How dare you not take half a coupon!

Lace Neil Singer · #1 03-06-2010, 11:34 AM

Petrol vouchers are the bane of my life. -.-

First, some explanation. Every so often, Orange Bag supermarket does these petrol vouchers which entitle you to 5p off per litre of petrol. They come out after the receipt and then have to be taken to the petrol station to be scanned in after you pump your petrol. They have a barcode and a date. The date is important. These coupons are out of date after fourteen days, so we have to check the date every time to make sure they're not out of date.

This woman came in the other day with half a coupon. It just had the top part of the barcode and the top part of the coupon. Nothing else. I told her I couldn't accept it, cuz there was no date on it. This is what happened next.

SC: Why can't you accept it?
Me: Cuz it doesn't have a date on it.
SC: The cashier told me that you could accept this coupon! The machine cut off while printing it out and she said to just take it to the petrol station and they would accept it!

First of all, it is indeed possible that the printout machine would do this. Cashiers are not allowed to take out the receipt roll til it runs out completely; this is a direction from management to save money. So that means that a petrol voucher might well be cut in half or have the date cut off. However, the cashier then has to direct the customer to Customer Services, where one of the people there will write the date on the back of the voucher and sign it. The cashier might or might not have done this; however, if she didn't, it's nothing to do with me. Irritating it might be to lose out on the petrol voucher, it's not my problem.

Me: I'm sorry, but I can't take this coupon. I could get into trouble if I did cuz the manager has told us not to accept petrol vouchers without dates on them.
SC: Are you calling me a scammer? I'm not a scammer!

Maybe she was, maybe she just went to Customer Services, saw the queue and couldn't be bothered getting her signature... maybe she was the innocent victim of one of the cashiers who didn't tell her about getting the signature. But I still can't accept this coupon, cuz I'd get such a bollocking from the mananager if I did. And sorry, but I don't like anyone enough to take such a risk for them.

SC: Oh, I don't believe this! You should go and tell that girl to do her job properly and not treat paying customers this way!
Me: I'm really sorry about this.

The woman paid, and stormed out. Of course, I'm not telling the cashier anything. For one thing, I don't know who it is. Even if I did, how do I know if the customer is telling the truth about not being told? And finally, it's not my job. This was a difficult experience; on one hand, I sympathised with the customer cuz of the situation. On the other, as I said before, it's not my fault and I don't see why I should be yelled at. She might not have sworn or called me any names, but she was still screaming at me and using a nasty tone of voice.

I told her she could still get her voucher signed if she went to Customer Services with her receipt, and she said she'd thrown it away already. In which case, there's nothing I can do. No shop would accept a coupon in this state in any case. Not even the manager would accept this coupon. I hate being shouted at when there isn't anything I can do about a problem.

Mr Hero · #2 03-06-2010, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Quoth Lace Neil Singer

SC: Are you calling me a scammer? I'm not a scammer!

Nope. I believe you're calling yourself one.

underemployeed · #3 03-06-2010, 12:10 PM

We generally don't take internet coupons. because Holy shit half of them are fakes. Then people get pissed at me for saying no. Just so you know when it is one from our company that you print at home, and bring in the barcode is onetime use and it already tells me if someone claimed it. To bad your wife checks your e-mail. except if you complain more ill just write it off and let you be on your way because thats when I'm allowed to use the customer satisfaction program. to pay people off to go away.

What is worse is the ones for "Free Monster Energy Drink 4pack" I actually almost pulled the note from our district manager off the door to have them read. Because really what makes you think you can just print off a coupon that gives you $8 of shit free for buying nothing!!!! I don't care it says this coupon is valid at all locations we won't accept it.

OH and in the worst category you think half a coupon is bad? People try and give me half of a dollar bill. Now, if the corner is missing that is one thing or the majority of it is there, or it is in two halves an you have them BOTH. but only offering me half of it, come on people (please let me know if anyone does take half bills, Ill got to atm and double my money, paying for half the stuff on one trip then using the other end of the bills on the second {sadly some people still wouldn't get this sarcasim})

South Texan · #4 03-06-2010, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Quoth Lace Neil Singer

Of course, I'm not telling the cashier anything.

Why not? I know that you do not know which cashier might have said this to the woman (or even if anyone said it), but as you have acknowledged that it is possible the woman was telling the truth regarding what a cashier said, it wouldn't be a bad idea to raise the issue just to make sure everyone understands that they should not tell anyone that a voucher can be accepted without a date. It may save you or another cashier another such encounter.

Lace Neil Singer · #5 03-06-2010, 01:15 PM

Would be a good idea if I had the authority to do such a thing; which I haven't. -.- All I can do is tell my manager, which I have.

Astrokitty · #6 03-06-2010, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Me: I'm sorry, but I can't take this coupon. I could get into trouble if I did cuz the manager has told us not to accept petrol vouchers without dates on them.
SC: Are you calling me a scammer? I'm not a scammer!

Methinks the "lady" doth protest too much.

In common SC form, she is complaining to the wrong person. You deflected with politeness and policy. Well done.

earl colby pottinger · #7 03-07-2010, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Quoth Mr Hero

Nope. I believe you're calling yourself one.

Scammers always make a big deal about you even hinting that they may be one, the more the complain or the louder they get - the more likely that they are one.

Lace Neil Singer · #8 03-07-2010, 08:09 PM

That's what made me sure in the end that she was telling a half truth about what the cashier said; the fact that she made such a gigantic fuss. O_o

mattm04 · #9 03-08-2010, 08:04 AM

We used to do gas coupons of a certain about off per gallon based on how much you purchased. They had a limit on them to, and often times the date portion was the only part missing.

It was always a "printer problem" the SC said. Now it is electronic based on the store card number. The gas pumps have a barcode scanner builds in. Much easier.