Spend it like cash! Then where's my change?

STAPLES, the ubiquitous office supplies store, sends me a "rewards" coupon. It reads, "Spend it like cash!" on its face. It is for $12.00. I picked up a $7.99 box of envelopes. I tendered my coupon. The clerk said, "You have to buy something else. You can't get change." And I said, "But that is not how I spend cash."

I had no desire to argue with anyone about this. I had no need to be correct. I just needed to utter the phrase "But that is not how I spend cash" to show that I have not completely given up on logic. If I had a 12 dollar bill and the item cost less than $12.00, I would get change.

Now I have a STAPLES gift card with $2.77 credit on it. (I donated $1.00 to a charity at the pointof purchase.) This card is going to get a billion frequent traveler miles riding in my wallet for 6 months until I remember to use it. AHHHHHHHHH! I don't want the card or the store credit. I want my $2.77 so I can go pay for a medium coffee (aka a "Venti") next door.



What would you do?