Airing my Philthy Laundry

"Wendy's Plot to Record Profits" OR "Why My Life is Continually Becoming More Like George Costanza's"

SO LISTEN TO THIS!
I'm watching re-runs of Seinfeld when my tummy starts rumblin'. As I sit there wondering what will feed the angry troll that lives in my stomach, only one thing comes into my head: Wendy's Chili. (Don't ask me why I'm craving chili when it's 97 degrees out) So I get in to my car, drive to Wendy's in Effingham, IL and order a large chili and some sweet, tasty, french fries. My total is $3 and some change, and I hand the teenage punk girl a $20. She gives me my food and my change. I start to pull away when I realize the girl only gave me change for a $10. I pull around the restaurant and go back to the drive through window, explaining what happened. Her manager comes out and says that it'll take her 10 minutes to count the drawer out to prove she didn't give me the right change.

So I wait

And wait some more

(While we're waiting I should mention that the weekend before, my friend Kate and I went through a drive through of a Wendy's to get some Biggie Iced Teas to quench our undying thirst on such a hot Saturday in Chicago. That Wendy's employee also gave me the wrong change, but the situation was corrected immediately)

15 minutes later I drive back through the line and the manager informs me that the drawer wasn't over by $10. I inform her that I know I gave her a $20, so...
She insists that the drawer isn't over and that since I have no way to prove I'm right, and she does...thus, I'm wrong.

I reply with "Do you think this is some scam I came up with to cheat Wendy's franchises out of money? And I'm building a small fortune $10 at a time?!"

Her story doesn't change, just reiterating that I have no proof.

I'm at a crossroads in the situation, and I choose the high road, telling her that I'm not going to argue over $10, but she better hope this chili is damn good since it just cost me nearly $14. She walks away thinking I'm a common criminal. I drive away, steaming in my own thoughts.

There's only a few explanations I can think of for what happened.
1) I was mistaken and I actually gave her a $10. (Percent of likelihood: 0%)
2) The punk-ass behind the register took my $10 either in a blatant attempt to steal, or after the fact to make sure she doesn't get in trouble for short-changing a customer. (Percent of likelihood: 35%)
3) Wendy's Corp, falling on hard times, has come up with a brilliant scheme to short-change customers in order increase 3rd quarter profits. (Percent of likelihood: 65%)

I recall this episode of Seinfeld in which George is driven to near insanity because a cashier short-changed him. Yet another reason that my life is slowly turning into George Costanza's. (Along with my receding hairline that no one else seems to notice and my impatient fits of rage)

But be sure, Wendy's, that I have not forgotten about this instance. I will find a way to get my $10 out of your corporation. If it takes taking extra napkins, straws, and honey mustard...it WILL happen!

posted by philthy @ 7:00 PM