Getting change in stores

Post Reply New Topic

Does anyone else get frustrated when people don't give you change when you buy something that costs like 99 cents? I do and the cashiers always have an attitude. Nobody seems to understand that it's not about the penny, it's about charging the price marked on the merchandise. Why do they say something costs $9.99 if they don't give me change when I pay with a ten dollar bill? I hate it and the way they treat me makes me feel incredibly silly.

Well, they SHOULD pay you the penny. Of course, I ASSUME that you don't live in a place like Denmark!

When I landed in denmark, in 1989, they had 1,5,10,25ore. Within a week, they got RID of the 1,5,10 ore! That is basically their penny, nickle, and dime. Now GRANTED, 1 is 1/10 of 10, and 5 is 1/2 of 10, and 10 was worth less than 1.5 US cents, but STILL! SO, you might wonder how they handled this. Anything less than about 12 was rounded down, and anything like 12 or higher was rounded up to the nearest 25.

If they want YOU to sound like a cheapskate, make THEM sound STUPID! It is like cases I have heard where a person will pay someone say 1.30(1 plus 3 dimes) for something that costs 1.05. They often have a HARD time explaining to the "cashier" that they want a quarter back, rather than a nickle.

I'd be tempted to make them feel silly, in return. Say something like, "I didn't know you were that bad off. Here, keep the penny, you poor thing." (just kidding )

If I were the cashier, I would give you the penny. In many stores, there is usually a donation jar (for cancer research, children's hospital or a similar cause) next to the cash register. If the customer doesn't want to carry pennies, they'll donate them.

I remember a while ago, when I worked as a part-time cashier at a dollar store (with no bar code scanner, but price tags), a lady picked an item with the wrong price tag sticker. At check out, I told the lady the item was 50 cents more than the price tag had wrongfully indicated, and that it was a mistake by one of the clerks. But she insisted on buying the item 50 cents cheaper.

I think people behave badly because they value their own benefits above what's right - in your case, the cashier being too lazy to give you back a penny; in my case, the 50 cent difference.

I'm aware that the 99 cent thing is a marketing strategy, but if they don't give me the change it is misleading advertisement. I don't care if a penny is worthless. They can't just assume I don't want it, and then treat me like a cheapskate when I ask for it. It is my right to have the change.

In the UK we have 1, 2, and 5 pence coins. I hate them so much that I have about 2100 coins of them altogether. If I can stop them being re-used, they may have to do something about it. I'd have to do it for a while, I know. But Over 2 years, I have about £40. I don't like prices with 99 or something that isn't to the nearest 5pence. Even that I wouldn't mind. But WHY 1pence less than a complete pound, or dollar. I find it pointless

I'm insatiable when it comes to this...

1 penny less annoys me. It's a stupid pointless marketing plan that apparently makes people think they are paying a bit less. This is not true, because if I'm asked how much a certain trampoline costs I say "£200", not "£199.99"...it gives people a lot of unwanted change as well...I hate having my pocket weighed down, yet I'm also annoyed if the cashier doesn't give me it/gives me it wrong.

Then I see Kerry f***ing Katona advertising round pound value and it makes me want to vomit...why is Iceland the only place that does sensible prices? Because I'd never dream of going there!

As I said...insatiable...

I have never been in a place where they don't give you change back.

Over here in the Netherlands they got rid of the 1 and 2 euro cents,
so even if the price tag says something like 9,99 it's just a way to make it look cheaper so you'll buy it faster than if the price tag said 10,00.
Either way, you don't get that 1 cent back, because it doesn't exist anymore (well, at least the materialization..or something.. of 1 cent...).
I used to find it weird, but now I don't bother giving it thought anymore.

Here in the UK they've always given me the right change. They're religious about it, though I suppose some of them "short-change" people as a deliberate means of theft - some shady street-traders might do that. There used to be a thing with taxis where it was a kind of a tip to tell them to keep the change, but I don't think many people do that any more.

I hate paying cash for things because I don't like the feel of the coins in my pockets, and when I buy things in cash it's too much bother to count out the exact amount in coins, so I just hand them a banknote. I end up accumulating tons of coins, and they just clutter the place up.

But I'd still be annoyed if theydidn't give me the right change, even a penny. Some people are never satisfied.

I hate the £1.99 thing as well. I always mentally round up the figure to make sure it doesn't cloud my judgement.

I aslo have never been in a place that doesn't give back my change. Saying that I usually pay by credit/debit card as its much easier than messing about with change.