Change ... As In Oil

Errands to run and an oil change. That was the agenda for my only day off this week. Even though the sun was high ... and more than a little warm ... I set out with the top down! Driving with the top down always makes me happy.

Got the first couple of things checked off my list and headed to the automotive center to get that oil change.

Pulled in and the older woman at the counter was friendly ... and flustered. Seems that it had been a busy day and one of the cash registers was without a cash drawer. So she could only check people in ... but not check them out.

She asked which oil change I was interested in today. The basic one just offered the oil and oil filter. Nothing more or less. The standard oil change had that plus checks on a variety of things and vacuum. It was only $10 more.

I ride around with the top down as often as possible. so my front floorboards are always in need of a vacuum. So I opted for that one.

And I had noticed during the rain this past week that I was desperately in need of new wiper blades, so since that was on the check list I told her to go ahead and have them put those on.

I wandered into the big box store to do a little shopping while a waited. She had said it would be about 20 minutes. First I went and gathered it up a couple of things I knew I needed and a fun impulse buy off the sale rack.

Nothing like a good bargain!

After I made my purchases I was heading back to wait in the automotive area when my name was called over the intercom stating that my car was ready. Perfect timing!

When I reached the counter, the younger woman was checking out a man who didn't speak very good English. He had a friend with him who kept interrupting the transaction to ask if he could purchase the large pile of non-automotive items at that register.

Remember, there was only one working register in the automotive area at the time. The cashier would ask if the items were a part of the man's automotive service transaction that she was trying to complete. The man said no. She would begin again to tell her customer about his service and the 2nd man would interrupt again asking if he was going to be able to make his purchase at that register.

There 4 or 5 us in line waiting to conduct our automotive business. Finally the man who didn't speak very good English told the cashier to add it to his total so that the transaction could be completed.

In the meantime, the older woman who had the cash register with no cash drawer attempted to assist those of us in line. She was very frustrated that she was not allowed to handle the transactions for those paying with a credit or debit card since no cash was involved.

It was obvious that the day continued to be challenging for the very friendly and helpful cashiers in the automotive department.

It was my turn. The cashier told me that I had been a quart low and that it was recommended that I purchase a new air filter soon. Then she said, "Oh, they didn't vacuum because there were items on the floor behind the driver's seat."

Big sigh. I wondered aloud why they had not vacuumed the front floorboards since it was obvious they were in need and had no items of any kind on them. She smiled and asked if I would like to have them pull the car back in and do it.

Sigh. I shrugged and said that was ok but the vacuum was the main reason I had chosen to go with the standard oil change rather than the basic one.

"Wait! Don't insert your card yet," she said cheerfully. "My manager is here and I bet he will let me give you the discount back to the basic oil change."

About that time the manager appeared from a back room. She explained to him that my car had not been vacuumed and asked if she could charge me for the basic oil change instead. He was fine with that option.

The line behind me continued to grow. The automotive counter staff never lost their cool as everyone was having to funneled to the one register.

The cashier did some things on her screen and waited for the manager to come over and type in his code. He walked over and she reminded him that it was $10 discount that she was wanting to give me. He was perspiring and looked as if he was about half way through a DAY! He smiled at me quickly and tapped on the screen. She looked at the screen and back at him.

"No," she said. "That's not right." With another quick smile my way, he said, "That's what I want to do." And he walked away.

Incredulously, she turned the screen towards me and said, "That's your total for today's service."

$0.00

I was stunned. I told her that was not what I was expecting. And I hadn't even complained. Not really.

Much like the manager, she tossed me a quick smile and said, "Well that's what he wanted to do for you."

She handed me my keys and sent me on my way.

It was a good day.