Don’t Need Tampons
I was driving home one night and I remember the Inner Confidence guys suggesting an exercise to manage conflict is to go buy something and return it. So I’m on the way home and see a CVS Pharmacy. Let’s go in and see what I could find.
I walk into the store and knew that I had to buy something that I don’t need because that will force me to return it. I know, let’s go get some tampons. As I’m walking in, there’s a line here too, so this is going to be weird if people are watching.
Anyways, I finally found the feminine care aisle and picked up a box of tampons. By the time I get to the cashier, thank goodness all those 7 people in line when I walked in are finally gone. I walked up to the register and an older woman named Norma in her 50s or 60s rings me up.
Norma: That’ll be $4.25.
Me: Here’s a $5.
Norma: I don’t have any quarters, so here’s a quarter and some dimes.
Me: OK. By the way, I don’t need that bag, thanks [because I'm going to come back and return it].
I grabbed my receipt, change, and tampons and take 3 steps to leave. On the third step, I pause, turn around, and then walk back to the counter.
Me: These are the wrong ones. I’m going to have to return this. (I made sure not to say sorry.)
Norma: [Didn't really seem all that agitated as I would have expected.] OK that’s fine, but you’re going to have to go see that man over there because I’m closing up and going home.
Me: [Hey. Need more tension. That wasn't too bad.] Can’t you ring me up?
Norma: No. I’m going home. That man can help you over there.
Me: [Stick with it, C-Dub. Stood as still as possible and remained as relaxed as possible to take it all in.] But can’t you just ring me up before you go home? [Continued standing there looking at her.]
Norma: OK fine. [Begins to process refund.]
At this point, I was feeling pretty good. That wasn’t too bad. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. And I don’t recall if that man in line was there the whole time because I was so focused with the cashier, but he was watching now. Let’s kick it up a notch.
Me: By the way, would you like to join my multi-level marketing company? We get paid when we get people to join and we sell toilet paper.
Norma: Sure. My sister does that kind of stuff.
Me: [Totally caught off guard at the yes.] Uhhh…wait a minute. What do you mean? You’re suppose to say no.
Norma: Give me your phone number.
Me: [Caught off guard some more.] Uhhh…I can’t do that. That’s weird. You’re weirder than I am. I gotta go now. Thanks and have a good night.
Norma:[Smiles and waves goodbye to me.]
Damn, I got that elderly woman on the refund, but then she beat me in the tension game at the end. Hahha. Next time, Norma. Next time…
I am sitting here laughing out loud. Awesome.
Are you shittin me? I had a gift certificate from Best Buy’s, so I bought something only a few bucks more expensive and paid the difference with my credit card. I went to my car, sat there for a couple minutes, then went back to the store to return it. The point was that I wanted to see if they’d charge it all back to my credit card instead. No go, and they issued it all on the gift card. I wanted to contest it, but I walked away, telling myself ‘u deserve it for trying to beat the system, at least you tried’. But you took the interaction a whole level higher.