Can you do math?

[coriolis]

I just got back from the pharmacy. The total came to $26. Not having correct change, and not wanting four $1's back, I gave the cashier a $20, a $10 and a $1 : $31, thinking that I'd get a $5 back. This cashier got all confused and didn't know what to do. He repeated the total, $26 and looked at me like I was stupid. He got his manager who said "He get's a $5 back." I had to try hard not to laugh.

I don't like to get change back. If something costs $3.11, and I don't have a dime, I'll pay the $3, and a quarter and a penny (if I have that), expecting to get back fifteen cents. Many clerks get totally confused. When they enter in $3.26 in the cash register and it tells them to give back $0.15 they are amazed.

I never cease to be amazed at this.

[azsnowman]

Ain't it SCARY!! 99.99% of cashiers CANNOT make change these days, what are they teaching kids in school nowadays anyway??

Dennis

[Guest]

I'm the same way Ed. You would think in order to be a cashier, you'd have to take a math test. Go figure.

[janswizard]

I'm with you, azsnowman. It's amazing how many kids don't know how to make change - they are so used to looking at the cash register to how much they are supposed to hand back. I can't remember the last time someone actually counted back change to me - rather than just saying here is your change.

At the same time, I think anyone who answers phones for a living should be given a "speech" test in order to qualify for the job as well as a spelling test. I can't tell you how many times I've heard phone representatives sitting near me tell a customer "we don't got any" when checking stock for a customer. Or hear a rep say "let me 'axe' you somthing" instead of "let me 'ask' you something". Or when opening a new account or updating membership information, not being able to spell. Most customers wouldn't mind being asked to spell something if there's any questions - but nothing is worse than having a customer call and say their membership account has their name spelled incorrectly.

[VanceWxMan]

Its sad I remember when I had to HAND TYPE each product that I rang up for the customer. Now all they do is SCAN *BEEP* (not checking if its right or not) and go....
As for change I use my bank card (VISA that deducts from my account) everywhere! I try not to carry much cash on me if I don't have to.

Aaron

[azsnowman]

Its sad I remember when I had to HAND TYPE each product that I rang up for the customer. Now all they do is SCAN *BEEP* (not checking if its right or not) and go....
As for change I use my bank card (VISA that deducts from my account) everywhere! I try not to carry much cash on me if I don't have to.

Aaron

Aaron, we too, use to carry very little cash with us, we always used the debit card (Visa) BUT.....this past summer, a contractor in Sedona (138 miles to my NW) hit a main fiber optic trunk line, EVERY single ATM, debit machines, credit card, card readers on gas pumps were DOWN. We had been doing a environmental study WAY out in the boonies, I had passed a gas station planning on fueling up upon our return to town, WELL....we had NO cash, the pickup was on 1/4 tank of fuel......AND we were 46 miles from the house. Bottom line, I now carry at least 40$ in cash, in a secert stash for emergencies just like that! Ya know......if someone wanted to disable the American economy, disable the ATM network like that and we would be on our knees in 2 minutes FLAT!

Dennis

[StormCrazyIowan]

I know how you all feel!! I do the same thing, and they look at me like I'm from another planet, when THEY are the ones who can't count! It isn't rocket science, I learned how to count back and count back fast when I worked in a Wendy's drive-thru- you have to be fast!

[Miss Mary]

Ed, you're just one confusing customer!!!

Seriously, I've noticed this A LOT. Just recently a store's computer was down and I wanted to pay with credit card. Luckily the cashier was old enough to be my mom. She said let me find our credit card swipe (whatever it's called - the kind you run the top over the card for imprint). We both laughed b/c younger cashiers would have no idea what that antique was!

But I've asked for change just like this. Have you ever asked for change after they've entered say $30.00 for a bill of $27.25, handing them a quarter after the drawer is open? Can't be done, that really confuses them! Once they enter it and that drawer opens, all they can do is dispense the stated change amount.

Mary

[David]

If you get more then your suppose to get, walk out the door with it....

[VanceWxMan]

Thanks for the tip AZ good point.

Aaron

[ColdFront77]

This is actually occurring with the amount of change right in front of them on the display, too.

Ed, I would say they are more confused about the amount of money you are you giving them to get "simple change" back.

[azsnowman]

Thanks for the tip AZ good point.

Aaron

No problem Brother! You never think about stuff like that until it happens. The fiber optic trunk they hit services ALL of Northern Az and parts of Southern Utah, talk about striking fear in people, including myself! The system was down for 1.5 days......luckily I had enough beer in the fridge "LOL!"

Dennis

[hunter84]

And you wonder why scammers prey on people like this. it's because they get confused and flustered easily.

[streetsoldier]

"Can you do math?"

No, but if you hum a few bars I can "wing it"....

[CaptinCrunch]

I was at Mervens this weekend and got my kids new shoes for x-mas, I wanted to put $55 on my Mervens card and pay the rest in cash, that totaly confused the cashier, she had to get the manager after she had gave me back $84 in change out of a $100 I have gave her. I should have gotten $41.03 back, anyway after the mang come over and re-did it again for the 3rd time I still walked away getting $20 more back than I was suppost to.

[pojo]

Because I have a ton of change in my purse, I give either an exact amount or over that way I can get some money back. Cashiers in our area are like that also....some can only count with their hands! I swear these people that were hired are HS dropouts!

[ColdFront77]

I was at Mervens this weekend and got my kids new shoes for x-mas, I wanted to put $55 on my Mervens card and pay the rest in cash, that totaly confused the cashier, she had to get the manager after she had gave me back $84 in change out of a $100 I have gave her. I should have gotten $41.03 back, anyway after the mang come over and re-did it again for the 3rd time I still walked away getting $20 more back than I was suppost to.

I never heard of Mervyn's. There aren't any that I know of in Florida and there aren't any in Massachusetts. They are in 14 states.

I just checked their website and see that they are associated with Target and Marshall Field's.

There are Targets in Florida, Massachusetts... as they continue to grow and I never heard of Marshall Field's.