I am a cashier at the new Amagansett Farmers Market (now owned by Eli Zabar, the food is pretty good) and I am happy to report that most people have been quite courteous to me, considering that I am working a cash register alone and quite young.
Today, however, I was checking my prices with the price guide, when a woman yelled at me for pricing her four cucumbers incorrectly. It was said on the guide that cucumbers were $1.49/lb. As the cucumbers were relatively light, this figured out to about $1.20 each. The woman screamed that I was ripping her off, and claimed that a sign outsides called cucumbers 99 cents each. I had already swiped her credit card, and said that it was too late for that.
She refused to leave and asked to see Eli himself. I offered her $1.25 out of my own pocket but she refused, on a crusade to correct this “fallacy.”
I asked her to get out of this shop right now, I have other people to service. I showed her the math on paper, and she couldn’t deny I was right. I did not give her anything. She left in a huff, and people were switching to the other line throughout.
One man in the back stayed, simply to say to me “what a bitch.”; This is my favorite man in the world. I hope he sees this.
I live on Montauk Hwy in Amagansett. It is a well known busy road. I have a fairly big drive way, so it is used all the time by people turning around. We don’t mind, so it doesn’t bother us.
The other day I was in my house when I heard a car pull in. I thought it was one of my family members coming home. I looked out the window and noticed a black Mercedes parked halfway in my driveway, and half sticking out in the road. They way she was parked, she was blocking the driveway from anyone else pulling in, and I was expecting people home at any moment.
Another woman appears with her bike. I assumed that the woman with the bike had a flat tire or something, and called a friend to pick her up. Instead of loading the bike up, and leaving, they proceed to have a chat and laughing. I noticed cars heading west had to swerve towards oncoming traffic to avoid hitting these two woman.
I go to the front door, and say nicely to them, is everything all right.
“Yes, we are fine.” They go back to their conversation.
I say, “if you need to you can pull all the way in to load the bike in the car, so you are not close to the street.”
They proceed to say, “no it is okay.”
I tell them that I am expecting people home any minute and they won’t be able to pull into the driveway.
They look at me like I have two heads. “We are just talking we will leave in a few minutes, what is the big deal?”
I am a little shocked. I said nicely, “I just don’t want to see anyone get into an accident.” They rolled their eyes at me, and I just walked back into my house. It wasn’t like I went out there threatening to call the police if they didn’t get off my property.
A woman was hit pulling into her driveway on this road down the street, so that is why I was concerned.
I check this website all the time in the summer. I finally have a story that I just had to post. I have lived out here for half my life, and went to the schools. So, I know what the summers are like, and I begin my Labor Day countdown when Memorial Day is over.
I work at a beverage store in East Hampton. We get our share of the weird people in the summer. One guy even asked me, “How many bottles are in a case of 12?” Another one asked, “Is the beer in the cooler cold?” So you get an idea of what we deal with.
Yesterday was a usual Friday in the summer. I was waiting on people and my co-workers were working hard in putting their orders together. A woman was next in line comes up to the counter. She had on one of the typical tourists hats on, and had a French accent.
The conversation went like this:
French Woman: “Do you deliver?”
Me: “Yes, we do. Monday through Friday.”
French Woman: I am staying across the street. Will you be able to bring my order there?”
Me: “Yes, but we also have a ten case minimum. But, for a same day delivery, you have to have your order placed by 11am.”
French Woman: (Gives me a deer in the headlights look) But it is just right
across the street.”
Me: “Yes, I know Madame. I am sure something might be able to be worked out for you, but the delivery man is out on deliveries, and I cannot ask him right now.”
French Woman:(Sighs and rolls her eyes at me) “Well, how long is he going to be out?”
Me: “I am not sure, most likely not until 4:30 or 5.”
French Woman: “Well can someone walk over with me to the hotel? I don’t have a car. I can’t carry that much stuff because I have a baby in a stroller?”
Me: “I am sorry madame we will not be able to do that.”
(She is starting to roll her eyes again.)
French Woman: “Why not it is just right across the street?”
Me: “Yes, I know but it is not possible. It is a very busy road. It would be too dangerous for the him to take a heavy handtruck across the street. Also, it is very hot outside. It is a question of safety.”
By now one of my co workers has come up to the counter and was listening to the conversation. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. She finally walks away after telling me that she will just get a few things then. She walks around the store for ten minutes. I wanted to know where is the baby in the stroller she was talking about. After she paid and left, we were talking about it, and sure hoped she didn’t leave the child outside alone in this heat. After she left, we all said “What is with these people?”
From the people I see, it seems that when you have a lot of money, you loose your common sense.
Can’t wait until Labor Day!
- St. Pauli Girl
In case you aren’t hip to the videogame Frogger, check out this Seinfeld clip - The Editor
I was volunteering at a Hampton event today. It wasn’t open to the public yet, but someone who apparently thinks he is “Steven Seagal,” above the law, comes into the event and proceeds to wonder around.
Another volunteer stops him and asks, “can I help you?”
“Steven” replied, “I’m just looking around.”
The volunteer replied, “I’m sorry you need to come back when we are open to the public.”
At this point the conversation escalates back and forth. “Steven” replied, “I spend thousands of dollars to come out here every year and I feel I’m entitled to have a preview of the event.”
The volunteer replied, “you and everyone else in this town. What makes you think you are so special?”
“Steven” asks, “are you saying you’re better than me?”
The volunteer replied, “I’m not saying that at all, all I’m saying is that I’m in charge and I’m asking you to leave.”
“Steven” replied, “so you’re saying you’re word is better than mine?”
The insanity continued, it could have been a Seinfeld episode.
Seeing there was no resolution to the insanity, the volunteer had to walk away.
I’m a TCO (traffic control officer) in the village of East Hampton and I live here year round. I probably have tons of stories i could post on here but one comes to mind right now. One day at work I was marking Newtown Ln. (otherwise known as Newton Lane by the tourists) and I marked the tire of a Mercedes. The owner proceeded to come up to me and the conversations went like this….
Owner: “Did you have to do that? I just paid $20 for a car wash.”
Me: “Yes I did have to mark your tire”
Owner: “That’s ridiculous who told you to mark it?”
Me: “My supervisor”
Owner: “Well that’s BS”
At this point I just walked away because I couldn’t believe he yelled at me for marking his tire with removable chalk. Aren’t your tires made to get dirty?
Alright, so I’m at the Bridgehampton Starbucks and I’m waiting in line to get my drink, and this woman in a flimsy-looking white sundress that was way too short, complete with large hat and sunglasses proceeds to the counter, completely cutting me off. I proceed to glare at the back of her head, but I don’t say anything.
While we’re waiting for the baristas to finish up what they were doing she turns around and asks me “Did you order?”
So I say, “No, I’m waiting.” She looks at me for a second then just turns around and stays there.
Then, after I get my beverage I sit down to study and her idiot kid proceeds to run around the store screaming.
I live in the Hamptons year round, and every summer we’re invaded with tourists! Not all of them are bad, but most are arrogent, rude and impatient. It is impossible driving through town because the summer people are impatient and annoying. It would be so much nicer in the summer without the rude summer
people.
