  10. mbkonef Says:
    1181826573

    I also would have taken the free items in both cases and made sure to thank them. It sounds like in both cases they made the offer to you, as opposed to you trying to get them to offer you something for nothing. It is not your fault that Starbucks could not make the change and did not ask you to pay by an alternate method. It is also not your fault that the store did not make it clear that the mussels must be purchased in the 2 lb bag. You even offered to buy the 2lbs so you should not feel guilty at all. They made the offers to you in both cases, nothing at all for you to feel bad about in my opinion.

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