"Hi there!!! How are you today?" *says nothing* "That is awesome to hear!!!!" I have worked as a gas station cashier for around two years and everyday I go to work with a smile on my face for my entire shift. Yet, while inside my head I scream at the top of my lungs. Here are just a few of the things that you should know for the next time you go to the gas station.
1. May I see your ID?
"Why do you need to see my ID!?!?!?" I am sorry but I am just doing my job and around holidays the police stings are everywhere. I really can not afford to lose my job because you want a beer or cigarettes.
2. Prepaying for gas
This is convenient for lots of people. Just stop in and pay for the set amount of gas you want, pump your gas, and off you go! Please do not just throw the money on the counter and leave. I have no clue what I am doing with your money.
3. Know which pump you are o
This goes for if you are prepaying for gas or coming in to pay for gas. Please do not walk in and say you have gas on the white car. There are times when there are four or more white cars at the pumps and seven pumps that are pumping on my register screen. I have no clue what kind of car you drive so just tell me the number.
4. Talking
I personally love talking to people but if I have a line of customers seven people long, I really need you to either move along or move to the side and wait until I do not have a line to continue your story.
5. Anger
Why yes, I would love to hear how awful your day has been. And yes, please start yelling at me because I can not get something to scan or you came right after work and I have a line of customers that I have to help. As you yell at me and cause a scene please remember I may be having a bad day as well, but I can not complain, so have a good rest of the day!!
6. I am sorry, I can't do that.
When I say, "I am sorry, I can't do that," I really mean I can not do that. Literally, my computer will not let me, or the thing that will over rule everything that I can make my computer do, is my boss. If my boss tells me no on something, there is not one thing you can say or do to get me to do it.
7. Lottery
I need you to give me a winning lottery ticket.
Hahahaha that was almost as funny as the first time I heard it (17,863 times ago). Also, if I had the ability to give you the winning ticket, do you really think I would be working in a gas station driving an old beat up car????
8. Money
Obviously you will need to bring your money in with you to pay for all of the things you are getting. Yes, all money spends the same crumpled dollars, pennies, nickel, dimes but there are a few things I want you to know.
A. Please do not just throw it on the counter and tell me to count.
B. Please do not pay for twenty dollars worth of things in change.
C. Please do not give me sweaty sock and bra money. Ew.
D. Please do not pay for a candy bar with a hundred dollar bill. Just go to the bank, they will give you the full hundred back.
Please just remember that the people working at gas stations are people too. Equal to you. So treat us like you want to be treated and a smile can make an experiance a whole lot better.
