I’ve done it once when the lady in the car let me into the line after I had been sitting there a while on a side road. Never been the recipient because I’m seldom at SB.
All the benefits of feeling charitable without the sacrifice!
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With “the holidays” approaching, I’ll be doing my yearly thing at the bar where I buy a round for everyone. I’m always cautious to make sure it’s Happy Hour (half-priced drafts) and that it’s not too crowded.
The thing that always gets me though, is that there are people who will switch to a pricier beer when someone buys them a beer. The bartenders notice it and we’ve discussed the situation. Personally, if I’m drinking a $9 beer and someone offers to buy me one, I’ll switch to a $5 brew.
Cheers!
Q.E.D.
Couldn’t have been a better example of utter pointlessness, a modern equivalent of chain letters.
note this bit
or in other words, “I know you didn’t ask to be a part of this but you have to do it or appear to be a dick” so clearly there was some degree of implied obligation there or they wouldn’t have been asked.
What an easy, low-investment way to be a good person! Sweet! I know what my ticket to heaven is! 
Just had it happen to me. The driver told the cashier that she cut me off and wanted to pay for my meal. Well she did kinda cut me off but there was a car blocking her view and I wasn’t sure she saw me so I stopped to avoid a possible collision. Didn’t think much of it but it was a pleasant surprise considering my wallet was a bit thin that day.
“Hey I know you just bought a $2 small filter coffee and the guy behind bought a $20 monster drink with expensive flavourings, but you wouldn’t want to be a jerk to just accept a $2 gift and not pay for the next good citizen right?” :rolleyes:"
I’m trying to remember where I saw/heard/read some British bloke talking about the practice of buying “rounds” in pubs. For those not familiar, the custom is for a group of friends to take turns buying a round for everyone. Makes a lot of sense, and I’m sure there are some Americans who do this—but it sounds like it is much more ubiquitous there. Anyway, he said there are always certain people who maneuver to be the last one in the rotation, so they are more likely to have to buy just one round instead of two.
I could imagine going for a more expensive beer if I felt the person buying a round for the whole bar was rich. But working an angle against your friends is pretty miserly.
Yeah, after my wife told me it was sort of a “chain letter” type deal (or more positively, the “beach ball” idea referenced upthread, which I found so persuasive), I wondered why the barista didn’t even hint at the idea of my doing the same for the next person.
Nice!
I’ve never had it happen to me - but I’ve done it to others once or twice. The first time I did it was at a Wendy’s drive through. The expression on the cashier’s face made it clear she thought I was nuts :).
I had no expectation that the person behind me would pay it forward (er, backward?). I just wanted to give someone a random nice surprise.
Not quite the same thing but a few years back we’d dropped off a carload of stuff at the Salvation Army thrift store. The workers unloading the car were quipping “what? no Slurpees?” (it was a very hot day).
So we went to the 7-11 a block or two away, emptied out all their machines, put the drink carriers in the back of the car, and went through the car dropoff line again :D.
My wife and I were in the drive-through at McDonalds between jobs for the day and there was a Louisville Metro Policeman in front of us. When we pulled up to pay he had paid for our order. That was very cool and unexpected. We were having a rough day and it really made it feel better.
I keep wandering around the Mercedes Benz lot looking poor and desperate in anticipation of some kind soul paying it forward and putting me behind the wheel of a sweet S550. But, so far—nada. Cheap bastards!