And Speaking of Idiots!

Posted by Becky on August 20, 2009

I drove directly home tonight (my Friday, your Thursday) dog-assed tired.  I’m talking too-tired-to-fucking-knit, tired.   My idiot bell on my dashboard chimes in that I need diesel so I pull into the Shell on Los Posas (Being trained like Pavlov’s dog, when I hear a bell chime I perform like a trained monkey) 

 Now, I normally go to Chevron where I get into altercations with assholes over why I won’t pull forward because they don’t understand the concept of diesel trucks and green handles, it’s just complicated, but like I said, I was tired.  I put my card into the slot, something says “Hello” which was unsetteling and a commercial for Shell starts to play on the TV monitor at the pump.  Really?  You think a monitor showing commercials about gas is necessary at a gas pump?  Then suddenly like a news flash I get told to see the attendant.  And like the trained monkey I am, I go and there is Jahne (that’s what it said on her name tag) , she asked for my card and what pump number and away I go.  I did manage to knit a few rows while waiting for the truck to fill up.  So, I have that going for me, which is good. 

The pump shuts off at $81.41,  I toddle on over to collect my debitt card and receipt and be on my merry fucking way.  You would think, right?  After several attempts at PIN entries and what not Jahne determines my card is no good and asks, “Do you have another card?” No ”Do you have any cash?” WTF?  No, I don’t have any cash because if I did we wouldn’t be dickoig around with this fucking card.  She swiped my card repeatedly and when I offered to write her a check you would have thought I had tried to rob the place.  “No! No checks!”  Hit the deck!

Okay, I then offered to go all the way to the bank and come back with her money.   I know that sounds fishy, but I was sincere.  She then tells me they have an ATM in the store and could I use that please? Fine what-fucking-ever, I’m freaking tired.  So I stumble on over to the ATM and when it displays that  the transaction is going to cost me $2.50 I lost it. I cancelled the transaction and said, ”are you out of your mind?   I’m going to spend $2.50 to give you 80 bucks? I don’t think so.   

I would have just stormed out, but that would have been stealing and I am not a criminal.  I may be a cranky old lady who is unable to tolerate idiots at the end of the day, but I am not a thief.    So, I tried to remain calm and think this through.  How about you run it through as  credit card instead of a debit card, I suggest.  Or try to type the numbers instead of swiping the card.  (I use to have to do that at the AFY when the back gets worn out)  Low and fucking behold she tried something and whatever it was it worked. Or maybe she was bullshitting me all along.   Oh, but she smiled and thanked me while the guy behind me wanted to rip off somebody’s head and wear it for a hat.  

The more I thought about it the more it pissed me off that the person behind the counter wasnt able to figure out the situation.  It’s her job.  She should know what to do.  I’ve been robbed at gunpoint working at a gas station and knew what to do.  Be polite, hand over the money, remember to sound the silent alarm, Stall them without being obvious. (I offered rolled coins and he wanted them in a cigaretted carton) and the cops were there before he had a chance to walk away.  She was overwhelmed by technology.  I, the consumer, should not have to train or instruct her on how to make my transaction work. And it probably isn’t even her fault. Someone put here there all alone and most likely didn’t properly train her. 

  Then later on this evening I went to pay some bills online and I have TWO transaction for $81.41 each and one for $10.00 from Shell on my online bank statement. WTF was the $10 for? 

Now, I’m mad.  I’m so mad, I  just lost my train of thought or maybe the train doesn’t even stop here anymore.  This is not the end of the world, it’s fixable, but this is the kind of shit that is wearing me down. Kaiser owes me $900 because someone didn’t know how to add and now Shell has potentially billed be twice for one tank of gas. 

I’m beginning to wonder if it is me or is this what Ted Kaczynsky was ranting about?