Ask Miss Smartypants - August 16, 2010 |
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| Written by Miss Smartypants |
| Monday, 16 August 2010 00:00 |
Art: Nina Charest
Dear Miss Smartypants, The other day at the grocery store, I passed the six pack of glass Coke bottles and thought, "Who would buy those?" The guy behind me, as it turns out. He picked up the pack, noting that he had always liked those little bottles. His shopping companion started razzing him for being so ridiculous, which was apparently so shocking that the guy dropped the pack. One of the bottles shattered. The guys looked at each other, looked at me, and put the rest of the case, now soaked through with the spilled pop, back on the shelf and scurried away. I saw them later at the checkout, and it was clear that they never said anything to anyone about the broken glass. What's the right thing to do in that situation? As a witness? As the breaker? Bottle Drop Dear Drop, As a witness: tell someone in the store. It's summer and kids go with their parents to the grocery store. That's a recipe for disaster. As the breaker: tell someone, offer to pay to replace the broken merchandise/what's left. Truth be told, I would tell someone either way, but I can't say for sure I would admit to it if I were the breaker (a handy neutral phrase: "There is a broken bottle in aisle four"). I once had a cab driver take off after bringing me home from the grocery store with a pile of my groceries left on the curb because he shattered a litre bottle of extra virgin olive oil on the road. Would I have asked him to replace it? I doubt it. But I would have expected him to help my get my groceries to the damn porch at that point. So, no matter what, makes sure you tell someone to get that glass up out of the aisle. As for how scrupulous you feel beyond that, depends on the day, doesn't it? Crystal clear, Miss Smartypants Got problems, manners-related or otherwise? Send 'em to Miss Smartypants: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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