Something happened to me today at Borders that I thought was kinda weird. So I decided to share.
I've been stalking a Patty Griffin cd there for some time--it was already priced really well, but I wanted to wait until I had a coupon. Today, they sent out at 40% off any one item coupon, so I printed it off and went to use it.
In line in front of me was a woman and her son. He was maybe ten or eleven, and he was absolutely the rudest kid I've ever seen. He was pouting because she had refused to buy him a book, and kept making snide comments every time she spoke to him. Finally, when they reached the register he turned and walked out of the store while she paid for the things she had in her basket.
She started talking to the cashier and I learned that her son had wanted a Star Wars book that cost $40, and that he was upset that she wouldn't buy it for him. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. She had five things in her basket, but they were all final clearance gift sets that I could tell she was buying for presents--maybe Christmas. There was also a buy 4, get the 5th free deal that she was taking advantage of.
She seemed really upset, so I made a split second decision and told her that if she signed up for a membership card, she could get a 40% off coupon (the same one I was using). She was really happy to hear that, and when she left I could tell she was talking to her son.
My dilemma was that I didn't want to tell her, because I didn't want her son to be able to get the book after all. Kids like that really just tick me off, because they seem so ungrateful--he was spoiled and rude and didn't care who knew about it. In the end, I was pretty sure that she would end up buying the book for him no matter what because she wanted him to be happy. So I figured I'd rather give her the opportunity to spend $24 instead of $40 if she was going to give in anyway.
I still feel bad about it. I completely wanted to just grab her kid and give him a good shake. Ugh. I hate it when things happen in real life that keep lingering in my mind. I'm still not sure I did the right thing by enabling that boy to get the book he wanted. Sigh.
2 comments:
Oh my gosh!!
I used to hear that all the time when I worked in retail.
It made me wonder what those kids turned out to be like in the future.
Actually. I don't really want to know. ;)
P.S. I just started, so I'd love it if you'd come by and look at my blog :)
http://www.StyleString.com
Bratty kids make me angry and sad. One day they'll have to learn that money doesn't grow on trees.
I hear your ambivalence on telling the mom about the membership coupon. It sounds like she really wanted to get it for her son. I sure hope that he will actually learn to appreciate it, hopefully sooner rather than later.
(As a side note re: your comment on my post--Thanks! It is hard to put together an outfit that is appropriate but has personality. I'm just lucky that the state courts have a fairly relaxed dress code, leaving a little room for creativity. For the most part I do admire how other woman lawyers look chic without being formulaic, but some lawyers take it too far (pink shift dresses and sheer off-the-shoulder tops [with tight gray pants and no jacket] are two of the extremes I've seen). Everyone knows to dress up for federal court appearances, though.
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