Doesn't ANYONE know HOW to count change back anymore?

[Dunkopf]

Quote:
That only works if the person using the register enters the correct purchase price, the correct cash tendered and knows how to hand back what the register tells him or her.

Mistakes happen and knowing more than you need to only makes a better cashier and therefore a better business.

Fortunately for the business owner, most customers are honest enough to hand back the excess change offered.

Yes, that's happened before and is why we count the amount out that the computer tells us...just saying it aloud will help catch when you put something in wrong. Our system also tracks customer so if we do have an error we can call the customer and let them know we made a mistake.

Back in the late 70's before they even had digital registers, I cashed a check for 250.00 at a liquor store. The clerk counted 20's back to me in 20.00 increments till she got to 200.00, she the counted in 10.00 increments but was still giving me 20's. So she gave me 300 instead of 250. I of course gave it back.

 

[TheBrumstead]

I went to Best Buy on Friday to get the new 3 Doors Down cd. There was a guy in front of me who was getting a bag of chips and his total came to $1 something. He first handed her a $10, and then said wait and gave her 2 $1s. She asked the other cashier what she should do because she already put $10 into the register... However, she was a young girl, he was kind of shady, pulled out a bunch of cash and started asking her to change it. She was smart enough to quickly shut the register and tell him she couldn't do that. He huffed off. I told her to not ever fall for that. It happened to me when I was a new cashier at 16. They only got $5, but it could have been worse.

Anyway, I had a coupon for the cd. It was originally $16.99, on sale for $11.99, and the coupon was for $9.99. Of course the coupon didn't scan (they said on Facebook they were having issues). She asked the other cashier what to do, no problem. The other cashier... looked at what it rang up, $11.99, looked at the sticker on the cd that said $16.99, counted on her fingers and said there was a $6 difference (

) and to put the coupon in for that. So they were going to give me the cd for $5.99. Since it was my birthday, I corrected them and paid what I was supposed to.

But oh my goodness...

 

[ModernCashier]

They don't train cashiers to do that as part of their job these days. It is absolutely not in our job description (from several different jobs in two different states). In my seven years of being a cashier I have only ever had two people say anything about me not counting it back. They were both women that looked around 60. I didn't really know what to say to them...it's just not really the way things are done anymore. I (obviously) count the money to myself as I'm pulling it out of the drawer, and then, facing the guest I count it again once it's all in my hand. I count to myself, but face the guest so they can count along with me if they wish. I just count it in what I consider the "normal" way for example 73.56...twenty, forty, sixty, seventy, one, two, three. I hand the guest the change and say "here's 56", then I hand the bills and the recipt and say "and here's 73".

Even before I was a cashier I HATED when I got a cashier who counted back my change. I'm polite so I never said anything, but it seriously bothered me. I'm just going to count it myself after anyway and it just takes extra time.

 

[sumi]

Welcome to BYC!
I agree. But then I used to work with a guy who always only counted the change back. And he never had the right money in his till. He was either way short or over.
We got a new cashier at a shop I used to work for. It was after I left. One day we went to buy some things. Say the total was R53. I handed him a R100 bill. He entered R10. The till said the new balance is R43. The guy got thoroughly confused and when I tried to explain to him what happened and what he must do he gave me a look like "what do YOU know?" He handed me R143 change! I tried in vain to correct him and his attitude got worse. I realised I wasn't going to get through to him, took the money and said to him "You are going to be short tonight when they cash you up and this is why."

 

[EweSheep]

Welcome to BYC!
I agree. But then I used to work with a guy who always only counted the change back. And he never had the right money in his till. He was either way short or over.
We got a new cashier at a shop I used to work for. It was after I left. One day we went to buy some things. Say the total was R53. I handed him a R100 bill. He entered R10. The till said the new balance is R43. The guy got thoroughly confused and when I tried to explain to him what happened and what he must do he gave me a look like "what do YOU know?" He handed me R143 change! I tried in vain to correct him and his attitude got worse. I realised I wasn't going to get through to him, took the money and said to him "You are going to be short tonight when they cash you up and this is why."

That is ALOT of R currency to be lost. Have you spoken to the manager?

 

[Kaitie09]

I work at a convenience store and at our busiest times there are three of us working registers, and a line to the back of the store sometimes. We have to speed through our transactions and I will say that If someone gives me a weird amount of money, I get a little frazzled and confused. You get into a groove when it is that busy, and any little thing can trip you up.

I previously worked at a grocery store where I counted all the change back to the customer. At my new job, the change is automated, so I don't count change, just bills. We also cannot keep more than 2 $10s, and $20s and up have to be dropped in the safe immediately. The automated change dispenser really speeds up the transactions, and I don't have to worry if I counted wrong. I;m guess that in the future, most registers will be like this, and counting change will die off.

 

[BarefootMom]

It saddens me that the world is going far away from human interaction. Everything is faster and people don't want to talk to people anymore. All the banks I use still count my money out to me, and it always bothers me when I pay in large bills when they don't count the change back.

I am glad that I don't live in a city, I don't think I could stand it. I live in the world of small talk, counting change back, and personal information shared - like how's your grandma doing? I heard she was in the hospital last week. Is she recovering?... when I am at checkout at the grocery store. I like to know the people I do business with.

 

[sumi]

That is ALOT of R currency to be lost. Have you spoken to the manager?

I thought about it, but the guy was new and his then boss was a bit of a cow. I knew making a fuss would've likely cost him his job. Cash shortages on the other hand is not that major for them, they just deduct it from the employee's wage. It may sound like a lot of money, but our Rands are not nearly as valuable as your $$. R143 will buy you a one course dinner and drinks at a not-too-fancy restaurant. For one person.

 

[Royd]

One branch of my CU recently remodeled, and the the funds are spit out of a machine and the teller just hands it to you without counting. I find that very annoying. I may as well just go to the ATM.

 

[Royd]

Money is done in units of 10 for a reason. If I hold up 10 fingers and bend 3 over, how many do I have standing up? For any freaks out there, things are a little tougher.