From  Hamdurrgur, Tales From Retail:

The lovely cashier I was working with today called me up front to explain to a customer that her coupon is not assigned to her card. It was a $1 for (store brand) acetaminophen pills. We are running a BOG50% off sale on (store brand) products. She bought 2 so she got the sale and is allowed to use a coupon on top of the sale. Cool? OK cool.

RL = rude lady, C = cashier

C: [mutters] Can you explain to this lady that her coupon is not working because it's not assigned to her card? And can you help with the line? The next customer looks like she's going to have a stroke.

Me: Sure. [turns to RL] Hello ma'm what's the problem?

RL: HI. I am buying these [shows pills] and my coupon is not working.

Me: OK let me take a look. [goes through protocol for rejected coupon] I see. OK ma'm this coupon is not assigned to your card. That could mean you have more than one card as--

RL: No I don't. I have one card.

Me: ....you have one than one card assigned to your phone number. So there may be family members using the number or maybe you opened a second one on accident at some point in time. If you call (customer service phone number) they can straighten it up for you. But today I will over--

RL: Uh. NO. I have ONE card and ONE PHONE NUMBER. That's not POSSIBLE for me to have MORE THAN ONE CARD WITH MY PHONE NUMBER. I USE THIS NUMBER ALL THE TIME AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM.

I really was just going to override the coupon because it's just friggin' $1. I usually override it if it's not over a certain amount, and let the customer know they will have this problem in the future unless they call customer service. Most customers will let me get THAT far and are very agreeable. RL wasn't having it.

Me: Actually it is possible to use a phone number more than once for different rewards card. There's no limit on that. Family members share their house phone number all the time. But today I will--

RL: No that's not possible. I only have ONE phone number so I only have ONE card. This is ridiculous!!

I honestly believe she thought I was stupid, didn't understand English or something.

Me: OK well you obviously have other people using your phone number. So call (customer service phone number) and they will be able to help you with that.

And I just walk over to a register and start ringing up the next customer. As I am doing this, I hear a loud groan from RL.

RL: You know what? FORGET IT. [throws coupon towards cashier] I don't want to use it anymore.

And she angrily pays and leaves.

Maybe let me finish my sentences next time...

-- Hamdurrgur