United States
Member #17,554
June 22, 2005
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I guess I need to be more specific:
I purchased the lottery ticket earlier in the day. I stopped at the convenience store to redeem my winnings hours after I had purchased the ticket. I did not scratch the ticket while at the counter. I simply entered the store with the ticket in my hand & got into line. There were two people ahead of me when I came in & two more people came in immediately after me & got in line behind me. The clerk waited until my turn & informed me they serve clients getting gas 1st. When I objected & insisted that I be served next since I was waiting in line like everyone else, she picked up her phone & threatened to call the cops on me.
I was about to ask about that very thing, because in that case it's definitely wrong, and I would have asked for the manager's number, and if the person was the manager, I would've asked for the regional manager. That just boils my blood.
I've learned that most of them don't have a clue on how to use the machine. The turnover rate at the retailers are so frequent, that they never get the right training.
To me, customer service is what either makes or breaks a business. I had a problem with a particular Mcdonalds many years ago, where 98 percent of the time they made a mistake with my order. After many complaints to the manager and the regional manager, they finally did something about the situation and changed management. Good for them.
I received a number to call, and that I was to be given coupons for free food because of my unsatisfaction, but I told the CSR that I did not do this to get free food, unlike others who do. I declined the coupons and said to her that all I wanted was that they get my order right. I don't mind mistakes made by people. We all make mistakes from time to time. However it does get frustrating when it happens nearly all of the time.
There is no better advertising than by word of mouth. And if the service is bad, customers will tell their family and friends.
As far as the lottery goes, I finally obtained an telephone number to find out the winning number. I just got so tired of dealing with cashiers who claimed there was no way to print out the winning numbers until later on in the evening, or the next day. Even after telling them that I was doing this for many years and that it was possible. I just gave up.
Later down the road I realized that most of them really didn't know how to use the machine, and were trying to save face by making up reasons why it couldn't be printed. It's incredible to me that they would expend so much energy to make stuff up and argue, rather than just saying that they didn't have the opportunity to learn how to use it. If they said that to me, I would have totally understood and would thank them for atleast trying and been on my way. But they would rather argue instead....Go figure!
Wandering Aimlessly United States
Member #25,359
November 5, 2005
4,461 Posts
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There's an expression: "Don't shoot the messenger." I agree that this clerk was way out of line, and writing or calling the manager might straighten her out, but please don't always blame the employee when you have a problem with a company!! I've had sales and customer service jobs where I had rules to follow and was ordered never to break them "or else." Although the woman at the store was probably an unpleasant and spiteful termagant, maybe she's been ordered to treat people who want to cash lottery tickets in that manner. That being said, she might also be a very nasty person! Just feel sorry for her, because she's probably a lonely, miserable human being. If I'm in the right state of mind I sometimes pretend to be clueless when someone is rude or insults me. I just stand there with a big smile and say "Thanks so much. How nice of you to say that." Of course, since I'm a platinum blonde, they probably just think I'm an airhead. You can also sing a song to her. "You light up my life..you give me hope to carry on.." How about carrying a small flag with you and wave it when you're treated unAmericanly and belt out proudly "Oh, say can you see..."
United States
Member #17,554
June 22, 2005
5,582 Posts
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There's an expression: "Don't shoot the messenger." I agree that this clerk was way out of line, and writing or calling the manager might straighten her out, but please don't always blame the employee when you have a problem with a company!! I've had sales and customer service jobs where I had rules to follow and was ordered never to break them "or else." Although the woman at the store was probably an unpleasant and spiteful termagant, maybe she's been ordered to treat people who want to cash lottery tickets in that manner. That being said, she might also be a very nasty person! Just feel sorry for her, because she's probably a lonely, miserable human being. If I'm in the right state of mind I sometimes pretend to be clueless when someone is rude or insults me. I just stand there with a big smile and say "Thanks so much. How nice of you to say that." Of course, since I'm a platinum blonde, they probably just think I'm an airhead. You can also sing a song to her. "You light up my life..you give me hope to carry on.." How about carrying a small flag with you and wave it when you're treated unAmericanly and belt out proudly "Oh, say can you see..."
It's very noble to react with patience. I totally agree. But the cashier should have clarified the situation by telling the customer that the boss told them to do it that way. If that was the case.
If that wasn't the case, then there is no excuse to act that way, even if your miserable and lonely. I'm miserable and lonely, but I try to do my job as expeditiously, as nicely, and fairly as possible.
In this day and age, it seems alot of people won't accept personal responsibilty for their actions. It's always someone else's fault. My dad treated me bad, my mother drank too much....blah...blah...blah. Sure those things are serious and have some justifications to them, but how long can we carry those fingers pointing elsewhere. Enough is enough, after sometime, I should grow up and either take it as it comes or try to find a job that isn't so stressfull. If it's the case that the person has no choice but to work there, then they should suck it up and stop it.
The daily cash I make at the airport is good, but I really should have done better with my life. I made certain choices along the path of life, which led me down this road. (No pun intended)
Wandering Aimlessly United States
Member #25,359
November 5, 2005
4,461 Posts
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Okay, Pac. Since we live in the same town, if by chance someday we cross paths, I take a ride in your limousine and you're mean to me, I promise I won't sing to you. Well, how about
"Get your motor running... head out on the highway Lookin' for adventure...in whatever comes our way Yeah, darlin' gonna make it happen, take the world in a love embrace Fire all of your guns at once and explode into space
Yes, I do believe in taking responsibility for one's actions. There is no excuse for being rude and unpleasant. You'd never know I was raised by wild dogs and had to fight the pack for every meal. I've never barked at any customers and I walk around with a big smile on my face most of the time and say hi to everyone. It's when I start to sniff people that arouses suspicion. Anyway, I was only trying to say before that many times people get angry at others who are simply trying to make a living and follow the rules like the clerks who handle a gas purchase or checkout merchandise before selling a lottery ticket.
South Carolina United States
Member #6
November 4, 2001
8,980 Posts
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I guess I need to be more specific:
I purchased the lottery ticket earlier in the day. I stopped at the convenience store to redeem my winnings hours after I had purchased the ticket. I did not scratch the ticket while at the counter. I simply entered the store with the ticket in my hand & got into line. There were two people ahead of me when I came in & two more people came in immediately after me & got in line behind me. The clerk waited until my turn & informed me they serve clients getting gas 1st. When I objected & insisted that I be served next since I was waiting in line like everyone else, she picked up her phone & threatened to call the cops on me.
Then you should have been waited on for lottery transactions.
Notify the state lottery of this deal and they may just pull lottery sales out of that store. Then the store will loose that 6 % on sales.
United States
Member #17,554
June 22, 2005
5,582 Posts
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Okay, Pac. Since we live in the same town, if by chance someday we cross paths, I take a ride in your limousine and you're mean to me, I promise I won't sing to you. Well, how about
"Get your motor running... head out on the highway Lookin' for adventure...in whatever comes our way Yeah, darlin' gonna make it happen, take the world in a love embrace Fire all of your guns at once and explode into space
Yes, I do believe in taking responsibility for one's actions. There is no excuse for being rude and unpleasant. You'd never know I was raised by wild dogs and had to fight the pack for every meal. I've never barked at any customers and I walk around with a big smile on my face most of the time and say hi to everyone. It's when I start to sniff people that arouses suspicion. Anyway, I was only trying to say before that many times people get angry at others who are simply trying to make a living and follow the rules like the clerks who handle a gas purchase or checkout merchandise before selling a lottery ticket.
I'll give you a ride anytime. With a big smile on my face....LOL
Morris County New Jersey United States
Member #41,021
June 10, 2006
11 Posts
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Toot, sorry that happened to you. Happened to me, too only it was an eating establishment. Nobody was in there at the time, so - I went in to play my NJ Pick 6 ticket, mind you - I had already filled in my numbers to play. Just as the clerk was about to enter my selected plays into the machine a slew of people came in. Just at that moment, the guy looks at me and says: This can wait! I have to take care of these people first! Can you believe that? All he had to do was enter the ticket into that slot, all of 2 seconds and I would have been out of there. I was so livid I went to a different store to play, but when I got home, I e-mailed the Lottery commission via "contact us" and told them what happened and where it happened. The very next day one of their representatives went into that restaurant and confiscated their machine. Those clerks are paid a precentage by the lottery commission on the amount/volume of what they sell, and there should be a breakdown on their web page of what they pay them, i've seen it. Sure, they say it's not much, but it's extra revenue that they would not have had if they didn't sell lottery tickets and the only requirement to operate one of those machines is a little "Patience".
Justxploring, i'm sorry for your job lost. I have read alot of your posts and anyone else whom have read them can tell that you are a very likeable, intelligent and personable human being. It's their loss! I prayed for you to get an even better job - where you are happy and that pays even more than your last one! And, the next time, one of those store clerks trys to bully you into spending your winnings, I don't care if it's 2 measly bucks, you give them one of your famous nice smiles and say: I'M QUITTING WHILE I'M AHEAD! NOW, GIVE ME MY MONEY! ROFLLLLL you can even sing it if you want to.
GoldenEgg (a newbie) ...didn't mean to get so winded - sorry.....
MD United States
Member #1,701
June 18, 2003
10,731 Posts
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Anyone that owns a business will tell you that their business comes before the lottery machine. No retailer is going to dedicate an employee to running the machine unless that business generates enough profit to warrant a machine attendant. Lottery machine business in most cases is like 2 cents a ticket profit some don't make that. And they earn a paltry amount for cashing said tickets unless it's a jackpot winner. Most retailers will never see on of those in their lifetime. Hence you get a lot of people who are clueless as to how the lottery works or how to run the machines. they get minimal training to start and learn as they go. Paid in most cases minimal wages.
While i agree their might be a case for discrimination. Don't ever get the notion that the lottery machine comes before the retailers business. Unless that business is solely selling lottery tickets and nothing else.
If you go into most stores ie: royal farm stores etc etc and there is a long line behind you when you get to the attendant if you ask for lottery tickets and nothing else don't be surprised if they ask you to step to the side while they wait on customers whom are buying other goods. many times i have even seen them telling someone who might want to get JUST a money order to wait until they are done with the customers whom are behind them buying things off the shelf or food stuffs.
If you think a place that has a lottery machine is there just for lottery customers think again. the business comes first. businesses do not work for the lottery most places that have lottery machines use them as a draw to get people to come in the place and buy something besides lottery tickets.
Wandering Aimlessly United States
Member #25,359
November 5, 2005
4,461 Posts
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Funny how LP stays with us even when we're not on the site. Over the weekend I visited my Dad who is currently in a nursing facility about 150 miles from here. So I stopped to get gas and decided to buy my Lotto tickets there too. A man walked in to pay for gas and the clerk (who appeared to also be the owner) took care of him first. Then another man bought some soda and chips and he took his money. After that he took my lottery cards. I'm usually patient anyway, but I think this thread might have affected my reaction.
BTW, I paid at the pump. I just reread my post and it didn't make much sense without adding this comment. I think they were having trouble with the lottery machine too.
United States
Member #17,554
June 22, 2005
5,582 Posts
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The way I see it is if they don't want to service me after I stood in line they shouldn't be a retailer.
I totally agree. A customer is a customer. A retailer must realize that just because they only make a few cents on the dollar selling tickets, doesen't mean that the same customer isn't buying other stuff in the store, whether it was yesterday, a week ago or multiple times a week. They CANNOT make dumb decisions like that.
I like your signature. It reminds me of something I read somewhere.
A person was praying everyday to God hoping to win the jackpot. Many years went buy and the person felt frustrated from not winning. The person finally broke down and screamed up to the sky, asking God why he wasn't winning.
God finally appeared to the person saying, " I'm willing to work with you on this, but first you have to purchase some tickets".