13 Comments
User's avatar
Stephen Leuchtman's avatar

Two of my favorites:

1) Saying “$98.76 (or whatever) is too much. I’ll give you $76.50 (or whatever)

2) Saying “That’s the year I was born” if the bill is $17 or $18 and change.

Expand full comment
olivier's avatar

Sweet! I had a friend in France (a kind of Mr Hulot character) when we were in our twenties, who would systematically manage to make friends with the check-out person. Broke as he was, he would always add a couple of candy bars to the tray and after paying would hand one of them to the check-out person. Always good to read your posts, Richard.

Expand full comment
Richard Goodman's avatar

Where can I find your friend? I could use some free candy.

Expand full comment
Jody Lisberger's avatar

Ha. Ha. You're funny. Here in RI, guys are grocery store cashiers, too.

Expand full comment
Richard Goodman's avatar

Yes, guys bag, too!

Expand full comment
John Hazlett's avatar

Ha! Nice piece Richard. I was a bagger for a couple of years in high school and quite proud of my bagging skills. The switch from paper to plastic has led to a real decline in the art. Whenever I have a chance, i bag my own groceries. Paper only of course.

Expand full comment
Richard Goodman's avatar

Question is: do you still have it? Meet you at Rouses at dawn for a bag-off.

Expand full comment
John Hazlett's avatar

Always ready for a good bag off. I keep my skills up to date, and I'm constantly looking for new techniques. YouTube offers a whole course in new-fangled bagging, but I remain a partisan of old school methods.

Expand full comment
Richard Goodman's avatar

Sometimes, the old ways are the best.

Expand full comment
Elizabeth Godfrey's avatar

Ha! Thanks for the public service 😆

Expand full comment
Richard Goodman's avatar

Always happy to oblige.

Expand full comment
Teresa B Engebretsen's avatar

I needed a giggle this morning! Thank you!🤣

Expand full comment
Richard Goodman's avatar

That's my job.

Expand full comment