I live just off a major road so the Shell is less than 1/2 a mile from my house. This convenience store has been my little haven for the past 6 years. I could purchase anything, from cigarettes to candy to diet cokes and not have to answer to anyone. They barely spoke English so I never felt the need to explain myself. I was a regular and probably one of their favorite customer since my diet coke and candy habit along with cigarettes and the occasional gas purchase were clearly keeping them in business.
Several weeks ago they had a special that was 5 12-packs of soda for $14. I haven't fully kicked the diet coke habit and of course Matt and Andrew still like soda. So I thought I would get some for all of us at this price. When I took my selection to the counter the man, in very broken English, said the 5 for $14 was only for Coke, no other sodas. He told me the Diet Coke would be $1 more per 12-pack. So I left without buying anything and I haven't been back.
Yesterday, as I was cooking dinner, I realized I didn't have any milk. At the same time Andrew was asking for batteries for the wireless keyboard and mouse for the Mac. Ugh, I was going to have to go to the store, with dinner already on the stove. So I decided I'd just run to the Shell, it is after all a convenience store and I needed the convenience.
Here's where I got tickled. I walked in and immediately got the "Hello" from the owner who was there. I got the milk and batteries and went to the counter. The owner told me the diet cokes were part of the sale which was now 2 for $5.99. I said I didn't need any. He asked if I was sure. Yes. Next he asked if I wanted cigarettes. When I answered that I quit he said "Oh". Then he said "You need candy?". Nope, not today. So I guess my $10 purchase of milk and batteries (which would probably have only been $5 at Kroger) wasn't going to pay his rent this month. He asked again about Diet Coke and I said no, and pointed to the other man behind the counter and advised he had told me it was $1 more per 12-pack last time I wanted to buy some.
So I took my milk and batteries and headed to the car. As soon as I got in the car and before I could close my door the owner was by my side. He wanted to apologize and explain that he had run out of Diet Coke a few weeks back and had to purchase from another store at a higher price and thus the reason it was excluded. And again he asked if I was sure I didn't want any. No, not this time was my continued answer. He said okay and let me know he had advised his employees I was to get the Diet Coke at the same price as other soda all the time because I am such a good customer. This made me smile and feel guilty all at the same time.
I wonder if I will be responsible for further economic anomolies when I stop purchasing Diet Coke all together. I've already stopped buying cigarettes and candy. This business will clearly suffer and I worry Coke may have to downsize without my financial contribution. If you own stock in Coca-Cola you might want to consider selling as I can assure you the sales in Duluth, Georgia are going to seriously decline after my surgery.
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