I was writing on bad customer service and how the "Karen" stereotype is nothing but a lame excuse for lazy and bad employees to excuse their behavior most of the time.
So, I'm going to share with you about the first time I experienced bad customer service and how this relates to you.
I was a child and I knew nothing about politics or economics. Bear in mind that while you are experiencing the transition into socialism, I was born in it. Thus, I did not experience what it was like to hold a coin with real value in my hand, nor was I surrounded by a Capitalist environment and people.
I was and I'm still surrounded by spendthrifts.
So it was thus that one day, while being very young, I noticed that the cashier at the bakery around the corner would ask customers if they'd accept a toronto (a chocolate candy) in lieu of change. Most customers said yes and I, being a born individualist, didn't understand that I was too expected to agree to this payment method.
This is one sided of course. You cannot pay for bread with torontos, but cashiers and businesses have always expected you to agree to take a loss without complain.
This practice is so widespread that even after the unofficial dollarization of the country it continues. In the years prior, when the Bolivar still existed as a somewhat real currency, cashiers would never have small change. They would see it as an inconvenience and it was also very convenient to claim there's no change so they could charge you more. Even if you pay with a debit or a credit card they will round amounts up automatically, and they'll be automatically offended if you dare so much complain.
The Karen stereotype was in place here before it was a thing. It was in the eyes of employees who would roll their eyes at your comments and complains. It's in the arrogant attitude they still keep nowadays. Customers have zero power of negotiation, while employees and business owners have all the power.
How does this relate to you?
It's already happening in the USA, with small business owners joking about how they have to raise prices and businesses claiming they have no cash and no small change. It once happened to me when I traveled to the USA in the early 2000s and the cashier tried to pocket the change. When I complained, she technically dumped it on the counter as if it were a filthy thing I was asking for. The same thing has happened to me in my own country several times and it always makes me feel violated and angry.
And I am the more angry everybody else doesn't feel the same way.
Money represents the value of your work. It's not given away to you unless you are a lazy employee who takes advantage of the system or a thief.
This is one of the seeds that destroys countries. No matter the currency, whenever people don't value their money, it all falls apart.
Torontos were seen as small and cheap candy back in the 90's. Now they are an international brand, super expensive, and would never be given in lieu of cash. What does this mean? That business owners will never give you something better for the cash they are refusing to give you.
I am a staunch defender of Capitalism, but just owning a business doesn't make you a Capitalist.
Bear this in mind when someone tries to cheat you out of your money.