Custy Uses Real Pen On Credit Machine

I just discovered you guys when I decided to take a break from finals homework... and you're freaking amazing!

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who thinks like this! You can call me ginger bitch, since I am a ginger and I have no soul. (ha.) Oh, and I'll go ahead and apologize for my foul language... I've got a sailor mouth.

Anyway, I've worked in a grocery store, a tanning salon, and a used entertainment store. I have loads of crazy custy stories. Since this is my first post, I'll start with the grocery store. This grocery store was in my hometown... which is a very small town. I worked there for two years during high school, and I loved to hate it.

There were 3 top customers who take the fucking icing on the cake for the WTF award. Dumb Bitch, Pee Guy, and Crazy Lady. Now, dumb bitch was an older lady who came through my line and was just the nicest lady. Sure fooled me. Everything was great and dandy, and then she had to use the credit machines. Now, granted, we have pens on the counter for people to write checks, but fuck, I never thought someone would seriously use ink pens on a machine. I'm about to ring up the next customer because her transaction went through and she says in the most annoying voice I've ever heard, "Um, my name didn't go through, I don't want to be charged twice."

I'm thinking.. what the hell?? So I turn the machine around, notice she had used ink pen, turned it back around and say, "Oh, it's fine, I'll take care of it!" I didn't want to tell her she was a fucking moron. But really?? She went to tell on our boss about how I "blew her off." My fucking bad.

I spent two hours trying to clean that damn ink off the machine. I watched her do it again to a coworker, who received the same treatment. When she finally tried to use a pen the third time I saw her in the act, I finally just said "Do you realize you're using an ink pen on our expensive machines?!" She looked like she was a deer caught in the headlights.

After that until I left for college, every time she'd use the credit machines she'd make a point of pointing out that the ink pens shouldn't be so near the machines.

What...the...fuck. Has this happened to anyone else?? Please tell me it isn't just my hometown... (although that's a story for another day... no, seriously. You'll see why). I really should get back to studying, so I'll tell you about Pee Guy and Crazy Lady another day. Damn creepy custys!

--Ginger Bitch.

Comments

[Whatevs]

Blargh. I used to be a cashier for the Bullseye. 3-4 people PER DAY would use pens on the card machine. I tried hiding the pen behind my register and only providing it when asked, but people would actually get an ink pen out of their bags and use it on the screen even though the stylus was right there. I really hate people.

[Green Grin]

The first time I encountered one I tried to use my fingers since that was what I was used to doing with touch screens. I felt pretty stupid once I noticed the stylus. After reading this I feel a lot smarter. It never would have occurred to me to use a real pen on a touch screen.

[snuzzle]

I don't know if your screens have screen protectors, but ours do, for just that reason. Also, I don't know what you're using to clean it, but try some hand sanitizer or nail polish remover. The high alcohol content will get out even permanent marker, as long as you catch it quick. And even if you don't, it will get rid of most of the ink.

On the opposite side of the spectrum of this lady, though, our machines have a sign on them saying "DO NOT USE PEN" and a stylus attached. I've gotten at least a dozen people who are terrified to use the stylus and confused as to what they should sign with because "it says DO NOT USE PEN!?"

[Token Female]

@snuzzle: the problem that I see with the "DO NOT USE PEN" signs on your machines is the fact that most styluses I've seen look at least a little like pens. So to the stupid custy, it's basically saying "DO NOT USE ANYTHING THAT LOOKS LIKE A PEN, YOU IDIOT." Stupid suggestion (but then again, nothing's too stupid for custies): label your stylus "STYLUS" so they don't think it's a pen. Or maybe see if the signs can change to say "don't use ink pens" just to clarify...

Since my grocery store doesn't have the "sign on the screen" machines, we don't run into that problem - if we did, I probably would have heard about it from my cashier friends, since stories like that would get spread around so we can all go "dumb customer..."

[Evie]

In defense of the "stupid custy," some of those credit card machines are the craziest, most complicated pieces of machinery ever designed by man. The ones in PetSmart SLAY ME. I swear to God, I was in there once, painstakingly trying to sort through like fifteen fucking menus with a giant Harry Potter-esque stylus and some smartass cashier with booger-green hair and an infected nose ring rolled his eyes, sighed at me and was all, "You know it's a touch screen, riiiight?" I think I got some crazy anime eyes at that moment and yelled, "Then WHAT IS THIS THING FOR?!" I immediately felt like an ass, but seriously. What is that thing even FOR.

[Customer Service Slut]

Our machine actually tells you not to use a real pen. It guides you through the entire transaction and I still have people who don't understand! "Do not use pen...?" They have the stylus in their hands. "So not this pen?" -Facepalm- No, idiot. A real pen. Don't use a REAL pen.

[Fellow Slave]

Happens quite a bit.
If I can't manage to hand them the stylus in time, hand sanitizer goes a long way.

[Magic Slave]

I've had that happen several times. Our stylus is attached, but people will pull pens from their pockets, purses, whatever and sign with it. But they will pick up the stylus to try to write a check and tell us the pens don't work.

[DV-Diva]

The screens at my store don't allow the custys to sign on the screen, but they do require up to two or three "button pushes" to put a transaction through.
I've had custys attempt to press "Credit" or "Yes" for a transaction with the tip of a ballpoint pen before.
One guy is standing there STABBING the screen with a Bic and I'm telling him, "Sir! That's not necessary! Just use your finger."
"But it won't go through!"
"Your fingertip will work just fine, sir. May I show you?"
"Be my guest! It won't work!"
So, I reached over and tapped the button myself with my fingertip.
He looked at me like I'd just performed an act of street magic before his very eyes.
To be honest, I'm surprised it did work...after he'd been stabbing at it with the pen, I was afraid the poor machine was too traumatized to do it's job and may need therapy. :/

[highend slave]

oh my gosh, this has happened to me a few times, and actually this happene o me yesterday when my customers signature wouldnt show up. i thought my signature pad was acting up, but turns out the idiot was using a real pen. i tried not to make her feel stupid, but until i pointed out she was using a real pen, she didnt realize, she kept marking up the electronic signature pad. some people.

[CiCi]

"Sir! That's not necessary! Just use your finger." <--- That's what she said!
Ahem. Sorry, had to be done. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

[NC Tony]

Some people get that deer in the headlights look when they get to the credit card machine like they've never seen one before. I swear, sometimes I just want to scream at them when I see them standing there wondering what to do. Have they never used their credit card before, I know that the card readers differ from store to store, but they all work basically the same way, never mind the fact that most (if not all of them) tell you what to do. On top of that, you've got a real-live flesh and blood human being also standing there who can tell you what to do if you get confused!

[Former Target Employee]

I can't even count the number of times I've had people use a pen on a credit card machine. You're not alone.

[Whatevs]

Yeah, I've had that happen to me in retail. I forget what I used, but it got it off in one try. I'm attempted to say hand sanitizer on a paper towel, because windex sure did shit. I actually felt bad for the custy who did it, because it was this little old lady who actually looked upset that she had ruined our machine.

[Pharmacy Minion]

My custys do that ALL. THE. TIME. We actually keep alcohol pads next to the cash register so we can clean the screen. SO annoying.

[Tom]

Only happened to me once, but the machine was ruined and had to be replaced.