Our anonymous submitter in Ontario, Canada found this note in the office lunch area. Apparently, the water in the office cooler had been going like crazy until the new pay-per-sip policy was enacted.
“While people were willing to pay,” our submitter says, “whoever was changing the bottles was not doing it as often as before the charges began, and we were all getting annoyed as the cooler was empty more often than not. The sign also kept disappearing. This new sign was put up earlier this week, and the post-it appeared a few days later.”
(I’m still hung up on “people were willing to pay.” I mean, yes, we’re in the middle of a recession. And yes, it’s Canadian funny money. Still.)
related: So…the water cooler’s hosting rainbow parties again?
191 responses so far ↓
#1
mamason
You’re damn right I’m not changing the bottle if I have to pay for the water too!
May 25, 2009 at 11:02 pm rating: 90
#2
Gladiator763
Looks like a sticking-it-to-the-man WIN here. AND it’s technically within the purview of the payment request to boot.
May 25, 2009 at 11:03 pm rating: 90
#3
SuperMe
how much do i get paid to change the bottles out?
May 25, 2009 at 11:05 pm rating: 90
#4
SuperMe
someone should set up a rival water cooler at only 5 cents. don’t let the man have the monopoly on water!
May 25, 2009 at 11:06 pm rating: 90
#5
stickman
It is hard to tell the “amount taken” because I just drink right from the spout. How much do I owe? I usually drink just for a minute. BTW, I wear pink lipstick.
May 25, 2009 at 11:11 pm rating: 90
#6
Nylund
My Canadian girlfriend gets very annoyed when Americans think Ontario is a city. I tell her, “its because we always read things that say, ” so-and-so, from Ontario, Canada…” The syntax of the sentence makes it sound like Ontario is the name of a city.
And the Canadian Funny Money comment is dead on. cf: their quarters with stick figures:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/59/228843081_a9632966fe_b.jpg
May 25, 2009 at 11:20 pm rating: 90
#7
Olivia
Can I pay in Schrute Bucks or Stanley Nickels?
May 25, 2009 at 11:23 pm rating: 90
#8
Beanster
1. I am very confused. is the payment sign PA? is the sticky PA?
2. Honestly, “Ontario, Canada,” we have more fresh water here than… well than anywhere else. go drink from the lake. oh ya. the steel companies and ford plant are on the lake. whatever. go drink from the other lake. it’s totally free.
3. our money is pretty.
4. do americans really not know where ontario is? and even if they don’t know geographically, they must know it’s in canada right?
May 25, 2009 at 11:35 pm rating: 90
#9
mamason
“Cost $ 0.26/IL”
Why are they quoting water prices from Illinois?
May 25, 2009 at 11:52 pm rating: 90
#10
Buzz
@mamason: Our bottled water is $6 per 5-gallon bottle which comes to 32¢/liter.
May 25, 2009 at 11:58 pm rating: 90
#11
Geek Goddess
Canadian money is certainly funny when you are laughing all the way to the bank with loads and loads of it.*
*I find the brown ones attractive myself
http://www.sessionmagazine.com/the-color-of-money-from-around-the-world/
May 26, 2009 at 12:01 am rating: 90
#12
Gretal
If I am taking less than a liter, than I am leaving less than 25 cents. Maybe they need to keep a set up measuring cups with a monetary amount on each. Or set up a coin-operating system that dispenses 500 mL of water when 13 cents is deposited. Arrgh.
May 26, 2009 at 12:26 am rating: 90
#13
Marklar
Marklar!
May 26, 2009 at 12:34 am rating: 90
#14
Canthz_B
I wonder how much each flush would run me in their Mens Room?
I courtesy flush, but I swear I’m good for it!!
May 26, 2009 at 12:57 am rating: 90
#15
Joeygirl
fuck that!
May 26, 2009 at 5:21 am rating: 90
#16
Lorelie
Ok, I’m more into humanities than math, so someone might need to check me on this, but —
Based on the assumption that people drink 8 oz glasses, and also based on that being a 5 gallon bottle, are the original note posters wanting a 300% profit margin?!?!
May 26, 2009 at 9:05 am rating: 90
#17
monstrosity
Of course the notes kept disappearing – they’re taped right on to the bottle. What, I’m gonna change the bottle AND move the note over AND pay them twenty-five cents?
May 26, 2009 at 9:16 am rating: 90
#18
Gunderson105
If there was only some sort of faucet that was attached to the building plumbing that one could use for free…
May 26, 2009 at 9:22 am rating: 90
#19
GhostWriter
The note reads more like a rental notice for the Bottled Water. “Any merchandising in this area costs a minimum of 25¢ per taxable sale…“
May 26, 2009 at 9:39 am rating: 90
#20
GhostWriter
I find it obnoxious when somebody drags their own empty jug up to the communal Bottled Water, and proceeds to drain our reserves dry. Sometimes their damn bottle is nearly as big as the cooler’s bottle! What do they do with it all? I’ll bet they’re just pouring it into their cat’s bowl.
May 26, 2009 at 9:44 am rating: 90
#21
Mishee™
I wonder what would happen if you don’t have a glass or water bottle to measure the amount taken.
How much would it cost if you just put your lips to the spout?
Also, is there a penalty fine for leaving lipstick marks on the spigot?
May 26, 2009 at 9:45 am rating: 90
#22
MagPie
Team Tap Water!
May 26, 2009 at 10:16 am rating: 90
#23
Buzz
Our water bottles are delivered.
May 26, 2009 at 11:06 am rating: 90
#24
claw71
I’m just borrowing this water. I’ll be sure to return it when I’m finished.
May 26, 2009 at 11:28 am rating: 90
#25
AuntyBron
Team Bring-Your-Own-Damn-Water-So-You-Don’t-Have-To-Pay-The-Thieving-Bastards
May 26, 2009 at 12:08 pm rating: 90
#26
DM
The note said “please”. Of course people had to pay up at that point. It’s the polite thing to do.
May 26, 2009 at 12:21 pm rating: 90
#27
TheOldSchool
Thumb Fairy has come, been, and gone. *poof*
May 26, 2009 at 12:23 pm rating: 90
#28
Fern
Dare I ask where to put the money?
May 26, 2009 at 1:21 pm rating: 90
#29
Esther Rose
So, um, is the wine free?
May 26, 2009 at 4:23 pm rating: 90
#30
Snippy
Hey now, Canadians need a lot of drinking water to wash down all o’them tasty seal hearts.
May 26, 2009 at 7:47 pm rating: 90
#31
WillBraden
the L stand for Loonie
May 26, 2009 at 11:25 pm rating: 90
#32
mishi
Don’t let my boss see that. He is forever bitching about the cost of bottled water. Its only a matter of time…. the odasity!
May 27, 2009 at 1:55 am rating: 90
#33
katie
I read all the comments…and I still don’t fucking understand this one. Can someone explain real slowly to me how the post-it is a passive aggressive note? And, while you’re at it, what relevance the note sometimes being there and sometimes not has to the story?
Also, that’s bullshit. I don’t know what kind of wacky shit goes on in Canada, but here in L.A. a gallon of water is a quarter. Unless I’m drinking a gallon of your precious office water, I’m not giving you no 25 cents.
May 27, 2009 at 8:47 pm rating: 90
#34
stephizzal
Izzie, what UK are you living in?
£5 are blue-green
£10 are orange
£20 are purple
£50 are red
ok its a bit more subtle than the all-over green of american money, but still…
seriously, check it out
Jun 27, 2009 at 10:20 am rating: 90
#35
Missing Lunch
Why is their boss so cheap?
Jun 29, 2009 at 10:28 am rating: 90
#36 HELP! MY COMPUTER IS STUCK ON CAPS LOCK! | PassiveAggressiveNotes.com
[...] Paying through the spout [...]
Aug 17, 2010 at 10:05 pm rating: 90
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