Cachiers? What's been the most interesting reaction you've experienced when someone's gotten their card declined?

Not necessarily a bad customer behavior story, but one that I'll share anyway.

I was a cashier at a chain hardware store, the big orange one. A mom, dad and a few kids, all in ill-fitting clothes, but pleasant as all get out,

come up to the register and look like they're having a rough day. They have three carts full of merchandise, all basic stuff.

One of everything you would need if you were moving out or starting from scratch.

Toilet paper, cleaning supplies, mop, broom, light bulbs,

carts full of just everything you can imagine.

I ask, you guys moving to a new place?

The mother says, actually our house burned down. I apologize for their

circumstances and continue to ring up their items. The total ends up over $1,000. I run their card,

and it's declined. At this particular department store, you're allowed to discount a total up to

$50 without manager approval. So I do that, and it's still declined. The parents look like they're at their complete breaking point,

but are taking it so gracefully for a family with three kids who just lost everything.

The mom tears up and starts calmly making decisions about what to put back.

I asked them to hang tight, pulled the manager aside, and explained the situation.

The manager and I walked back to the family and they are still

eliminating things. And my manager took 50% of the entire transaction, then added a 10% senior

discount and a 10% military discount on top of everything. The card then worked and they were

incredibly grateful and nearly in tears as I bagged everything up. I'll never forget how awesome

that manager was. I didn't even

really have to explain anything after I said, so their house burnt down, and she immediately

jumped into action to show some compassion.

...