From spellitcorrectly, TalesFromRetail

During the height of the Recession, the only work I could find was at a chain of convenience stores. I reluctantly took the job as it was in the bad part of town.

This particular chain of stores sends you to training at the local headquarters and while there, they stressed how serious it is not to sell alcohol to people that were underage. They told us to card anyone that looked under 30 while the law only requires that you card someone that looks under 27. The law also requires you to card anyone with the person that is buying the alcohol (unless it looks like a situation of parent and child). If you didn’t follow the law, you’d be fired on the spot.

With this knowledge I set out for my first day of work. The store manager was there to help with my training and the first day was going alright until that afternoon.

Now at this chain of stores, when you range up alcohol or tobacco the POS system would have a pop-up message. You could either scan someone’s ID or skip it by saying they were over 30.

About 2 PM, two female customers came in together, go to the beer cooler, grab a cold one, and come to the counter.

From the moment they walked in, my manager told me to make sure I carded them. This was a test to see how strong my backbone would be.

Me: “Hi, did you find everything you needed?”

Customer: “Yep.”

I scan the beer and the message comes up.

Me: “I’ll need to see your ID as well as her’s.” Pointing to women with her.

Customer: “Are you serious?”

Me: “Yes.”

She gets more upset saying that the women with her is her daughter and that she doesn’t have ID.

At this point, I look at my manager for confidence and the manager gives me the nod to go through with what I’m about to say next.

Me: “I’m sorry but if she doesn’t have ID, I can’t sell you the beer.”

Customer: “Are you f**cking kidding me? I come in here all the time and buy beer. Why can’t I do it now?”

Me: “I’m sorry but I can’t sell you the beer. You can come back later in the day and buy it if you like.”

Customer: “Oh I’ll be back!”

She then storms out of the store with her “daugher” (they really didn’t look all that alike).

My manager comes over and gives me a pat on the back for a job well done.

I like to tell this story whenever I see someone complain about being carded and not being sold the alcohol or tobacco. Unless it’s completely obvious that the person is just being a dick, please cut them some slack. Maybe they could be fired for selling to you and not selling is the better option instead of the losing the only job they could get.

--spellitcorrectly