beer, orange juice, and milk

[bird]

Well, today, when i went to the store, and onto  the next store  (we have a gas station and a gas station with groceries) both said, "no credit cards."  I went to get my milk, beer, and orange juice.  The worker there told me, " we can't take credit cards today."
    I hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Well, write it down on a scrap of paper and I'll pay you later."
      She looked at me like I was someone out of a cartoon novel that didn't end well..... buggs bunny didn't win--- Sam did.  I didn't know the gal, so she probably thought i was crazy (maybe she is a good judge of character).     Anyhow, for some reason, all of the "credit card systems" were down..... what does that mean?  In the end, I told her to write down what I owed her on that scrap of paper. I promised her she wouldn't lose her job.  I'm not sure whether she believed me or thought it was in her best interest to appease me. (and, yes, of course I payed Paul the money)
       In retrospect, Paul gave me a bunch of tomatoes. He usually has a few things that are going to go bad if they stay in the store another day. I'm the person that gets the almost-bad-produce.  (Paul is the guy that owns the store).  So, as for me, I rarely have to pay for groceries (unless, it's for beer, orange juice, or milk!!!).
   Well, that's my story for the day.
cheers, bird

[Papaw]

I kept that kind of relationship with a local convenience store until the owner sold it to his brother. When I was driving hotshots, sometimes the gas didn't stretch to the next payday.

[RedVise]

In the 60's, my dad had an account with a small neighborhood store, he would stop and pick up some fresh ground beef, or what ever was cheap for dinner every day, gas station was the same. The merchants knew who they were dealing with when extending credit.  When "someone" hit a cooling line while defrosting (chipping) our freezer, a used one was delivered the next day on a hand shake payment plan. This was not a small town but  people who knew each other thru church or had developed relationships over the years.

I will also mention most of these guys played in a once a month rotating poker game, all very friendly. The gas station guy wait several years  for an opening to join.

Brian L.

[johnsironsanctuary]

Takes me back to my grade school days on  the east side of Milwaukee.  My mom had an open account at the Hampshire bakery. It was about halfway on my half mile walk home. Mom often had me pick up a loaf of bread or a dozen hamburger buns on my way home.  One day, it occurred to me that this "open account" had other possibilities. I walked in and asked for a raspberry filled jelly donut. No problem.  After that, almost every day for a month, I would stop on the way home and get something yummy.  At the end of the month the bill came with a whole bunch of 25 cent and 30 cent billings. There was hell to pay! I don't think I watched TV for a month and my dollar a week allowance went away until the bill was paid off.  The ladies in the bakery were waaay too trusting of a small boy that was very hungry at noon.

[amertrac]

I can remember on the day the milk check came in ( once a month) my father and mother would run around paying pff the money due for each merchant  feed store ,hardware, grocery and others , it was a way of life   bob w.

[bird]

Glad you folks responded.  I admire and respect all of you!!! But, you know that already.
cheers, bird