So, I am A Cozener

There you have it. I am a cheater! Take a close look!

K. So, I just went to our Grocery-Store Rewe (German), the one with the slogan "A bit better every day" (yes guys, please get a bit better on my behalf!!!)

I shopped for 7 euro something and wanted to pay with a Sodhexo worth 5,11 euro.

Dunno bout your place, here in Germany there was a time where these "meal tickets" were given to people who don´t work (long-term, like not wanting). Instead of money. Because when those people were given money, they bought liquor and cigarettes from that and came back asking for money for food. This was too humiliating for them, though, so they got money again (being sarcastic, see?)
Those people certainly had no good reputation, they were lazy, filthy and other negative things you can come up with.

Many people still think this is the case.

So.. can you guess the other customer´s look when the cash-out girl took my "ticket", studied it and said: "No! I cannot take it - it´s already expired! It says 2010!"

Yeah, filthy ole me wanted to trick that supermarket!

I said, slightly angry already: "No, they´re valid three months into the next year!", being 90% sure about that. Not 100, though.

Cashout-Girl looked at me. Then: "I gotta ask my boss", and left!

Yeah, the person who stopped the whole cashout, me. More angry looks.

Finally she came back: "My boss, she doesn´t know, either. I cannot take it, sorry!" (she was sorry)

Hello?!

#1: if they both don´t know: take the darn thing (it´s only 5,11 euro!), risk to loose it and get to know about the stuff you offer to take!
#2: obligingness, we call it "kulanz" - what is more worth, a lost or at least very angry customer or some stupid 5 euro???

Sadly I was too angry and ashamed to THINK at that time.

I grabbed 10 euro with shaking hands (ANGRY! also bout myself, for not being sure 100%) and left rather running.

Side note, one I´d often like to scream at the people who give me the "filthy, lazy bugger-look":
I´m a graduated engineer, in the same job for 9 years. The company has no canteen and this is their way to make up for it! The company pays half the price of each voucher.

Man, ever get THAT angry that your hands tremble and your brain stops working? And afterwards everything falls into place, once you´re OUTTA the darn situation?
Can you train to prevent yourself from that, be always smart and clever?

I put a complaint to the store.
But certainly I have to stay polite. Because... legally they could say: One voucher per shopping - and I don´t want that, certainly.
So I was rather (hopefully enough) polite and sent them the direkt link (German) with the passage copied out.

GAHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....

Am I happy I still have half a Pizza Flintstone waiting for me, guys!