Evianers Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 If we are in the UK shopping, sometimes when the amount is less than a round figure, we automatically give the shop assistant the extra change, i.e. if the amount requested is 1.49, we try to give the 9 pence [or so]. Here in France we have noted on more than one occasion that if one voluntarily tenders the odd amounts to help the assistant, it confuses them greatly. Last week we gave a 50 Euro note and some odd change to make up the difference and got short-changed by 30 Euros. From now on, we'll simply watch them digging time and again into the till extracting dozens of coins in small change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 I often do that and always announce the amount clearly aloud.If I need to pay €9.54, I'll say "I have €10, and 4 cents if that helps" and there's never any problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 Shop assistants are so accustomed to the till telling them the amount of change that if you give them the odd it forces them to do mental arithmetic to work it out which seems to be completely beyond them.It's quite surprising that in UK, where the world class education system has ensured that nobody leaves school without an A+ in maths and a sheaf of other subjects, this should also often happen. [Www] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 There is no mental arithmetic involved, all they have to do is if they are not capable of realising that the change will be a round figure is to count the money that you have given them (and in most cases spoken the amount to confirm) they can then enter this into the till as the amount tendered and the till will work out the change for them.I do agree though that this seems to be unfathomable to the majority of check out peeps [:D]The one that gets me whether it be the bank, post office or tresorie is that 3 times out of four they undercount the money that I give over the counter to them, this is aggravated by the fact that they always bring it down to their desk out of view before beginning the count, they are not rying to rip me off as every time I ask them to count it again they eventually come up with the right figure but it can take some considerable time. Is it not a requiremnt these days for a counter clerk to be able to count? Or am I in a minority by paying in cash?I now insist that they do the counting in my vision but it does not go down at all well with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judith Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 When, long ago, I worked as a shop assistant during my student years, before computerised tills, I was shown how to count out the change to be given correctly. Take money out of the till, counting to yourself up to the amount tendered, and repeat likewise to customer when giving change. This is a double check, to you and the customer, and has the added advantage that it puts the coins under the notes so that you can grasp them all, and not the coins on top of the notes, which you cannot grasp. No need for computers at all!But I agree, today's shop assistants seem only to be able to work if the till tells them how much. So what happens in a power cut?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celine Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 Today's shop assistants in the UK have been taught to chat to the customer, saying "ooo, this is a nice product etc." when you pass through the till. My daughter was short changed by £3 in M & S yesterday as the till lady was so busy trying to be friendly. Maybe the sullen French cashier is a better bet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 [quote user="Judith"]But I agree, today's shop assistants seem only to be able to work if the till tells them how much. So what happens in a power cut?? [/quote]Well when it happened to me in B&Q Maidstone everyone was getting very heated as it was coming to the end of a lunch hour and customers were anxious about getting back to work. Basically they had no idea hw to cope and were even refusing to take cash from customers with one item that was clearly priced.I had gone to collect a kitchen that was supposed to have been drawn from stock and held to one side for me, of course it wasnt, I loaded the items myself as all the staff had been rostered to guard the doors, not man the tills!At the long tailback I had my kitchen on te trolley and I was clutching the computerised advice note from my local branch, I had not paid in advance, a supervisor saw this, asked me if that was all I had, I answered truthfully "yes" so he signed the advice note and waved me past the staff guarding the doors.Did I feel guilty? -Did I ever [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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