my mutant powers – Zero Talking

The 'good customer' discount.

I walk into Subway.
“Hey man, the usual?”
Sure! Let’s do it!
*makes sandwich*
2nd staff person: “You’re a good customer, so we’re giving you a discount.”.

Being consistently friendly has its rewards.

(Subway. Colorado Springs. I think this was my 4th time here).

I never mentioned getting lots of free stuff (bread, coffee cake…) at a Panera Bread in Albany, New York. Or lots of free stuff at Starbucks in Crescent City, CA… It does happen.

This was the first time I ever got a 10{82b2ded5ae086bbe31c001f0374079c9503b180ae813ec027549eb44365a9474} discount at Subway though… Even though they have been giving me free drinks. “Have a water cup, but put whatever you want in it.“

Free shop card

by Zero Dean @ ZeroTalking.com

Walk into Walmart to buy an item that dropped in price everywhere but Target today (which is where I went first — because I have a $5 coupon there — and walked away sad. So then I drove to Walmart…).

The girl in electronics rings me up… The register makes a beep.

“Oh, looks like you get a free shop card!”, she says. “Here, let me get one that doesn’t have hearts all over it.”

She walks to another aisle and comes back…

‘What’s a free shop card?’ I ask. Not at all sure I want it.

“It’s a free shopping card for –”

She swipes the card in the register and waits for a response.

“–$30 dollars.”

‘Ok, yeah. I want that.’

That was a nice surprise. Thank you, universe! :)

Coffee mug Jedi

by Zero Dean @ ZeroTalking.com

Walks up to cafe counter.

“Hiiii. Can I help you.”
Sure, can I get a coffee mug?

Someone else from across the counter yells, “I’ve got it!” — and then walks over, hands it to me.

*I look back at the cashier — because this is usually the part where the customer is billed*

“Was there anything else?”, she asks.
Um, nope, just the mug.

*I stand there — looking at her*
*she looks back*

*And then I just walk off thinking:*

Damn! My Jedi mind trick skills are getting SOOOO GOOOOD!

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Salad sunshine

by Zero Dean @ ZeroTalking.com

I’m sitting at my laptop reading.

The cafe manager just walked into my field of view carrying some dirty dishes and sort of hovers. I look up and take my headphones out…

“Are you hungry?”
What?

“Are you hungry?”
Well, yeah — I am.

“Here you go. We had an extra.” — and he lays down what he was carrying. Which was not “dirty dishes” as I had mistakenly thought, but a fresh made meal instead.

!!!

Wow. I continue to be amazed by awesome and generous human beings who do what they do in the fleeting moments of time to make others’ lives just a little bit sunnier.

My stomach is (about to be) full of salad sunshine.

Thank you Panera Bread.

People rock!

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Sixty-three cents

by Zero Dean @ ZeroTalking.com

Ramon, the guy who usually takes my order at the Taco shop isn’t behind the counter today. So I make friendly conversation with the woman who take my order (mainly, “Ramon is not here today!?”).

After she takes me order, she says, “That will be $5.57”

(I get the same thing almost every day, and this price doesn’t sound right to me…)

Wait. Are you sure it’s not $6.20?

“I’m the owner. I just gave you a good customer discount.”

!!!

I’m loving people.

And I just realized she’s the wife of the “Hey, my friend” guy…

Small world.

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Also, I am reminded of the time this happened before…

It's been a while!

by Zero Dean @ ZeroTalking.com

Walk up to cafe counter. Greeted by a male manager who I vaguely recognize…

“Zero!”
Hi.
“It’s been a while! Wait…how long has it been?”
About a year.
“Whoa. I didn’t realize it had been that long! What have you been up to?”
Oh, you know, traveling. Photography. And stuff.
“Very cool. What can I get you?”
Just a coffee, I think.
“A mug or a to go cup?”
Oh, I’ll take the to go cup — it holds more.”
“Here you go!”

*I go to hand him my card*

“No man, it’s on me today! It’s good to see you!”
Thank you! It’s good to see you, too!

—

I’m always amazed by who remembers me and how contagious kindness really is.

(Same place, 2 years ago)

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Behold my mutant powers!

by Zero Dean @ ZeroTalking.com

Walk up to cafe counter…

“What can I get you?”
How about a coffee?
“What size?”

*I smile* How about any size that comes in a mug!?
“Here you go!” *she hands me a mug and I go to hand her my credit card*

“You’re fine. Don’t worry about it.”

*I pause briefly before deciding it is probably in my best interest to act naturally — so I smile, say “Thank you!” —

— and walk away determined that the only logical explanation is that I am an X-man with an unknown super power — a power which I am now determined to master.

MUAHAHAHA!

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It's because I tell people I work for Oprah

by Zero Dean @ ZeroTalking.com

Walk into cafe. Long line, so I sit down and setup my laptop.

A staff member walks up…

“Did you get your coffee yet?”
‘Nope. I was going to wait for the line to go down.’
“I’ll go get you a mug.”

20 seconds later she comes back with a mug and hands it to me, “Here you go.”

!!!

I’ve been coming here a couple weeks now and I think everyone who has ever served me here has given me free coffee (and again) at this point.

Talk about the goose that laid the golden… er… coffee mug.

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The value meal

by Zero Dean @ ZeroTalking.com

Buy a $5 sandwich. Guy making my sandwich remembers that I like a water cup with my meal, so I put $1 in the tip jar. It’s not much, but I wanted to show a little appreciation before I walked out the door.

10 seconds later I find a $5 bill on the ground.

Talk about positive reinforcement!

Positivity pays.