Do I speak English?

I thought I would hop on over here and post and update the site a little for our dear Cookie.

Some basic background about me. I have worked retail for about 7 years now - in a few fields. My main field is as a service station assistant manager/cashier, and also at the same time as a sales associate in clothing and kitchenware.

In the glamourous world of "retail", almost everything is computerized. I happen to work at a gas station where to function, everything but the staff is computers. Our point of sale system (or debit network) likes to randomly crash and start up again. There are days when I can't get outside to put signs up on the pumps. Instead, I hop on the intercom: hi there pump number ____. It's cash or credit inside only. The debit system is down."

There are people who bring inside their debit cards. "I'm sorry. The network is down".
"oh, I thought that was for the outside only".

"no. It's the same network thats down".

The one thing I learned today was our ATM is also hooked up to the same system- doesn't seem too smart.

Of course it was up and down today, as it has been all week.

Working alone, I inform the customers via intercom about the change in how the have to pay. All is well and good.

You knew this was coming...

Until a middle aged gentleman came in to use his PayPass. He swiped his card at the machine. The computer printed out a MasterCard slip for him to sign.

"I used this so I wouldn't have to sign"

"I'm sorry- the network is down and the paypass is attached to the network".

*mumblemumble"it's supposed to be convenient"mumblemumble*

As he walks towards the door, all cheery, "Have a nice day".


Relax. It's only retail.