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Thursday Thoughts: Sometimes a Checkout Line Delay is Good

I'm normally a pretty even-keeled person, but if something just isn't right, I can get (politely) ticked off.  Today's experience at Walmart had me calmly asking for the corporate number, and though I'm still a bit upset, I am also glad.
 
I had a coupon for baby food that was "Buy 3, Get 3 Free."  When the coupon scanned, I noticed it only took off the price of one jar of baby food.  I alerted the cashier, who said she would need to call a manager.  I apologized to the people in the growing line behind me, but assumed the manager would be able to take off the correct amount from my bill.  

The manager told me that she could not adjust the amount!  I went ahead and purchased the items; I was only shorted a dollar and change, and I felt sorry for the people stuck in line behind me.  However, on the drive home I was rehearsing a call to the Walmart corporate office to express my frustration that a manager couldn't adjust an amount, and maybe a call to Beechnut.  (I'm unclear if the mistake is in the coupon bar code itself, or in the computer input.)

When I neared home, I needed to park a few streets away from my house, because our road is being paved today.  As I was walking home, I noticed a neighbor just getting into her car.  She didn't realize that the road was closed, and was in a bit of a panic when I told her.  She needed to get something mailed off today.  I offered to drive her to pick up and mail off her paperwork, as my car was parked beyond the wet pavement.  

My neighbor and I had a good visit in the car. It wasn't until the ride home that it dawned on me that if I had not been delayed at Walmart, I would not have been walking home at just the moment my neighbor was getting into her car.  She might have driven on the still-wet street, dirtying her tires and possibly messing up the road, or she might have missed her important mailing deadline.  In any case, she was grateful of my offer to drive her, and I felt great being able to help a neighbor and have a chance to chat with her.  

I still plan to call Walmart and possibly Beechnut, but now I'm actually thankful that my check-out was delayed.  It feels good to be at the right place at the right time. 

Have you ever been annoyed at a delay, only to realize later it was for the best?

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Thanks for opportunities to help others.

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Comments

  1. ChristineNovember 1, 2013 at 5:24 AM

    It happens all the time. I can't think of a specific example at the moment, but I know there are plenty of them. :)

    And really, that manager could have done better. I wonder if the person at the service desk would have fixed it. I've gone there when I forgot to pull out my coupons at checkout.

    ReplyDelete
  2. NancyNovember 1, 2013 at 9:29 AM

    I strongly believe that coincidences happen for a greater purpose. God's timing is not our timing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. An Oasis in the DesertNovember 1, 2013 at 1:45 PM

    I love how things really do happen the way they are suppose to, at least most of the time!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dogwood Lane RamblesNovember 1, 2013 at 2:16 PM

    This whole incident certainly falls under the category of blessing in disguise and I believe it happens to us all quite often if we are only open to receiving the message. That does not mean you don't have the right to be ticked about the mistake but it dos mean you are right to recognize the gift.

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownNovember 1, 2013 at 2:17 PM

    It does seem like you were supposed to be there at the exact time that you arrived. My sister and I noticed on my last trip home that almost every time we set out to "do something" we ended up doing something completely different -- and being so glad we did! Things to happen for a reason.

    ReplyDelete
  6. MARTHANovember 9, 2013 at 1:28 AM

    Hastening the work.

    ReplyDelete

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