I can’t sell you change sir.

On my way home from The Bourne Ultimatum (which I will be posting a full review about here shortly) I stopped by the local SuperAmerica gas station. I filled up my tank with $44.00 worth of gasoline and I later purchased some things inside making for a total of $48.70. When I went into the store I headed for the ATM machine to pull out 20 bucks to be made into change for the car wash in town.

As I said before I picked up a couple items and I went to the register with my things. You would think paying for my gas and getting change would be beyond a simple process, but let me inform you on the conversation I had with the station attendant as it’s undoubtedly still vivid in my mind.

Me: “Hey, I have pump 7 and this stuff, also I need change.”

Attendant: “We don’t sell money sir, I can’t sell you change.”

Me: *blank stare*

Me: “You can’t sell change?… No I’d like to break this 20? I was thinking 5 dollars in quarters..”

Attendant: “We can’t sell money sir, I can only give you change if the drawer is open.”

Me: *blank stare* “No see I want to buy this stuff and I already said I have pump 7, so I’m a paying customer…” *gives attendant $20.00 bill* “Can I have change now?”

Attendant: “Your total is $48.70, your going to need more then that.”

Me: “Yeah, hence the reason I also have my Visa here, you can take the rest out of that right? Also, here is my Rewards card. I’d like $5.00 in quarters please.”

Attendant: “I can’t do that.”

Me: “What? Why?”

Attendant: “I can only give you like a dollar in quarters.”

Me: “…… Ok… Do you have ones? Or?”

Attendant: “Ok, Here’s 4 dollars, and a dollar in quarters, $20.00 is your change.”

Me: *throws hands in air* “Ok so, do you have like a shift or day manager I could speak with?”

Attendant: “I am the day manager..”

Me: “Ok, then could you please let your self know that you should be clearer in your communication with customers?”

Attendant: “We just can’t sell change here sir, we don’t sell money.”

I might be insane but this really caught me off guard, I thought the guy was joking, I really did. But he was dead serious.

The point wasn’t breaking the 20; I can understand a person going in there solely for the purpose of getting change being turned away. However, I started the conversation by stating what I wanted to purchase and I just so happened to also want change.

His circular logic has my mind completely blown; at least it gave me a good story to tell.