Sometimes, you know you’re right. I mean you know it. So when someone refuses to see logic and reason, it can be hard to let go. Even when you’re talking about a couple bucks. Or 15 cents, in this case. In this story, a somewhat justified-Karen goes to lengths some might consider extreme to prove a point. Was it worth it?
“Grocery store had this sign up that said if an item rang up higher than an advertised price it was free. It was the ’80s, and stores did stupid like this that I never see in stores today.
Mom was buying a box of Little Debbie cakes and they rang up for $2.85 instead of the advertised $2.50. So now mom wants her free cakes. Cashier doesn’t know what to do, summons a manager. Manager tells her to ring up the sale otherwise and he’ll be right back.
Comes back and hands my mother 35 cents cheerfully and says ‘There you go!’
My mother points out the sign behind him and he says, ‘Oh, the last manager put that up, it doesn’t make any sense. I’m the new manager and I just haven’t had the sign removed yet.’
Mom insists they honor their sign, he says nah. Now, up to this point, I as an adult looking back am totally on board with mom’s actions.
Mom gathers her things, decides against taking the Little Debbies on principle, and we get in the car. Mom wordlessly drives downtown to the main store of this 3-5 store chain, knowing the office is next door. We walk into this perfectly 80’s wood paneled office where my mother asks the secretary to speak to the owner of the store. She is permitted to do so, since this is a family owned business and their ‘corporate office’ is smaller than the row of cubicles my staff occupy at work.
Here, my mother unleashes a tirade about how she has lost faith in his brand, and how his word is meaningless since they will not honor the sign etc. This guy stands up, profusely apologizes, validates her anger and then pulls out his wallet and hands her a $5 bill along with a promise that he will speak to the manager and the sign will either be honored or removed.
We get home and find that the ice cream we bought melted in the trunk because summer and ruined the cereal and the bread.”
