They gave me a thousand free Shoppers Points (Gee.. now I can get a $5 discount How ironic…)

And she told me she was sorry and she would talk to the lady who owned the store and let her know what happened with how rude the cashier was to me.

I repeated how nice most of the stores in Ontario have been and this is not the first time, but certainly the last that I’d be treated this way at a Shoppers Drug Mart, and I’d only shop in Ontario from now on.

I am never shopping at the Pharmaprix location near me again (called Shoppers Drug Mart in other locations).

This is the last straw with this stupid store location, and Quebec Pharmaprix stores in general.

All other times I’ve ever been in SDM in Ontario, they’ve been unspeakably nice, polite, willing to bend over for you even though they were clearly busy.

I was never rude today at any point, because I know honey catches more flies than vinegar.

Woman: *Stares at me* No greeting.

FB: Bonjour, I’d like to return this item.

Woman: *scowls* Why you want to return this for?

FB: It’s cheaper at Jean Coutu (nearby pharmacy that’s big in Quebec)

Woman: *stares at receipt*

FB: I just bought it today.

Woman: *slams down the pad and pen for returns* … *does it without a word*

FB: *scribbles*

Woman: CARD?

FB: *hands over the Optimum Card*

Woman: *just hands me the money*, not even telling me “You have X amount back from the receipt”

FB: May I look at the receipt? *To check the amount*

Woman: NO!

FB: GOD you’re rude. *walks out*

Am so reporting this.

It seems like ONLY the Quebec Pharmaprix’s SUCK. ONLY IN QUEBEC do you get crappy customer service.

I was willing to write it off the first couple of times as just a cashier having a nasty day and being grumpy, but this is really the last straw.

9/10 times I’ve been there, I’ve been ignored, or mistreated and they cannot ALL be grumpy at the same damn time unless it’s just the way they are (which I refuse to believe).

Soggy, dried up, soured ….. $@^%!#($!

What I don’t get is that it is not even THEIR own personal store. They don’t own it, they just WORK THERE. Why do they care so much if I’m returning something, other than having to restock it?

If I were the owner, I could see myself getting pissed, but at least I am going to put on a fake smile and make sure they feel happy so that they come back again in the future.

If I want to spend 30 seconds to save $0.50 that is my own goddamn business. I’m not doing it to antagonize them or make their day awful, I am doing it as a regular customer (I rarely return anything, by the way).

No more spending wrote a short, but sweet post about what she has cut out and does not miss any longer.

Thought it was a fun exercise, so here goes.. starting from her list:

(Green = I agree and have done the same thing)

• Beauty Treatments
• Wash, cut and blow dry; now just dry cut (Every 6 months)
• Paper towels (Working on this. Haven’t bought any new paper towels in 5 months)
• Fabric softener
• Ready meals
• Magazines
• CD’s/Music
• DVD’s
• Buying lunch (99% of the time when I work)
• Afternoon sugar fix(BIG FAT NO for me! I sometimes chow down a choc bar when I work)
• Fizzy pop
• Credit card interest (Misleading. I’ve never paid any)
  
• Newspapers
• Cell phone(My only contact #. Must have it.)
• Gift wrap
• Jiffy bags
• Bottled water
• Cleaning items; use vinegar
• Handbags (Another big fat no for me. I love bags, shoes and jewellery. What can I say?)

Now for my own personal list of added items:

• Student Loan interest debt (WOO HOO! I am debt free!!)
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Hair styling products in general (Apple Cider Vinegar is my only hair product)
• Feminine products (I only use the re-usable Diva Cup now. Review coming soon.)
• Cable TV
• Books (I get them sent to me for free for review and am kind of hankering for an e-reader)
• Any kind of fruit juice or sugary drink as a regular grocery item
• Paper Statement (Saves me $1.00 each cycle, as per my corporation’s bank)
• Accountant fees (I do my own taxes with UFile — dead easy, and QuickBooks for my corporation)
• Gym Fees (I cycle and walk)
• Dishwashing detergent
• Laundry detergent
• Starbucks (Got violent motion sickness last time & now associate that taste with nausea)
• Cupcakes (Ditto. Belly hurt after overdosing on cupcakes.)
• Paying for fees to check in bags when I fly (I never check anything in. 2 carryons, max.)
• Tissue Paper as Napkins (Bought cloth napkins.)
• Car insurance & leases ($300/year in full, bought car outright in cash)
• Organic foods that have thick, inedible skins (What’s the point?)
• Pens/Paper/Pencils (I have enough stock to start my own elementary school)
  

That’s all I can think of, off the top of my head.

QUICK BIOGRAPHY

Grace K., 24 currently working as a publicist and studying journalism part time and I live in Johannesburg , South Africa.

I moved out of my mum’s at 21, but after having accumulated R37 000.00 ($ 2 525.00), I am moving back in with my mother so I can save money and pay off the debts, remedy my credit rating and start an emergency fund as well as general savings.

Eventually after a year, I would like to put down a deposit on a townhouse/apartment.

SPENDING FOR THE WEEK

Day One, Monday

7.00 a.m.: Packed a sandwich for lunch.

7.00 p.m.: Went to see my brother at the hospital, $1.43 for parking.

Daily Spend: $1.43

Day Two, Tuesday

7.00 a.m.: Packed pasts leftovers for lunch.

12.00 p.m.: Buy prepaid airtime, $8.60, my friend (ex – boyfriend) offers to pay for it and I let him.

1.00 p.m.: Went to the library to get some books, my membership has to be renewed in 3 weeks time. Parking, $1.43.

7.00 p.m.: Sleeping at my mom’s, because all the parking in the complex is full, I have to pay for the extra underground parking for the night, $2.86.

Daily Spend: $4.29

Day Three, Wednesday

7.00 a.m.: Packed lunch

7.00 p.m.: Parking, $2.86

Daily Spend: $2.86

Day Four, Thursday

7.00 p.m.: Parking, $2.86

Daily Spend: $2.86

Day Five, Friday

6.30 a.m.: Woke up, took leftover lamp chops and veggies from last night and a mango for lunch and am off.

10.00 a.m.: Had mango and a cup of sugarless tea for breakfast.

1.30 p.m.: Had the lamp chops and veggies for lunch. Pay car premium, $373.57

3.00 p.m.: Went out for tea with a friend and had a choccalachino $2.14 & chicken minestrone soup $5.

6.00 p.m.: Dinner at my mom’s. Had to pay the security guy who helped haul in my bags, $2.86.

10.00 p.m.: Drinks with the boyfriend, he paid the bill.

Daily Spend: $383.57

Day Six, Saturday

6.30 a.m.: Woke up, met the truck carrying my house furniture to the storage warehouse, $64.29.

9.30 a.m.: Refuelled the car, $14.29

10.00 a.m.: Collect my passport, going to Lesotho with the boyfriend.

Daily Spend: $78.58

Day Seven, Sunday

9.00 p.m.: Got back from Lesotho, and the boyfriend buys dinner.

Daily Spend: $0.00

TOTAL FOR THE WEEK:

Week Income: $232.15

Week Spend: $473.59

Balance: – $241.44

Comments

My spending looks very tiny but you have to bear in mind that I am converting it to the dollar and if I convert my salary to the dollar it is under $750.00 – crazy, I know!

My money on a weekly basis and monthly basis is not enough at all. I have listed my name as a freelance writer, babysitter, dog walker and house sitter as a way to make extra money.