Dublin II

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - My second experience with a Dubliner was about a 1/2 notch above my previous. The main difference being that this time my money wasn't forceably attempted at.

All I wanted was to get a SIM card for my cel phone and also see if I could figure out why this broadband internet card I bought at another Carphone Warehouse store (a europe-wide chain, kinda like a smaller BestBuy) wasn't working. So I headed into downtown Dublin to find another Carphone Warehouse. I've used them all throughout the UK and they'd rocked. I enter, conversation ensues:

Me: "Hey how's it going?"
Dub: "Hey."
Me: "So, I bought this mobile internet card from another Carphone Warehouse store but it's not working here in Ireland. Do you -"
Dub: "Yeah I have no idea about that you'll have to call the manufacturer."
Me: "Uhhh. Okie dokie."

At this point I notice a box of various SIM cards for sale on the counter - just what I was looking for.

Me: "Are these SIM cards for cel phones?"
Dub: "I have absolutely no idea whether or not that'll work for your phone."
Me: "Heh. Ok - I need a SIM card for my cel phone. Is that what these are for?"
Dub: "Yeah."
I grab one of the SIM packages (inches away from him) and hand it to him.
Dub: "That one's empty."
I put the SIM package back in the box and shuffle through others, grab another and give it to him.
Dub: "That's empty too. All those are empty."
At this point I drop the package on the counter, put my hands on the counter and laugh audibly "Heh. Ok man. May I please have a box that's not empty?"
Dub: Pulls a box from behind the counter, I pay him, he slams my change on the counter, gives me my receipt, and doesn't say another word.

I try my best to just chalk both these incidents up as bad luck. So far though, I'm not horribly happy.