I got a free cup of coffee!

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Every day I go to the overpriced faux-punk dot com Emeryville diner and get myself a coffee and maybe even a scone. The staff scowl at most of the clientele and flex their tattooed arms and roll their eyes beneath pierced brows. But me they like. They smile at me, attempt conversation.

Today, I offered the dude my debit card to pay for my morning cup of wake up juice and he waved his hand at me. "Forget about it", he said. Maybe he was having a bad day but this improved my own day immeasurably.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 15:54 (twenty years ago)

What has improved your day?

― adam. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 15:58 (twenty years ago)

The weather outside, windy and chilly and orange leaves blowing everywhere.

― Velveteen Bingo (Chris V), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 15:59 (twenty years ago)

Free coffee is nice. I used to get free cups sometimes back in college when most of the coffee shops in Kalamazoo were staffed by people I knew. There's a whole little dance, though, with the "forget it" gesture. If there are other paying customers behind you, the barista doesn't necessarily want to be obvious that she's giving you free coffee. So you might get out your money and she'll tilt her head in a certain way or else just ignore that you've taken it out, and then that will be the signal. I always got nervous about that, though.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 16:03 (twenty years ago)

SHE?????

There is something you're not telling us.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 16:04 (twenty years ago)

Dude, I almost wrote "s/he" and then decided that was stupid. I am thinking of one barista in particular. No, there is not anything more to the story.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 16:05 (twenty years ago)

― adam. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 16:05 (twenty years ago)

At the burger joint today I ordered two cheeseburgers and got my order number. When I got to the counter where they serve up the food, I was like "Oh shit, I forgot to get a drink" and dude was like "eh" and handed me a cup for the soda fountain. Sweet!

― TOMBOT, Tuesday, 12 October 2004 16:07 (twenty years ago)

Hooray!

― adam. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 16:08 (twenty years ago)

How dare you be so skinny and able to eat two cheeseburgers, though.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 16:08 (twenty years ago)

I know that punk diner. The only thing punk about it is the attitude of the staff. They don't play Rudimentary Peni or anything.

― andy, Tuesday, 12 October 2004 16:09 (twenty years ago)

The East Bay is your kingdom. Rudy Can't Fail.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 16:10 (twenty years ago)

I made cheese grits last night! The memory of those cheese grits is carrying me through the day.

― n/a (Nick A.), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 16:10 (twenty years ago)

I stayed at home today which would normally improve my day. My stomach muscles hurt from coughing, perhaps I could market it as a new form of exercise.

― jel -- (jel), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 16:13 (twenty years ago)

Check your abs, you might suddenly be cut!

― adam. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 16:14 (twenty years ago)

i mean...BUFF!

― adam. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 16:14 (twenty years ago)

ihttps://www.hannakrausecandy.com/Valentines/images/chocbar.jpg

― adam. (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 16:15 (twenty years ago)

The library called, "Voice of the Fire" is in.

― William Crump (Rock Hardy), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 18:18 (twenty years ago)

finding a few more leads for jobs, playing this Dinosaur Jr record whilst jobhuntin', and the knowledge that in a few hours i'll be wearing my mexican-wrestling mask & cape when I'm out with other folks holding signs on the Burnside overpass reminding drivers & passersby to mail in their ballots early.

I now live in a state that has mail-in balloting. It changes the nature of voter mobilization efforts, just a lil'.

― Sir Kingfish Beavis D'Azzmonch (Kingfish), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 18:54 (twenty years ago)

I got my GST cheque in the mail! 85 beans from the government!

In Canada we pay a national sales tax called the Goods and Services Tax that's 7% on everything. Those of us under the personal allowable on our income tax return get GST Rebates, to the tune of $85, four times a year. It's fun at school, because we all get our $85 bucks at the same time. One person mentions it, and everyone gets all excited to check the mail when they get home. Then we all go out for dinner.

― derrick (derrick), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 05:05 (twenty years ago)

Hey Adam, it's a pain in the ass somehow for cashiers here to put such a paltry purchase on a debit card, if you'd offered one in place of payment in Scotland they'd have laughed you out the door.

If we are behind someone in a queue in like a supermarket or something and the pull out a Meastro card to pay for like, three or four pounds worth of goods, we grumble and shuffle and tut under our breaths.

Don't ask me, I just join in.

― Rumpy Pumpkin (rumpypumpkin), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 05:21 (twenty years ago)

my local coffee shop has a loyalty card where you get every 10th coffee "free". i always get a bit of a smug feeling when i get that 10th coffee, even though i know deep down that i've already paid for it as part of the value of the other 9 i bought...

― gem (trisk), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 05:24 (twenty years ago)

I went to visit my dad in the hospital. I fed him dinner this evening and he had quite a bit and didn't get too grouchy with me even though I didn't do it as well as my mom does. I felt good afterwards.

― Bryan (Bryan), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 05:29 (twenty years ago)

I'm sick of other customers in Starbucks trying to steal my grande skinny latte in place of their 'tall' coffee...presumably this is an acceptable white collar crime.

― Bob Six (bobbysix), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 06:20 (twenty years ago)

It would never occur to me to pay for a coffee with plastic. Maybe in the future.

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 06:45 (twenty years ago)

(well, it might occur to me if I realised I had no cash on me, but I'd be too embarrassed to actually act on it. The only place I feel comfortable paying for piddling purchases with a card is a supermarket, for some reason)

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 06:46 (twenty years ago)

Customers using cards, debit or credit, for purchases under $20 would always miff me as a clerk, but I'd get really bothered at purchases under $5. I'll almost always apologise to a clerk if I'm forced to use a debit card for something less than $20.

To be honest, part of the annoyance was that I was very good at making change, and I liked to show it off.

― derrick (derrick), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 06:49 (twenty years ago)

The library called, "Voice of the Fire" is in.

huzzay! lucky you, it's a great read. (hi william)

― rener (rener), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 08:29 (twenty years ago)

I went to pick it up and the librarian said, "I was flipping through it... it looks really strange." (Hi Rener -- F.A. 84 arrived yesterday.)

― William Crump (Rock Hardy), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 12:48 (twenty years ago)

jaymc, i don't think i knew you lived in kalamazoo...when were you there?

― colette (a2lette), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 12:57 (twenty years ago)

Hey Adam, it's a pain in the ass somehow for cashiers here to put such a paltry purchase on a debit card, if you'd offered one in place of payment in Scotland they'd have laughed you out the door.

Dude! I know this, same in London. But in the US, I have discovered, they honestly DON'T MIND if you put a $3 cup of coffee on a debit card! Massive cultural difference! And one I appreciate!

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 13:07 (twenty years ago)

Yesterday I asked for a large cappucino at the Uni's Fauxbucks. The employee asked me if I meant Tall or Grande.

BLAM!

― sometimes i like to pretend i am very small and warm (ex machina), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 14:07 (twenty years ago)

yesterday I was getting the bus for a "Hot Date" which wasn't actually a "hot date" in the end and I was in a mad rush to be on time, I figured I'd missed the bus cos one went shooting by me but it must not have been in service, cos about 30 seconds later another one came along and I jumped on that. However as soon as I got on I realised I only had notes on me, except for about 50 cent in coppers, and Irish buses don't give change and won't take notes.

Anyway I gave the driver my 50 cent and he was like "where are you going" and I had no idea where to say, just wanted somewhere where I'd get another city centre bus easily, so I said a place, and he's like "this will get you 5 stops down the line".

I pleaded with him and he was like "look if you came into a shop and wanted to buy something you wouldn't yadda yadda yadda" so I said "ok fair enough" and sat down.

Anyway I went to get off at the stop he'd said, and he keeps driving and goes "jesus most of the CUNTS who get this bus would just stay on the bus until I got on the intercom and told them to get off, you're alright son, don't worry about it".

I was touched by this glimmer of hope through his cloudy attitude.

― Ronan (Ronan), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 14:16 (twenty years ago)

N., would you pay for piddling with a penny?

― the bellefox, Wednesday, 13 October 2004 14:39 (twenty years ago)

This thread has taken an unseemly turn...

― Leon Czolgosz (Nicole), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 14:42 (twenty years ago)

I got a small cup of coffee!

(i.e. rather tha Buttfucks' laughable "tall" - it's called "short" and it is "short", and it was just what I wanted. And a whole 20p cheaper too!)

― Markelby (Mark C), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 14:49 (twenty years ago)

That's a great story.

― You've Got to Pick Up Every Stitch (tracerhand), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 15:10 (twenty years ago)

I will mourn the demise of Routemasters because of all the free rides to and from Soho I've been getting by accident lately.

I just got £500 worth of free, extra repairs from Apple including new parts I hadn't asked them to fix that were shot anyway.

― suzy (suzy), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 16:10 (twenty years ago)

But in the US, I have discovered, they honestly DON'T MIND if you put a $3 cup of coffee on a debit card!

but you have to run it through as a credit card rather than debit or you get charged an extra dollar in most cases.

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 16:14 (twenty years ago)

Yes, I know that too.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 16:15 (twenty years ago)

Celebrate your freedoms, for god's sake!!

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 16:16 (twenty years ago)

I was just coming back from the shops and a homeboy (leather jacket constructed from about thirty red, green, yellow, and black panels, each with a different logo on; wool replica baseball cap; low-rider bike, diamond stud in the ear) says "excuse me" very gently as he passes.. I take a shortcut home, and I hear someone behind me humming, and the sound of the bike, so I unconciously move to one side, and it's him!, and he very clearly says "thank you" as he passes.. ambushed by unexpected politeness!

― You've Got to Pick Up Every Stitch (tracerhand), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 18:16 (twenty years ago)

Tracer enjoys living in the UK.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 18:18 (twenty years ago)

Adam, what emeryville diner?

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 18:24 (twenty years ago)

http://www.rudyscantfailcafe.com/

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 18:25 (twenty years ago)

I want to go!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 18:27 (twenty years ago)

No, you don't! You have better places to eat where you are.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 18:32 (twenty years ago)

Haha, but I miss Emeryville. I have to dig up that urban history paper I did!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 18:38 (twenty years ago)

post it here!

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 18:39 (twenty years ago)

But in the US, I have discovered, they honestly DON'T MIND if you put a $3 cup of coffee on a debit card!

This is ridiculous.

"And how would you like to pay for your coffee?"

"I'd like to take out a hire-purchase agreement, please"

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:48 (twenty years ago)

Haha!

I know it seems ridiculous, my brother made fun of this when he visited a few months ago, but really, everyone does it! I was as surprised as you (possibly) are! I NEVER carry cash now.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:51 (twenty years ago)

Most people RENT coffee, too. The downpayment is big but when it goes out of fashion...you can just switch it to chai or whatever you please.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:52 (twenty years ago)

Most places *I* have coffee would never let you do that!

― sometimes i like to pretend i am very small and warm (ex machina), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:56 (twenty years ago)

I don't understand. Because they are uptight and snobby or because this is some sort of *punk* place where you pay with urine-soaked loose change?

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 19:57 (twenty years ago)

Apart from the cashier operation taking longer and holding up queues, the other reason retailers over here don't like doing it for low-value purchases is that they have to pay the bank a fee for every transaction (20p? 50p? I'm not sure - differs for credit and debit cards). Does this not apply in the US, or does the customer is king philosophy prevail so strongly that they don't care about taking such a hit on their profit margins?

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:04 (twenty years ago)

I honestly don't know, but boy, is it handy!

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:05 (twenty years ago)

If they don't like doing it, they never let on! I look right into their eyes and they don't flinch one bit when I pull out my card!

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:06 (twenty years ago)

I saw other people doing it first and then copied them, so it isn't just me!

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:06 (twenty years ago)

Lots of small cafes/stores in the US do have a $10 minimum.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:08 (twenty years ago)

i just got a debit and am sort of scared to use it at all

i m used to walking around with cas in my pocket

/18th century boy

― kephm (kephm), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:09 (twenty years ago)

Conversely, both I and friends have found that Americans hate giving lots of change for large bank notes (eg. buying a coffee with a $20 bill), whereas over here they don't care much at all, though they'll ask if you have anything smaller if they're low on change.

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:09 (twenty years ago)

I am conflicted, as usual.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:10 (twenty years ago)

I get embarrassed if I have to pay a small amount with either a debit card or a $20 bill, but that's just me. (I was pleased when grocery stores started self-check-out lanes, so I could use my debit card for purchases under $10 without feeling weird.) (I also never ask for more than $20 cash back, even if I need more!)

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:12 (twenty years ago)

I thought Americans were supposed to be bold & brash, that they wouldn't care about such things! Do you ever feel out of place?

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:13 (twenty years ago)

what is cash back? the ability to make a withdrawal from your account from the check-out?

― kephm (kephm), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:14 (twenty years ago)

seems lazy

― kephm (kephm), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:15 (twenty years ago)

exactly, yes.

(x-post - convenient!)

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:15 (twenty years ago)

I remember I was out shopping with my mother in law and she wanted to use her debit card to pay for $2 worth of stuff. I was kind of mortified and tried to talk her into just letting me pay for it, but she insisted. I don't even have a debit card, and feel squeamish about using a credit card to pay for anything less than $20.

― Leon Czolgosz (Nicole), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:15 (twenty years ago)

The benefit of cash back is that you can get cash without having to pay the surcharge that an ATM might charge you (sometimes up to $2!).

― n/a (Nick A.), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:17 (twenty years ago)

Oh no! Are you all saying that I am BAD?

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:17 (twenty years ago)

But I got a free cup of coffee!

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:17 (twenty years ago)

No, adam, this is THE AMERICAN WAY.

― n/a (Nick A.), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:18 (twenty years ago)

You know what else is great, my signature has completely rubbed off of the back of my card and NOBODY SEEMS TO CARE! In the UK, this just wouldn't do.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:18 (twenty years ago)

Yes, avoiding ATM fees is key. I always feel like if I ask for more than $20, though, it's an inconvenience to the cashier, who might need extra $20s in the till for later. I realize this is stupid.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:18 (twenty years ago)

I'm sorry john , but it is!

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:19 (twenty years ago)

I feel slightly guilty about using credit for small purchases, but I still do it. I don't think that most workers really care. When I worked in a convenience store, I preferred credit card purchases to cash because I had to count up the register at the end of my shift and cash was more of a pain to count up than credit card receipts.
Yes, jaymc, that is stupid.

― n/a (Nick A.), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:19 (twenty years ago)

Big shops are happy to do it because they like reducing the number of notes they have to cash with the bank at the end of the day, I was told. And I guess it's a useful service that draws people into the shop, esp. when there are no ATMs about. Hardly anyone gets charged to use ATMs in the UK though. There are ones that charge in bars and small shops, but you're a mug to use them unless you're desperate.

I also never ask for more than $20 cash back, even if I need more!)

I'm like that! I don't know why, exactly. I think it's a guilty conscience thing - like if I ask for £50, they'll think it's not my card, or I'm using cashback to get hands on more money than the ATM will allow me, to fund a drugs habit or something.

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:19 (twenty years ago)

You know what else is great, my signature has completely rubbed off of the back of my card and NOBODY SEEMS TO CARE! In the UK, this just wouldn't do.

Oh, mine was like that till I finally got a new one a couple of months ago. I only ever had one person tell me to get it replaced, but I felt like a criminal again, every time I used it.

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:20 (twenty years ago)

English money feels good in your pocket, though.

American cash, though...it just seems like bottletops and notepaper.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:21 (twenty years ago)

When are they going to make the different notes distinguishable from each other?

― Alba (Alba), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:22 (twenty years ago)

I don't think they're going to bother, Alba.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:22 (twenty years ago)

Never!

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:23 (twenty years ago)

See?

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:23 (twenty years ago)

This is the sort of attitude I have to put up with every day.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:23 (twenty years ago)

And I'm not just talking about my wife.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:24 (twenty years ago)

I know what you mean about bottlecaps and notepaper, though, because invariably I have bottlecaps and notepaper in my pocket at any given time, too, and it's confusing.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:24 (twenty years ago)

And receipts! I keep throwing dollar bills away with my receipts!

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:24 (twenty years ago)

I had a debit card which completely lost its signature, after I put it through the laundry. Noone (in the UK) seemed to care about it, though - apart from maybe one supermarket checkout worker.

― caitlin (caitlin), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:27 (twenty years ago)

Why can't I ever just throw receipts away, though? I hate how they just get wadded up in my pockets or wrapped around a bill in my wallet.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:29 (twenty years ago)

You are saving them for your accountant, I presume.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:29 (twenty years ago)

I always stuff my receipts in my back pockets, and then like three weeks later I reach in there and there's a wad of paper 5 inches thick. I use this for justification for why my ass looks so fat.

― n/a (Nick A.), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:32 (twenty years ago)

do you wash your clothes often?

― kephm (kephm), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:33 (twenty years ago)

Not jeans.

― n/a (Nick A.), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:35 (twenty years ago)

yeah, i kid.

― kephm (kephm), Wednesday, 13 October 2004 20:36 (twenty years ago)

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