What can you say?

[Wingman]

This is not really a cooking topic but it happened to me recently while I was gathering items for a meal and I’ve pondered on it for a while and I’m curious what some of you might have said.

So I went up to the deli counter at my local grocery store and when my turn came the clerk asked how he could help me.  I said, “I’d like a quarter pound of prosciutto sliced very thin.”  So he proceeded to wipe the slicer off and then went to get the prosciutto.  He returned and before he could ask me how much again (because they always do) I just offered up, “4 ounces, very thin.”  He turned and looked at me and said, “Which is it?” 
“What?” I asked.
“Before you said a quarter of a pound.” he replied.

It’s the truth, honest.
So here is my question.  What can you say at this point that will not result in a huge embarrassment for this fellow?

[teesquare]

You could ask if his parents were closely related...? Or - How was the third grade?


Gee - I have no idea how you could say anything that would not point out that this individual has some challenges....

[Jaxon]

Say, "you got me, dude. I wasn't thinking... Gimme a quarter pound"

[sliding_billy]

Ask him what color the bus was that he rode to school in.  Anything other than yellow=short bus.

[flbentrider]

I probably would have said:

"Dealers Choice!"

[RAD]

I would have said "your right, 1/4 pound it is". There are a lot of people that do not understand how to convert oz/pounds etc... in the imperial system. Don't forget this guy is handling your food.   

[catinatree]

A couple weeks ago, at Whole Foods, the cashier asked "what's this?" Garlic I said !

[teesquare]

I lost a very close friend last you who was a great cook. ( I would call him a chef - but he did not like it. )

We were standing at a deli counter - when something very similar to Wingman's experience happened ....He looked at me, rolled his eyes and said: " I weep for the future"....I nearly fell over laughing.....but he did have a legitimate concern. Thes are going to be the people of the generation that take care of us where we are....old and decrepit....

[Las Vegan Cajun]

I would have politely said to him that 4oz IS a 1/4 pound.

[Wingman]

Say, "you got me, dude. I wasn't thinking... Gimme a quarter pound"

I would have said "your right, 1/4 pound it is".

I like that.  That's probably the best I could have done, but I am not quick enough in those situations.  I mean, I was sort of in shock being asked that by a person doing that job.  So I'm afraid he was embarrassed in the end when I said simply, "They are the same." 

[spuds]

I think..."4 ounces would be fine." Wouldnt have skipped a beat.

And then the running joke at home for the next 40 years would revolve around 4 ounces or a quarter pound....can see a lot of mileage outta that one.

[muebe]

I bet his favorite McDonald's burger is a Royal with Cheese

It is pretty sad but also very common these days.

With all these electronic gadgets correcting spelling, doing conversions, etc there is much less actual thinking going on.

It drives me crazy when someone cannot do a simple thing like count change back to you. You buy something that is $13.06 and you hand them $20.06 and they look at you like your crazy! Why the six cents? And God forbid the electronic register stops working! They look like a lost puppy! I end up counting the change back for them

[drholly]

I would have said "your right, 1/4 pound it is". There are a lot of people that do not understand how to convert oz/pounds etc... in the imperial system. Don't forget this guy is handling your food.   

One of my brothers would do his best to embarrass this guy. That's why I agree with RAD - "you're right 1/4 pound it is".... I'm not going to "fix" what his trip through public school did not install, and I see no value in embarrassing him. Yeah, it is a bit frightening to think about our future voters and leaders, but I hope my kids, grandkids and all of yours will keep things on an even keel.

[spuds]

I'll tell you what I say.

I put in 2 youtube links which FRIED my firefox and took me 10 hours to get it back here!!!

That would be 5/8ths of a pound.

[Smokerjunky]

I certainly hope he doesn't ever have to count back change without the register