Every morning on the way to work, I stop at Dunkin Donuts for a medium decaf with skim milk and two Sweet-n-Low's. (Let's forget the fact that John makes me a fresh cup with the perfect blend of nonfat milk and sugar-free creamer which is FULLY caffeinated. I do drink his coffee. Way too quickly. I either need a bigger cup or a... um... I think a bigger cup will do it. I just need more coffee. So I make the second cup decaf to negate the fact that it is in fact a second cup of coffee. However, if you really want to get semantical (Bite me, Typepad and your grammatically correct ways!), 8 ounces equals a cup of coffee and since each "cup" holds 16 ounces, I am technically having 4 cups of coffee. Yes, I have a problem..)
Where was I?
Oh, yes. I stop at the DD and get my coffee. In my neck of the woods, a medium coffee comes to $1.79. I've paid that amount so many times, I now count out the exact change long before I make it to the window. Of course, there are those mornings when I only have two dollar bills or five dollar bills and no change, so my "space between the cup holders where the ashtray used to be before the auto makers started going for politically correct and now call all obvious ashtrays 'change holders'" tends to fill up with dimes and pennies until I have enough to save another buck down the road.
I started noticing a few months ago that when I would hand over a five, my change would come back as $2.21. Yes, that amount is wrong. By a full dollar. The first time, it didn't register that I was shortchanged until I had pulled away and then paused in the parking lot to put the bills away. Realizing I was missing a dollar, I didn't have time to turn back and demand my Washington so I made a mental note to watch for it in the future.
Sure enough, the next time I had a five, I was given $2.21 back. This time, I stayed right there. "Excuse me, but you only gave me two twenty-one back."
The cashier stared at me blankly.
"It's a dollar short."
Her eyes widened. "Sorry! I don't know where my head is this morning!" She then pulled a dollar from her pocket and handed it over.
Doesn't money usually go into a register?
I've caught two different cashiers in the same trick since then. Now that they know I come by every morning, they've been good about not skimming from my change... Until the new guy.
Yesterday morning, I handed over two bucks and he gave me my coffee. I sat there, waiting expectantly.
"Did you need something else?" he asked.
"My change?"
He didn't move. "Really? It's twenty-one cents."
I raised an eyebrow. "My twenty-one cents."
The cashier I usually see in the mornings stepped up to the window and passed me my withheld change and a coffee card with every hole punched out. "Next one's on us, hon."
I smiled at her and moved on.
Why do I keep going back there even though they're all scamming the drive thru customers? Because their coffee is good. Even if they are withholding the correct change.
Oh, and sometimes, they give Sprite a free munchkin. (I think it's a bribe to ensure I keep their secret. It's working.)
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This week, for a change, I'm listing all the Spinners in Red! Check them out below and see all the different Spins on change!
Bex over at Adventures of the Grigg Boys
Casey over at Half As Good As You
Rebekah over at Waffles Waffles All Day Long
TifRN over at Rapture of the Sleep -Reposted since I screwed up the link last week!
Sarhi over at Random Wiggles -New to the Spin Cycle!
Cyndi over at The Adventures of HarryJack
Smart Mouth Broad over at Words of Wisdom From A Smart Mouth Broad
HeatherPride over at Riding the Short Bus
Phhhst over at Pseudonymous High School Teacher
Wicked Step Mom over at Life and Times of a Wicked Step Mom
Meli over at Meli's Rambling Randomness
Ginny Marie over at Lemon Drop Pie -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Lori over at My Life Interrupted -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Rachel over at The Ramblings of Rachel -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Carrie over at Cole Pack -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Captain Dumbass over at Us and Them -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Thistle over at Thistles and Maple Leaves -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Chris over at Coke On My Keyboard -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Rachelle over at Diva Mommy of 4 -Updated today! Fresh Spin! New to the Spin Cycle!
The South Dakota Cowgirl over at Whoa My Horses -Updated today! Fresh Spin!
Thanks to all the Spinners old and new for keeping the Spin Cycle turning!
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Next week's assignment: Adventure.
That's right, adventure. Spin it any way you want. Want to talk about the fantastic vacation you took five years ago in the deep jungles of Brazil? Go right ahead! How about the awesome repel you did off of Mount Higherthanyouwanttoknow? Detail the suspense and thrill right here! Maybe you think potty training is an adventure in itself? (I tend to think of it as more of a long LONG lay over and you think your name is going to be called at any time, but it isn't. The flight is canceled. The crew is walking off the plane. And then? They start walking back to the plane. And it gets your hopes up. But it ends up being a "Oh, I forgot my purse!" moment. Back to waiting... Stupid diapers.)
Whatever you think an adventure is, we want to hear about it! Thanks to Rachel from The Ramblings of Rachel for the great topic idea!
Remember, Spin it up before March 3!
You know, deadlines can be an adventure too. Not adventurous enough for you? Try writing it in 10 minutes, with suspenseful music. While doing your taxes. How's that for adventure?
See you next week on the Spin Cycle!
Sounds like you've got a collusive change problem at your Dunkin! I'd be pretty STEAMED! From now on I'll be checkin' my change at my local DD!
Posted by: The Dental Maven | February 27, 2009 at 07:06 AM
Wow! That's pretty sneaky. DD is lucky you are still their customer! But the free munchkin almost makes up for it!
I have a post up about change.
http://lemondroppie.blogspot.com/2009/02/spin-cycle-change.html
Posted by: Ginny Marie | February 27, 2009 at 07:35 AM
You are absolutely kidding me! I can't believe that other people besides you have not noticed this trend.
Posted by: WickedStepMom | February 27, 2009 at 07:55 AM
Those bastards!
Eh, I would still go there too. Nothing beats my DD!!!
I am in on the Spin next week baby cakes! Can't wait!
Posted by: Petra a.k.a. The Wise (Young) Mommy | February 27, 2009 at 08:09 AM
Great post and simply unbelievable. Makes you think.
I'm gonna try to get on the bandwagon next week! The Spin Cycle bandwagon, that is. NOT the cheat your customer bandwagon! LOL
We'll see!
Posted by: Nothing Fancy | February 27, 2009 at 08:31 AM
Whoa! Nice catch! Next time it'll be a whole five. Sneaky bastards.
Posted by: CDB | February 27, 2009 at 08:32 AM
It's good that you caught that. Just think of all the people that are in a hurry and don't. Gotta love that morning coffee!
Posted by: Lori | February 27, 2009 at 08:53 AM
See? This is why I don't drink coffee. Not the only reason...but one of them. :)
Posted by: apathy lounge | February 27, 2009 at 09:11 AM
Wow! You were far cooler about those situations than I ever could've been!
Here's my spin. Sorry it's late but.. I've been changing diapers all week.
http://cokeonmykeyboard.blogspot.com/2009/02/spin-cycle-changes.html
Posted by: Christina | February 27, 2009 at 09:30 AM
They've got a nice little racket going there. I won't even get into the whole "thou shalt not steal" thing.
Posted by: Michele | February 27, 2009 at 09:49 AM
Those DD people! Just who do they think they are! OHhhhh, guess what I got in the mail yesterday??? After three years of checking account points I finally earned enough to get my free coffee bean grinding, automatic, programmable, COFFEE MAKER!!! Woot! I'm so excited! I'm sure you had no interest in that at all but I'm telling you that's how excited I am. It's very possible I'll even blog about it. But you heard it first here.
Posted by: HeatherPride | February 27, 2009 at 10:11 AM
See...I'm a jerk. I would get out of the car, find the manager, and make sure the kid got fired. Little bastards are pry scammin $20 a shift.
Posted by: Cameron | February 27, 2009 at 10:28 AM
adventure! yay!!!!
where in the world do you stop for beverages? i think they should be mystery shopped. OR one of those "you paid for it" segments on the news.
Posted by: bex | February 27, 2009 at 11:15 AM
Either there's a scam at your local DD or they have cashiers that can't do math. Either way, good catch!
My spin is up- at the last minute as is usual!
http://runhorserun.blogspot.com/2009/02/spinning-in-political-change.html
Posted by: ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~ aka, Jennifer | February 27, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Yeeeeeahhh... That's a nifty little trick they've got going on! (One for you... one, two for me. One for you, one, two, three for me!)
I think they're hoping that everyone is in a caffeine craze that they won't notice.
Posted by: Robin | February 27, 2009 at 12:42 PM
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Posted by: ocean | February 27, 2009 at 01:15 PM
You so crack me up...how much money do you think they get at the end of the day, by the way. Enough for a couple cups of coffee for themselves.? Losers....
I totally forgot to do the spin this week. This isn't what I had in mind with the word "change" but it was definitely an interesting way to do it. You're so dang talented. You suck. :-)
Posted by: Lisa | February 27, 2009 at 01:27 PM
Sneaky little rat bastards! I can only imagine all the extra cash they are skimming off of poor folks who are too coffee-deprived to notice what's happening. Maybe that's how you busted them - you already had one cup a Joe under your belt! Sadly, I would be the completely coffee-deprived loser who never noticed a thing! Ha!
Posted by: Leslie | February 27, 2009 at 03:50 PM
okay, that makes me so mad, taking advantage of tired, coffee addicted customers.
Posted by: jenni | February 27, 2009 at 08:06 PM
Why am I sitting here all pissed off after reading that? I used to work at Chick Fil-A and this kid decided that he was going to steal a dime from everyone who came to his register and it would eventually add up. I was his boss so it didn't actually end up happening. Dummy.
I would totally report the DD theft. That's complete BS (and I never count my change so I think I'd better start). Wow, jerks.
Posted by: Casey | February 27, 2009 at 09:02 PM
Seriously, I think you should tell the manager. I would worry if the cashiers are that loose with their ethics, what other loose change they are grabbing...
What is up with cashiers these days expecting tips? I worked my way through college and then some waitressing and taking someone's order and giving back change is not service.
Posted by: Pseudo | February 27, 2009 at 09:26 PM
A buck each time? They're probably making money hand over fist. I don't imagine they get paid very much though.
I probably would have played it the same way. It's obviously not just one person - you can't get them ALL fired, where would you get your coffee??
Posted by: Keely | February 27, 2009 at 10:05 PM
I have a legit Dunkin Donuts addiction. Thankfully I have 25 of them within a mile of my house...
Posted by: Jenni Jiggety | February 27, 2009 at 10:21 PM
Call me cranky but I'm outraged by this. I'm glad you noticed because I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't have.
Posted by: Smart Mouth Broad | February 27, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Wow - who know donut store employees could be so crooked? I shouldn't throw stones - I once worked cocktailing at a casino and we would rob those poor slobs blind. They were at least drunk 'tho.
Posted by: FoN | February 27, 2009 at 11:41 PM