I was standing at the cash register of a local video store to rent a DVD. When the cashier pulled up my account, her cash register showed that I owed a late charge from a video game I'd rented several months earlier. We had this conversation:

• Her: Did you return a video game after it was due?
• Me: (in my least assertive voice possible) I don't think so...
• Her: OK, then, we'll remove the charge.

She called her shift leader over to the register:

• Her: This shows a late charge, but he doesn't remember returning it late.
• Supervisor: OK. Here, I'll clear the charge... [tap tap tap]
• Supervisor, to me: There you go. All taken care of! (with a smile)
• Me: Wow. Thanks!

Just to re-iterate, I didn't raise my voice, whine, plead, or anything. I didn't even actually deny the late return. The cashier took it upon herself to do a nice thing. Sometimes you just get lucky, I guess.

-- KirkStrauser - 11 Jul 2003