I am a big fan of Bath and Body works hand soap. BIG FAN. But you know how those pump soaps work when you get down to the bottom of the bottle and there's like half an inch of soap in there but it won't come out?
In the past, I would add a little water, shake it up and it worked fine. Except for Hubby...who, inexplicably, would spray himself in the crotch every time with the soap/water mixture. (I haven't a clue how he managed it, but it was like clockwork. Five minutes after I added water, I'd hear him yell and stomp out of the bathroom to go change him pants.)
After doing this a few times, Hubby made me a deal: If I NEVER added water to the soap bottles again, he'd buy me 1000 bottles of the soap.
Now, we have a joint checking account where all of our money goes, so really, there was no way to track if his money was buying my soap, but whatever.
That was a couple years ago. At last count I'd purchased something like 55 bottles of the stuff. My favorite place to stop is at the outlet store in Johnson Creek. It's an easy on/easy off the freeway and it's on my way to and from my friend Marie's place in Madison, so when I go to her house I usually stop to restock.
Well, we were running low and I had no plans to see Marie any time super soon, so Hubby and I drove out to Johnson Creek for a day of shopping for soap.
Now, normally I run in and out because everything in the outlet store is clearly marked with giant signs. Oh, and I only buy one product, the hand soap, so it's not like I'm going to browse.
I was met at the door by a woman named Jenny. Jenny was super perky and told me all about where everything was (which I knew since it was all clearly marked.) What Jenny did NOT do, was hand me a shopping bag. Instead, she blocked my path to the shopping bags and I had to walk around her after listening to her entirely-too-long speech about specials. (which were, again, clearly marked with giant signs all over every table.)
I filled my bag (believe me, it was full. And heavy.) I was about to make my way to the front to purchase my 17 bottles of soap when Jenny jumped in my path again. "Do you need anything or do you have any questions?"
Yeah, one question: Why are you standing in my way when all I want to do is put this massively heavy bag of soap on a counter and pay for it?
I noticed a sign next to several of the scents of soap I'd purchased that said, "Buy 3 get 3 free." Well I had six of those bottles in my bag, and since Jenny was clearly not going to move, I said, "Does that special pertain to the soap it's sitting next to?"
"No." she said. "It's just for the personal scents."
For the record, there were probably five shelves of soap on that table and exactly four bottles of personal scent. But whatever.
"Okay then I'm good."
Jenny moved out of my way and I dragged my cache to the front. The cashier there went through the 87 questions they seem to always ask. (By the time they're done, all I want to do is yell, "JUST LET ME PAY FOR MY CRAP AND LEAVE."
No, I don't want a credit card, yes I get your emails, yes this is my zip code....
Then the woman says, "Did someone help you today?"
Well, I'm not sure if blocking my path to the two places I really needed to go is what you'd consider help....but okay, I'll bite. "Yes, Jenny."
"Okay, well, your total is $43 with the coupon. Now if you'd like to add a tip to that, you can right there on the screen."
Let's pause for a moment.
Do I want to leave a tip?
FOR WHAT?
Is this something new? Are we leaving tips for random retail people now? I mean, it's not
like I'm in some shop on Rodeo Drive. I don't shop retail stores where people work on commission. I'm too poor for that.
I tip my servers, I tip my hair dresser. I tip the mailman. I've given gifts to teachers and all kinds of people as a way of thanking them for a good job done. I am a decent tipper, I generally tip between 20 and 25%. I'm not saying that to brag, but I think when someone does something for me that I can't or won't do for myself, they deserve a proper tip. I enjoy tipping when it's warranted.
But friends, I was GOBSMACKED when I asked to tip someone who had impeded my shopping experience and had answered exactly one question. Seriously, I did more work than Jenny did to make sure I had what I wanted.
I'm sure Jenny is a very nice person. I'm sure she's good at her job. And I agree, wages should be raised as a general practice. But tipping for your basic every day retail associate who says hello to you? (Oh lord, is this why everyone at Kohl's is suddenly all on me?)Kids, if this going to sound mean, but is how retail is going it's just making Amazon look better and better all the time! (Those drones NEVER ask for a tip!)
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