Social Contract

To the clerk at AM/PM -

When I try to pay for a 12-pack of soda at your store and you tell me you don’t take credit cards, don’t take me up on my offer to put the soda back in the case. I was just being polite. It’s one of society’s unwritten rules. If I’m attempting to purchase something from your store and the purchase is not successful, the rules of courtesy require that I say “Oh, ok. Do you want me to put this back?” Similarly, said rules require you to say “No, don’t worry about it.” Not “Yeah.” I realize I’m the one who let my temporary debit card expire, but that’s no excuse for getting surly. Seriously, it’s like 2:30 in the morning. There’s no one else in the store. With a strong enough arm and an assist with the sliding door, you could heave that 12-er back into the cooler from the cash register. Grocery store employees don’t ask customers to put stuff back, and they have to walk eight times as far as you do to do so. Also, while we’re on the subject, tell your AM/PM bosses to start carrying Pop Chips. They’re a great lo-cal snack and 7/11 is farther from my house. Thanks.

—DM