Tweet
This is something i'm dusting off from my dark years at the supermarket (still have quite a few stories from there that I haven't posted yet because I haven't felt like dredging up those memories).
Anyway, our store had the then-new automatic bottle collections machines for returning bottles and cans with deposits on them. The machines spat out a receipt that could be exchanged at customer service for cash or used as a payment voucher at the register.
As with all places that use these machines, they only accept deposit containers and then only those that are sold at that location. That meant, for instance, that we could NOT accept any beer cans or bottles since we didn't sell beer, nor could we accept store-brand cans other than our own. I never did know why this was the case, only that it was, and that for whatever reason this policy was totally inviolable.
Of course, this didn't stop people from trying and every day we found the reject chutes clogged with all manner of ineligible containers. That was annoying all by itself, but occasionally we'd find the remains of an attempt to scam the system.
For instance, someone tried to get a deposit refund on unlabeled empty tin cans on which no deposit was ever paid (and even if there had been, peeling off the label removes the evidence of that). Then there was the moron who tried to redeem 1-gallon plastic milk jugs. These of course didnt' fit, so this enterprising scammer cut them in half. Whoever it was caused a serious jam in the machine.
Or plastic water bottles. The only state that charges a deposit on water bottles is Maine. Don't know how they thought that would work in Massachusetts, but they tried.
And on a Cursing Out Coworkers note, I once witnessed an employee put a full, unopened can of soda into the machine "to see what happened." The shift supervisor kicked him out of the store for that stunt. Nothing actually happened, since the people who designed the machine anticipated this; it just rejected the container.
Then on the flip side of the coin were the people who bought sodas and complained about having to pay a deposit ($0.05 per container). Some noteworthy arguments included:
-arguing that since they didn't live here, they shouldn't have to pay the deposit since they arent' coming back to Mass just to redeem a soda bottle. Well, tough luck cupcake, because the deposits are a state-mandated thing, just like sales taxes, and are not negotiable.
-People who think that because they have a coupon for a free soda, they are exempt from the deposit. BZT! WRONG! Again, it's legally mandated. Besides, with the coupon you're getting the soda for a nickel. Shut up and kwitcherbitchen.
-Then there was this winner. I had a guy come through my line with a 12-pack of Pepsi which was on sale 2/$5. 12 cans means 12 deposits, or $0.60, so his total was $3.10.
He argued with me until both of us were just about blue in the face. I had my "supervisor needed" light flashing the whole time but all the sups were busy at the time.
Basically the guy just didn't understand the concept, no matter how I attempted to explain it to him. I don't remember everything that was said (this was over 10 years ago) but I do recall him claiming that I was trying to rip him off (of course) and asking me the following:
SC: So what am I supposed to do? Pour all these into another container so I can return the cans???
Me: No, you drink them as you normally would but save the empties, then next time you shop bring them in and put them in that machine right there and you'll get your money back.
SC: So I do need to empty them! I can't drink all these that fast, they'll go flat!!!
Me:
Anyway, our store had the then-new automatic bottle collections machines for returning bottles and cans with deposits on them. The machines spat out a receipt that could be exchanged at customer service for cash or used as a payment voucher at the register.
As with all places that use these machines, they only accept deposit containers and then only those that are sold at that location. That meant, for instance, that we could NOT accept any beer cans or bottles since we didn't sell beer, nor could we accept store-brand cans other than our own. I never did know why this was the case, only that it was, and that for whatever reason this policy was totally inviolable.
Of course, this didn't stop people from trying and every day we found the reject chutes clogged with all manner of ineligible containers. That was annoying all by itself, but occasionally we'd find the remains of an attempt to scam the system.
For instance, someone tried to get a deposit refund on unlabeled empty tin cans on which no deposit was ever paid (and even if there had been, peeling off the label removes the evidence of that). Then there was the moron who tried to redeem 1-gallon plastic milk jugs. These of course didnt' fit, so this enterprising scammer cut them in half. Whoever it was caused a serious jam in the machine.
Or plastic water bottles. The only state that charges a deposit on water bottles is Maine. Don't know how they thought that would work in Massachusetts, but they tried.
And on a Cursing Out Coworkers note, I once witnessed an employee put a full, unopened can of soda into the machine "to see what happened." The shift supervisor kicked him out of the store for that stunt. Nothing actually happened, since the people who designed the machine anticipated this; it just rejected the container.
Then on the flip side of the coin were the people who bought sodas and complained about having to pay a deposit ($0.05 per container). Some noteworthy arguments included:
-arguing that since they didn't live here, they shouldn't have to pay the deposit since they arent' coming back to Mass just to redeem a soda bottle. Well, tough luck cupcake, because the deposits are a state-mandated thing, just like sales taxes, and are not negotiable.
-People who think that because they have a coupon for a free soda, they are exempt from the deposit. BZT! WRONG! Again, it's legally mandated. Besides, with the coupon you're getting the soda for a nickel. Shut up and kwitcherbitchen.
-Then there was this winner. I had a guy come through my line with a 12-pack of Pepsi which was on sale 2/$5. 12 cans means 12 deposits, or $0.60, so his total was $3.10.
He argued with me until both of us were just about blue in the face. I had my "supervisor needed" light flashing the whole time but all the sups were busy at the time.
Basically the guy just didn't understand the concept, no matter how I attempted to explain it to him. I don't remember everything that was said (this was over 10 years ago) but I do recall him claiming that I was trying to rip him off (of course) and asking me the following:
SC: So what am I supposed to do? Pour all these into another container so I can return the cans???
Me: No, you drink them as you normally would but save the empties, then next time you shop bring them in and put them in that machine right there and you'll get your money back.
SC: So I do need to empty them! I can't drink all these that fast, they'll go flat!!!
Me:
Comment