6.27.2007

Sometimes I'm simply stunned by the sheer lack of knowledge (I'm trying to be less of a bitch) that I encounter in my everyday life. Today was one of those days.

I had to get groceries today so off to Wal-Mart I went. My bill came to $62.00 and some change so I handed the girl behind the counter a $100 dollar bill. She got a very confused look on her face. She looked down at her counter. She held the bill up to the light. She looked down at her counter again. She held the bill up to the light again. She turned to the cashier next to her and said, "What should I do? I don't see the little security strip? I don't have one of those marker thingies."

At this point I said, "If it's going to be that big of a deal I can give you a newer bill, one with the BIG face on it."

She turned back around, looking very relieved and handed me the bill back....and then she actually thanked me. I handed her a bill with the large, off center face of Benjamin Franklin on it. She didn't try to find her little pen, she didn't check for the security strip, she simply put the bill in her drawer and gave me the change. All because it had the BIG face on it.

I couldn't help myself, as I was leaving I said, "You know hun, they did actually make money BEFORE the year 2005." I don't think she appreciated my humor.

All of this confusion was caused by a $100 dollar bill minted in 1985 which I was given by my bank last Friday. I will be exchanging it tomorrow lest I give some poor unsuspecting cashier an aneurysm.

6 comments:

Ian said...

I am reminded of the scene in My Blue Heaven where Steve Martin as "Vinnie/Todd" hands the cashier a hundred to pay for his groceries and the kid is all, "Wow! A hundred!" and keeps turning it over and over in his hands like it's the fabled map to find Atlantis.

Hee hee hee

Ian

super des said...

That makes me sad.
When I was a cashier, I hope I was not like this.

Suzanne said...

You know what is sad? I still get excited when I see bills bigger than a 20. I'm always like, "Wow! This is so much money!" And yet, when I go to the ATM I often use the "fast cash" option, which gives me $100 in five $20 bills. Somehow, it seems like I have a less impressive amount than I would if it was two 50s or a single 100.

Brillig said...

How funny that she just had no idea what to do with it!! And, um, how cool that you managed to have yet another $100 bill in your wallet... I think that my chances of having one, let alone TWO, are very limited! hahaha.

Whiskeymarie said...

I like little bills- it just seems like more to me. Better yet- quarters. Now THAT would seem like a lot of weight for your $100.

I am impressed that you didn't unleash the bitch on this girl.
She doesn't strike me as the smartest girl at the party, to say the least.

Gunfighter said...

Poor soul.