March 29, 2004

We were robbed yesterday.

Or rather, I was robbed yesterday, since the caf� itself did not lose any money.

The short story is that this woman decided to take my tips (and my coworker's) as retribution for unsatisfactory customer service. Basically I refused to refund her money for unused coffee beans. Even with the manager, the owner, and FDA guidelines against returning food, she was adamant that her grandfather already had this particular coffee.

So out she goes after snatching the bills from the counter. I chase after her and lightly tap her on the arm. "That's my money."

"Don't touch me," she says with proud disdain, and continues out the door.

My coworker tussled with the woman, but she drove off, money in hand, and coffee beans spilled all over the street.

What was my recourse, I think to myself. Short of pummelling her or breaking her fingers, I was not getting that money back. And whether or not she would deserve such treatment belies that fact that physically fighting over $40 is not worth the risk and trouble.

And yet I'm still mad.