There is one coffee shop I visit regularly. The owner is well nigh known for being cheap. When she first came to town, her arrogance overwhelmed, hurt a few of the shop owners. People were not impressed with her food. Some offer a nick name "Chitty xx" for the store.
It is rare to enter her store where she would come over and offer a kind gesture. Ask a customer to sample a food. I let that go easily enough. But what is really interesting is that she doesn't see herself. She wears a shirt that says," Let's Make American Kind Again." I try not to laugh.
Just the other morning, I was at the coffee shop at 8 a.m. when they are due to open. They are almost always open on time. It was 8:20 a.m. until the woman arrived to open the shop. A home emergency made her late and I surely would never say a thing. Life happens to all of us. But I would honor my customer when those things occur.
It was well after 8:30 a.m. when she finally made me a vanilla latte. $3.15. I waited over thirty minutes for a latte. Most of it outside. I even encouraged her customers to wait because this was an unusual occurrence.
But what the clerk did made me think. Most shops would comp a regular customer when they are this late. Not this woman. Not this shop. $3.15 please.
A day later, I used my coffee card to get my FREE latte. After ten lattes, the next one is free. While the clerk was preparing my latte, I picked up a blank coffee card for my next visits. I am a very good and consistent customer. I bring friends here for coffee and for lunch. But this time the clerk asked what size latte I usually get. I stopped to think a bit about this and told her I mostly get a small, but sometimes a medium. I told her a medium would be fine. They should incent their loyal customers with an occasional treat. I do buy small because I don't like a lot of caffeine.
For five years, no one questioned the size of the free latte. I have coffee cards for other places I visit in other towns and cities. I am a good latte customer. This all has changed. Yesterday I handed them the blank coffee card and they punched it. I didn't notice until last night when I was cleaning out my wallet that they marked the top VAN LATTE, SM on the top.
Cheap, cheap. You are teaching me very quickly where I want to spend my money. Yes, LETs MAKE AMERICA KIND AGAIN. Look in the mirror and start with yourself.
Thank you for the lesson. cheap, cheap.
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