A nice surprise - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

BuzzardsWife · 05-21-2008, 01:14 PM

So I stopped at Tim's on my way to work this morning. Usually I won't get into a long line, but I was in no hurry today. When I got to the window to get my hot chocolate the girl told me the guy in front of me paid for it. I've done things like this before, but it's the first time I've ever had a pay it forward type of thing done to me. It made me smile on a really gloomy crappy morning. Anyone else had this type of thing happen to them?

GirlySports · 05-21-2008, 01:16 PM

Once a guy bought me a drink at a bar and then left.
Does that count?

Boblobla · 05-21-2008, 01:18 PM

I have heard of these sort of things but never encountered one myself. That is pretty awesome though and would probably make my morning.

Jagger · 05-21-2008, 01:18 PM

It's happened to me two or three times now at Tims. I've made a point of paying for the person behind me 5 or 6 times in return. It makes everybody feel good and people should do it more often.

algernon · 05-21-2008, 01:19 PM

One time after a show at Mac hall, I realized I had no change for the c-train. A random dude paid for a ticket for me. The C-train cops were waiting at Banff Trail, and I didn't get pinched because of that guy! All he said was 'pay it forward'.

Dion · 05-21-2008, 01:32 PM

I was out for dinner last week and was seated in a table next to a couple that were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. As i left to pay my bill i asked the server what the couple owed on theirs and I paid it in full. Told the server to pass on a happy anniversary from me.

BuzzardsWife · 05-21-2008, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dion

I was out for dinner last week and was seated in a table next to a couple that were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. As i left to pay my bill i asked the server what the couple owed on theirs and I paid it in full. Told the server to pass on a happy anniversary from me.

Your angel wings just grew bigger! That is very cool. I always fantasize that I win a few million bucks and just go up to someone that is disabled and living on welfare and give them a million bucks.

troutman · 05-21-2008, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dion

I was out for dinner last week and was seated in a table next to a couple that were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. As i left to pay my bill i asked the server what the couple owed on theirs and I paid it in full. Told the server to pass on a happy anniversary from me.

There was a cute couple on Jay Leno last night - they have been married 75 years!

old-fart · 05-21-2008, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Once a guy bought me a drink at a bar and then left.
Does that count?

Depends... did you leave with him?

FlamesAddiction · 05-21-2008, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Once a guy bought me a drink at a bar and then left.
Does that count?

Is that when you discovered the importance of breathmints?

I kid.

jydk · 05-21-2008, 01:55 PM

edit

Machiavelli · 05-21-2008, 02:02 PM

How does that work? How does the person in front know what the person behind is gonna get? Like, a small hot chocolate costs a lot less than an extra large coffee. Do you just give like $2 and hope that it covers the guy's order?

I'd like to do that to earn some karma credits

but I'm not exactly sure how you make sure you've actually paid enough for the guy behind you.

Daradon · 05-21-2008, 02:03 PM

I've given $40 to people who were stranded and needed a cab after the train stopped running, and often buy food for the homeless downtown when I'm out and about.

I've had it 'paid back/forward' to me in a variety of ways.

BuzzardsWife · 05-21-2008, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

How does that work? How does the person in front know what the person behind is gonna get? Like, a small hot chocolate costs a lot less than an extra large coffee. Do you just give like $2 and hope that it covers the guy's order?

I'd like to do that to earn some karma credits

but I'm not exactly sure how you make sure you've actually paid enough for the guy behind you.

My take: He asked the girl what the person behind him ordered and he paid for it. Pretty simple. I do remember one time when I was 19 or so, and I was working in a store in a mall..and this man came in with this big bouquet of flowers and handed them to me, and said have a nice day, and left. I thought it was so nice, till the next day when he came and asked me for coffee.

Machiavelli · 05-21-2008, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuzzardsWife

My take: He asked the girl what the person behind him ordered and he paid for it. Pretty simple. I do remember one time when I was 19 or so, and I was working in a store in a mall..and this man came in with this big bouquet of flowers and handed them to me, and said have a nice day, and left. I thought it was so nice, till the next day when he came and asked me for coffee.

Oh, yeah, that makes sense. I don't go through the drive-thru often (maybe 3 times a year at Tim Hortons) and forgot that by the time you get to the pickup window the person behind you has likely already ordered.

jydk · 05-21-2008, 02:07 PM

edit

GoinAllTheWay · 05-21-2008, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuzzardsWife

My take: He asked the girl what the person behind him ordered and he paid for it. Pretty simple. I do remember one time when I was 19 or so, and I was working in a store in a mall..and this man came in with this big bouquet of flowers and handed them to me, and said have a nice day, and left. I thought it was so nice, till the next day when he came and asked me for coffee.

Hmm, that's pretty slick. Was that your husband perchance?

Buff · 05-21-2008, 02:28 PM

The pay it forward (or backward if you're in the drive-thru) idea was a pretty big phenomenon in Lethbridge last year. I over heard the Tim Horton's people talking one day and they were up to 14 cars in a row who paid for the person behind them.

I hardly go through the drivethru myself because I find it usually quicker to walk in. Especially at Tim Horton's. Perhaps this is why I've never been on the receiving end of pay it forward.

Boblobla · 05-21-2008, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

How does that work? How does the person in front know what the person behind is gonna get? Like, a small hot chocolate costs a lot less than an extra large coffee. Do you just give like $2 and hope that it covers the guy's order?
I'd like to do that to earn some karma credits

but I'm not exactly sure how you make sure you've actually paid enough for the guy behind you.

Answered already...

I fail.

Gobsgraham · 05-21-2008, 03:07 PM

I think it is great. It happened to me a few times but the one that changed it for me was when a lady in a pretty beat up Dodge Crapavan bought my wife and I coffees. That made me think that if she could do it there is no reason that we shouldn't be doing it. We can afford an extra $1.50 or $3 once a week so why not. Such a small gesture can really change someones day and instantly make them happy.

BuzzardsWife - did you have a bagel too this morning?