Some nice stuff in here. Decently priced as well, or so I thought. I picked out a few items and brought them to the register. At that time, my niece, Kristabella, was begging me to look at some animals carved out of stone. She really wanted this 2" long, jade kimono dragon figurine. I agreed it was cute but then, ultimately, decided it would undoubtedly end up just another piece of bric brac collecting dust in my Beacon Hill apartment. Mary Kodo would strictly forbid such passionless purchases. So, I returned to the register to finalize my purchase. By then the shop girl had wrapped up my selections in two silver boxes and placed them in a bag. She quoted me the damage and my cheap heart jumped into my throat a bit at hearing the price, which was much higher than I had expected. But, giving her the benefit of the doubt, I handed over my AMEX and charged it up. Only as I was about to be pulled out of the store by my restless niece, did I remember the haunting and very authoritative voice of my mother-in-law. "You must always check your receipt, Stephen!" So I dug out the incriminating note to see that indeed I had been overcharged. In fact, I was charged twice for an item which I never purchased. I made my way back to the wide-eyed cashier who made some excuse about the item not ringing up so she rang it in twice... But I had to show her that she had not only double charged me, but charged a higher price for an item than it was marked. She refunded my card and apologized. But I left feeling a bit unsettled, wondering if this was truly an innocent mistake or not. Had she assumed that I was a distracted and indulgent patron who wouldn't notice nor be hurt by this steep overcharge? Or did she really not know how to use her register or products to this degree?
Maybe it's because I have a hardened heart from spending so many winters in my icy lair at the top of Beacon Street in Boston, watching and re-watching Marky Mark films such as "The Departed" and "Gone Baby Gone", that I have lost my faith in the goodness of humanity... And I had foolishly thought that a trip up to our country neighbor state to the north would render me some time among a more kindler, gentler and honest folk... I had been dreaming that my time in the "live free or die" state of New Hampshire would grant me some relief from the incessant cat calling, middle finger raising, caustic Boston types... I could finally let my guard down, let loose my long-ish, Tom Brady-style hair and give up my constant neurotic questioning of who was about cut me off while driving or screw me over in a business deal. New Hampshire, you saddened me today. I felt the mass hole effects up in your fine city...
Ah, today, my self-preservation, cheapness and mathematical degree from Harvard University saved me from a fate of losing far too much at a rock shop.
In sum, I must reiterate to you dear loyal readers, my mother-in-law's profound life motto, "You must always check your receipt!" read more