Last Night I Lost Sleep Over A $100 Bill
At the end of a long day I stopped at a local restaurant to get dinner to go.
Prior to entering the restaurant, I opened my wallet and counted my money. I counted four $20 bills, one $10 bill, and several $1.00 bills. While it is not uncommon for me to carry $100 bills in my wallet, I typically do not. I certainly did not have a $100 bill in my wallet last night.
I placed my order and handed the cashier a $20 bill. She held it up into the light checking for counterfeit money. I jokingly said "fresh off the press."
The total for my order was $9.45. She handed me back $90.55.
I said to her "I suggest you check the bill I gave you - I gave you a $20.00 bill."
She said: "No you didn't. You gave me a $100 bill. Did you think I was just being generous?"
Actually, no, I think you may have made a mistake. I did not enter the restaurant with a $100 bill. She insisted that I did and never once re-checked the bottom drawer where $100 bills are stored.
It bugged me driving home. I bugged me while I was eating dinner. It bugged me while I was blogging and commenting last night. It bugged me while I placed my head on my pillow to slumber through the night.
It bugged me when I woke up this morning. I stopped thinking about it during my Zumba class this morning. As soon as I returned home it began to bug me again.
I called the restaurant and asked to speak with the manager. I asked if their drawer was short last night. I explained what happened and felt the clerk made a mistake. I did not want the young lady to lose her job over it and wanted to return the money to the restaurant today. I know that is what I would want someone to do if I had made such a mistake and/or if I were the owner of the restaurant.
I was as sure as I could be that I did not tender a $100 bill. The only way to know would be if the restaurant drawer was short $90 and some change. Of course, the drawer might be short more, if the clerk made other mistakes with change that night.
Could I use the $90? I sure could. Today, I am returning it to the restaurant. It is not mine and I want to sleep tonight. The manager thanked me for my honesty.
It feels far better to do the right thing than it does to know that I have something that does not belong to me. Keeping the money would feel like stealing. Just because someone made a mistake does not make it mine.
This is what I call personal integrity. I cannot say I do the same thing when a real estate agent makes a mistake or fails to disclose a material fact that harms my client. When that happens, and it does happen more times than one would think, I also do the right thing and ensure the agent pays for their mistake and makes my client whole.
What you see is what you get with me. When you hire me I've got your back, front, sides, and center. My niceness is not to be confused with weakness. I am willing to fight for what is right.
If you are considering buying or selling a San Jose home or Silicon Valley home, and if honesty and integrity mean anything to you, then give Kathleen Daniels a call today at 1-408-972-1822.
Last Night I Lost Sleep Over A $100 Bill - By Kathleen Daniels, Broker-Owner KD Realty - Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist - Selling San Jose and Silicon Valley homes
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