The change should have been $84.00+ but I was given >>> $64.00+ .... shortchanged by $20.00. Bringing this to the >>> attention of the cashier, I was told the amount of change I >>> received was correct. That's what the computer in the >>> register said. I asked her to do the math, to subtract >>> $85.00 from $100.00. She looked at me like I was from outer >>> space, and insisted that the computer was right.
I gave the clerk a ten dollar bill for an $8.59 purchase. She placed 3.50 change in my hand. I said, sorry, too much change, and tried to hand it all back to her, but she figured feverishly for a couple of minutes and proudly added another dollar to the pile in my hand. I was a little embarrassed for her, but still feeling honest I said sorry too much change I think it should be a buck forty-one total and again tried to hand her the money back. The clerk went back to figuring with furrowed brow, hearing the crowd in line start a murderous murmur, and after much figuring and the people in line about to kill me she added *another* dollar to the growing pile in my hand. Hearing the train wreck of killer customers about to happen I smiled, closed my hand and put the six bucks or so in my pocket, said "Perfect, thanks" and left the building. Ethics question: if I had tried one more time to get the right change, would it have been suicidal, considering the angry mob in line behind me? -- John Mustarde www.photolin.com
