'Money Is Money': How One Cashier Turned Petty Change Into Perfect Justice
Let’s be honest: working retail is not for the faint of heart. Between the rules that make zero sense and customers who seem to leave their manners at the automatic doors, it’s a daily exercise in patience, grit, and creative problem-solving. But every now and then, a moment comes along that makes all those “the customer is always right” headaches totally worth it.
Enter: u/kittyqueen_gataorli, a supermarket cashier blessed with both nerves of steel and a mischievous streak. Her story from r/MaliciousCompliance is a masterclass in “kill ‘em with kindness”—and a little bit of petty revenge.
The Rules of Retail (And the Art of Bending Them)
Our hero (let’s call her Kitty) works at a supermarket where the rules are plentiful and, sometimes, downright ridiculous. Like the $5 minimum on card transactions—yes, even for Apple Pay. But there’s another rule that actually makes sense: don’t accept mountains of loose change at the register. If you’ve ever counted out $11.84 in nickels and dimes while a line of grumpy shoppers forms behind you, you know that’s a rule made for everyone’s sanity.
The solution? A Coinstar machine just steps away, where shoppers can dump their piggy banks without wreaking havoc at the checkout.
Enter the Change Warrior
One evening, Kitty finds herself facing off against a customer who’s apparently determined to fund her groceries entirely with pocket change. Not a friendly “good evening” or a smile—just a pile of quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies, totaling over $12. Kitty calmly explains the rule, offers to help with the Coinstar, and tries to make things easy. Instead, she gets slapped with a comment that would make anyone see red: “Money is money, you’re just being a lazy b**** because you probably don’t even know how to count.”
Oof. If there’s a retail bingo card for “things customers should never say,” that’s definitely a free space.
Malicious Compliance Level: Expert
Now, this is where most of us would have to bite our tongue and pray for the shift to end. But Kitty? She’s got a PhD in Malicious Compliance. The customer, with a glint of pettiness in her eye, switches tactics—she pays with a $10 bill and $3 in small change, just under the maximum allowed.
Kitty could have just gritted her teeth and handed back the change. But where’s the fun in that? Instead, she decides to dish out a little lesson in “money is money.” The customer’s change is 67 cents, so Kitty cracks open a fresh roll of pennies and, with the slowest, most deliberate customer service smile, counts out every single cent. The customer, now scowling, demands to know what’s with all the coins.
Kitty’s response? “Money is money, right?” Chef’s kiss.
Why Stories Like This Hit Home
Retail and service workers everywhere are probably standing and applauding (from behind their registers, of course). It’s not just about the coins—it’s about respect. Customers sometimes forget that the person behind the counter is, well, a person. When a shopper goes out of their way to be rude, sometimes a little taste of their own medicine—delivered with a smile—is the sweetest revenge.
Plus, there’s an art to following the rules just enough to make a point, without actually breaking them. It’s the heart of malicious compliance: doing exactly what’s asked, even when it’s absurd, and exposing the flaws in logic with a flourish.
The Takeaway: Be Kind (Or Get Pennied)
Next time you’re at the store and tempted to make someone’s life harder for no good reason, remember Kitty’s story. That tiny bit of extra kindness goes a long way—and if you don’t, you might just end up digging 67 pennies out of the bottom of your purse.
So hats off to the retail warriors who keep their cool, even when the world seems determined to test it. And to Kitty: thanks for reminding us that sometimes, justice really does come—one cent at a time.
Have you ever gotten sweet revenge with a dose of malicious compliance? Share your story in the comments below! And if you enjoyed this tale, don’t forget to follow for more retail adventures and real-life workplace wins.
Original Reddit Post: Money is money