While I love all our customers unconditionally, some are easier to help than others. I'm not sure whether the passenger I met on Saturday in Hedge End should be chided for his stupidity or commended for his honesty, or maybe both!
Two teenage boys got on together and one of them asked me how much it would cost for a return to Eastleigh. "Five pounds", I replied. Crestfallen, he turned to his friend and said, "sorry mate I haven't got enough, we can't go."
Not one to lose a sale easily, I asked how old he was. He looked at me as if I was his parents, and asked why I wanted to know. I explained, with heavy emphasis, that child fares apply up to fifteen, so if he told me he were fifteen, the fare would only be three pounds.
The penny dropped with his mate straight away, and we each looked expectantly at our friend while we waited for him to spot his cue. Eventually, after much thought, he got ready to speak... "Aw man, that sucks, I'm sixteen!"
