Annoying Cashier

[Saphire089]

Okay, call me an SC if you want, but I'm not going to pay for something I don't want.

I was at this small pharmacy store, and I was just going to Pick up a soda and a couple of packages of gum. When I go to pick up the 2 (important) packs of gum, the cashier decides to get me the three pack which is cheaper, but I tell her that I don't want that. I only came in for 2 packs, but apparently she doesn't want to give me a choice in the matter, so I tell her that I'm going to leave my stuff here, and that I won't be paying for it, and I walk out, Leaving the soda and packs of gum on the counter.

I know that it would have been cheaper to get the 3 pack, but all I wanted was the 2 individual packs regardless of the price. I know she was just trying to help, but I'm not paying for something I don't want. For example if a donut shop is having a buy 1 donut get 1 free sale, I'm still only going to get one, because I don't need the extra sugar, and if it turns out I'm required to take it, the guy behind me can take it, because I'm not going to.

So if you thought I was an SC in this story, than say so. even though it's cheaper, that doesn't mean I'm going to get it you know?

[jjllbb]

I totally understand when you say you don't always want to go for the buy x get x deals. I especially agree with that donut example. One donut is enough!

She really shouldn't have tried to force the three pack on you. I wonder why she was so set on it anyway? Maybe her store has some stupid rule about making sales quotas or selling certain products and she was trying to meet her requirement to keep her job.

In any case I think it wouldn't have been possible for her to literally force you to buy it. So you probably didn't need to leave the rest of your stuff there. But then I wasn't there to see quite how pushy she was.

At least now you can go somewhere where they don't make the cashiers force things down their customers throats.

[Magpie]

She may honestly not have realised that it was a problem. I don't understand it myself, but there are people out there who are not willing to pay more to get exactly what they want. If they can get what they want by paying less, then they'll just throw out the extra. I'm obviously not trying to justify this type of behaviour, but if she was that dense, then maybe she thought that you just didn't realise it was cheaper, and didn't realise herself that it wasn't as good because it had extra.

Either way, I hope she learnt something from the encounter.

[elsporko]

Is it really that big of a deal if you get a free pack of gum? Whats wrong with saving it for another time or just giving it away? I think its silly to not buy what you want just because somebody tried to give you something for free.

[Plaidman]

If we we have a B1G1 free, or some deal, I always tell the customer. Normally they are quite happy to get it. But there have been times they didn't want it, and I never ever pushed. Once is good enough to make good customer relationships, Twice is quite rude.

You were NOT a SC, and don't ever think otherwise.

[spookysonata]

Is it really that big of a deal if you get a free pack of gum? Whats wrong with saving it for another time or just giving it away? I think its silly to not buy what you want just because somebody tried to give you something for free.

I think the OP was bothered not by the free pack of gum, per se, but by the attitude of the cashier.

"I want to buy X, please."
"No, you don't, you want Y."
"No, I'd like X please."
"No, here's Y instead."

It would bug me too, but then I've never had to actually walk out on a sale to make the point. That cashier was rude, absolutely.

[SubwayGirl]

You weren't being sucky.

It does always amaze me though when customers don't want the extra. Like at Subway. We have those 8-6" meals for $5.00. So if a customer is getting say a 6" tuna and a drink, it is actually less money to add the side and make it the $5 meal. There are quite a few customers that say no, they just want the sandwich and drink. So, they end of paying more and getting less, go figure.

[spookysonata]

Foodwise, I usually don't want the extra because I might be tempted to eat it. (I'm on Weight Watchers.) I understand I'm paying more for less, but if it's OK with me, it should be OK with the cashier

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Is it really that big of a deal if you get a free pack of gum? Whats wrong with saving it for another time or just giving it away? I think its silly to not buy what you want just because somebody tried to give you something for free.

I want what I want. If I want two packs of gum instead of the three-pack, then let me just buy the two packs.

And why talk somebody into spending less anyhow? Don't stores exist to sell things for as much as they can?

[blas]

This is probably hard to explain, but sometimes when I shop for clothes and they have x kind of sweater buy one get one half off or 5 pairs of undies for $25, and the associates push and push me, even though I'm just trying to buy clearance items or items that are already less expensive, it just pisses me off.

[Bloodsoul]

But you're not buying something you don't want, you're not not buying someething you don't want.. or maybe you are? or... uh.. *brain a'splodes*

[Plaidman]

But you're not buying something you don't want, you're not not buying someething you don't want.. or maybe you are? or... uh.. *brain a'splodes*

Its the principle of the matter. If someone says no, unless their into kinky sex, IT MEANS NO.

[Summerfly413]

And why talk somebody into spending less anyhow? Don't stores exist to sell things for as much as they can?

As a cashier that's not a huge deal to me. I understand if we don't sell enough and make a profit it can be bad, but I'd rather help the customer save money, rather than spend more if they don't want/don't have to.

To the OP:
I don't think you were sucky.

When I see people buying some item, and I know we have it cheaper for some reason(slightly older candy on clearance for example) I'll let them know they can get it cheaper, and then let them decide, and not push it.

[jedimaster91]

The McDonald's near my work does this sometimes. When I order a meal, I want a medium Dr Pepper. Several times, I've ended up with a large. I don't care that all sizes are a dollar, I want a frikin MEDIUM. I can't drink a large, and frankly I don't need the extra calories.

[Broomjockey]

apparently she doesn't want to give me a choice in the matter,

Really, the entire situation hinges on this exact phrase. What did this entail? Did she simply refuse to ring up the two packs? Did she ask repeatedly? Did she ask twice?

Because really, if she insisted on the 3-pack, or wouldn't leave the idea alone, she's sucky. If she asked you twice, ("Hey, this is a deal, you want this?" "No? Are you sure?), you'd be sucky. There's simply not enough information imparted for me to make a fair judgement. We've no detail of her behaviour beyond this line, we've only your behaviour to go on.