Wednesday, August 26, 2009

It Happened to Me!

It happened to me for the first time ever yesterday. Oh yes it did. And without hestitating I turned around and gave it to the person behind me.

Let me back up a bit.

Yesterday I thought I'd treat my Starbuck's treating friend to a quintessential Canadian treat from a quintessential Canadian establishment, Tim Hortons and their Ice Cap. I went through the drive thru, placed my order and then moved forward to the pick up window. When I got there I was told that the car ahead had paid for my order. Really? It's happened to me? How fun and exciting! The pay it back that happens at Tim Horton's drive thru's all across Canada. So what else was there to do but pay for the person behind me who hopefully paid for the person behind them. So fun to have happen.

I believe it started in a very busy drive thru in Calgary a few years ago during the morning rush. The pay it back went for hours and made the news and has now become a Canadian thing to do. So if you're ever in Canada, and you find yourself in a Tim Horton's drive thru and you come to the window only to be told you're order has been paid for, go for the Canadian experience and pay it back!
Does this happen in the States, too?

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Don't I wish it would happen here LOL. What a great treat. :)

ellen b. said...

How great is that. I've not heard of this happening...

Willow said...

Yes, it happened at a Starbuck's during the Christmas season. What a wonderful tradition~

Michelle said...

That's a great story isn't it??? Love it.

Barbara H. said...

I've heard of it happening just occasionally here. I've always wondered how they figured out how much to pay? Maybe the person at the counter saw what the person behind had and so could give the person paying an idea?

Melanie @ This Ain't New York said...

Yes. I have heard of it happening at Starbucks a lot.
I also visited a grocery store over the summer where the bagger told me that someone was at the register, counted the people in line behind him and said he would pay for ALL their groceries. By the time it was over (hundreds of dollars later) the whole store cheered. The man said to just pay it forward.
Isn't it cool?

cmarie said...

For several years now our local Christian Radio station in StPaulMN promotes it on various Fridays and calls it "making the drive-thru difference in someones day". Random acts of kindness ROCK!

Donnetta said...

How very fun! There is a local Christian radio station that will sponsor the drive through difference and encourages it at any type of drive through.

They provide a small note online that can be printed to be given to the one whose order was paid for.

What fun!!

Kelly said...

It's never happened to me, and I visit Starbucks....too much. :-)

Laura said...

How exciting!! It's not happened to me yet but my Timmies is an hour away so we don't get there too often :)

Tina Leigh said...

I have heard of it but not sure where it was at? Neat tho.

Barbie @ Mamaology said...

OH that it sooo great. Once this Spring my family (all 6 of us) were in a Dunkin donuts and a sweet man in front of us was just talking away to us about how cute our kids were. Then he left as we went to pay the lady told us he paid for a dozen donuts already for us:) Soooo sweet!

elizabeth said...

Our Christian radio station also has the drive-thru random act of kindness idea. I've paid for the person behind me at Chick-fil-A many a time, but never had it happen to me. I'll bet my jaw would drop if it did! How fun for you!!!

Much Ado said...

LOVE this, paying it forward! :) Such a heartwarming story.