the way we are handed our change in shops...

[joko]

Why do so many shop assistants put a note on your palm and then place the money in a pile on top?

It is very annoying as the money slides off and if you have the other hand full (usually with your purchase) you can't manouvre it very well

I assume its some subconscious effort at "neatness" and it "looks right" or a feeling that thats how you would put money on a table and it seems like the natural order of things?

I wondered if they are taught this somehow or is it natural? Any one who has had it done to them and then worked in a shop would surely realise?

I can't think of any instances where you would be taught this (shop assistant school...) and if it has been done to you you certainly wouldn't copy it - so why?

I myself used to do this when i was about 16 for the above reasons and only later did i realise it wasn't helpful - even though i would watch people drop their change, struggle to balance it, try to tip it into their purse etc.

and before anyone starts with the "its no big deal" & "lifes too short" etc - I know, i know, and i am not bothered really - its not like i lose sleep over it - it just occurred to me and though i'd mention it, and see if anyone had any theories.

thanks

[DOBEYPETE]

being called "joko" sums up your rant

[joko]

dopeypete - as i clearly said - it isn't a rant, its a genuine question of why people automatically do this kind of thing - you know psychological reasons, if any - if you can't read properly don't bother to reply

- do try to keep up!

[andy-hughes]

I imagine the thinking behind this is the likelyhood of a cash note wafting onto the floor if it is placed in the hand last, so it is 'weighed down' with the change to prevent this happening.

I don;t think there is an ideal way of handing a shopper their change, points card, and receipt in a way that gives them time to deal with them easily, but from the supermarket's point of view, it concludes the transaction quickly and easily, in a way that can be trained as standard practice, so the cashier can move on with the next customer.

Not every customer struggles with their change and cards, some people move away quickly, others less so, but the need for standard practice, which cuts down mistakes, and the efficient movement of customers through check-outs means that this is probably the best way to deal with this situation.

[Jules001]

when I was a 'Saturday girl' working in a supermarket, I always used to count the change back and into the customer's hand and then give them the note. Making me think about this has made me realise that yes, people do hand over change like you say and I hadn't noticed the change (forgive the pun) and now I feel old! I think it is just one of the niceties that has been dropped by our society as a whole

[dml54]

I do what Jules did - count out the change and then hand them the note. Could it be that as most of the tills tell the cashier how much change they need to give, they don't need to count it out to you? Tthey just say here's your change and dump the whole lot in your hand.

[AliFlump]

The reason that money is handed back like that is to keep a barrier between the checkout persons hands and the customers. Yes, money is dirty but just imagine all the things you do with your hands. Handing the money back like this stops hands touching and germs being transfered, afterall checkout assistants handle your food.

It is better to give change first and then give the note and i remember the huffs and puffs when i was a checkout girl but its for the customers own good

[gary baldy]

Joko - do you want to start a support group?
This has always bugged me aswell.
Put The Coins in First and Then The Note Anonymous
PTCFTTA

If i'm feeling particulary grumpy (most days) as some assistant puts the note down first i quickly grab it away so they have to put the coins in my palm.
In my many years in retail and the pub trade i always did it the 'right' way and you'd be surprised the amount of people who appreciate you doing it that way.

My theory is that it has been 'taught' in the past as a sort of honest gesture. If you put the note down first (the largest sum) and then the change it stops unscrupilous assistants putting the change down first and pausing before putting the note down in the hope the customer either forgets or doesnt realise and the assistant then pockets the note. This is an easy trick in busy pubs and nightclubs (never done it myself you uinderstand!)

[CT]

I thought it was so you weren't short-changed. ie assisstant dropping any old coins in your hand and then covering it with the note, because how many of us actually count our change properly.

[Jay70]

I once watched a programme that took swabs from coins to see how many germs were on them and it was frightening. So I wouldn't think there would be much advantge in not making contact as AliFlump suggests although it may be something that was taught before this came to light.

[sammd]

When i worked in a supermarket when i was a student i also did it this way - note first, change on top. We weren't told to do it that way, from that side of the till it just seemed the right way to do it - giving the part worth the most money to the customer first.

Since then, having been on the other side of the till, i've also come to realize how annoying it is, although i now have my purse/wallet ready open and waiting to pour the coins in. I usually tend to pay by card, however, and it's most helpful when the cashier gives my cards back before the receipt, so i have time to put them away before i have to pick up the bags.

I also feel hurried whenever i go into a shop and there's a queue of customers behind me so often feel like i have to move away from the till and stop somewhere else before i leave the shop to finish putting the notes and my cards back in my wallet. Does anyone else do this or do you just take your time and make the cashier and next customer wait?

[theo_wyvern]

you could always put you bag down for a second !

alos i agree that it is to stop the note falling !

anyway, chip and pins far easier or would you like to discuss handing back card on top of receipt !

[PAWSABELLE]

I usually move away from the till to put my change in my purse etc., so as not to keep the next customer waiting. I get annoyed when the customer behind me, moves right up to the till before I have paid (i.e. standing right behind me), 'specially when I am paying by card and either have to enter my PIN, or sign the receipt. If I'm doing a big shop, I now leave the trolley behind me until I'm ready to leave, petty I know, but it puts a stop to it!

[joko]

Some interesting points!!!...not sure about the germ thing - as you both touch the coins and notes anyway, as you sepend them later - unless its meant just as a gesture -notes have many germs too.

I have noticed a lot of young assistants do it - so its unlikely to be something they have been brought up with or taught, regarding the honesty thing - it sounds a bit much for them to come up with themselves too

I wondered if it was psychological - like then you count out the change you start with the largest amount and finally the pennies, and perhaps it looks better

the checking your change one sounds feasible, but i can't see 16 years olds thinking of that - unless they've been taught it...you can certainly check your change at a glance

the wafting note certainly makes sense for perhaps market stalls and perhaps to stop opportunist thieves doing a runner with the note - particularly when you are outdoors

it could be that they can drop the coins in your hand but you can't let go of a note until it has been grasped by the customer - and if they are faffing with their wallet, bag, shopping etc you could be standing arm outstretched for a bit! but then they could do the same with the coins...

I personally did it because...well there is only ywo ways and one looked and felt 'better'- id didn't give ait much thought it just came naturally from an "aesthetic" point of view

sounds like a good group gary...lol

[Karen2005]

This really annoys me too! I'm glad someone else feels the same way!

Something else that really annoys me is if I say to the assistant that I don't require a carrier bag (trying to save the environment a bit!) but they just screw it up and put it under the counter. Aarrgghh! It's not as if it's dirty and cannot be used for the next customer. I've learnt that it's better to accept the bag if they've already started to peel it open and then put it in a recycling bin.

[gary baldy]

And another thing.....!
i always thought it was polite to count back the change to avoid any misunderstanding.
And you count 'up' when doing it
i.e. say somethings �1.80 and they pay with a tenner - makes sense to count back to them as you hand the change back eg"Theres 2, thats 5 and 5 makes 10".
Instead you just get a random pile of money plonked in your hand. You used to get some right sharks in the bar i ran so you made sure you did things like that so there was no come back. And its polite aswell but politeness is a dying art isnt it?
And another thing re Karen's comment - i dont put my veg in individual plastic bags - i just keep it lose - and then you get to the checkout and the cashier starts putting it all in little bags! Do you know how many plastic bags go into landfill every year - its in the billions!

[clarabel82]

Before I started work in a shop I too was annoyed with the coins ontop of note thing, it still annoys me but I always give the coins first and then the note with the receipt, free vouchers and loyalty card (with the million other things all customers receive).

In response to putting the bag the customer has refused under the counter, this is to keep the counter tidy and I will always reuse the bag eventually. Why do customers watch us open a bag, put the goods in and THEN say "oh I don't need a bag" and take everything out? The thing that annoys me most though is "can you double bag that? I'm going on the train." when it's something so light and not bulky ie one box of tissues. Can any customers explain this?

[dotjhawkes]

Sorry to join in so late in the debate, After nearly 30 years as a retail professional I have learnt alot off this thread! Basically, customers think shop asistants are deliberately difficult. Having trained staff for Till Duty many many times, the instruction is always to count the money back to the customer and give them the loose change first and then the note(s) and reciept together afterwards.

[joko]

I don't think they are deliberately difficult - i don't think they realise they are doing anything wrong.

I think actaully haven't thought about it at all.

and why would they? - Why would anyone even consider that some may think its a problem? I certainly never considered it until i was on the receiving end.

I aslo rarely get the "count out" - usually just plonked.

perhaps it is something managers should teach their staff, as it really isn't anybodies fault

[lankeela]

As a market trader I have a comment on two points raised. I always count out the change first, wait for them to put in in their purse if they have one out, and then given them the note (still holding their original note in my other hand so they cannot say I short changed them). This is particularly important with the elderly, as they often try to walk away putting their money away. I tell them to put their purse away first and will wait, holding their purchase until they are ready. If another customer is waiting, tough, they will have to wait until I have finished with that customer. What really peeves me is the person who thrusts money at you in front of the customer you are serving, just because they will not wait to be served. I always make them wait even longer, and say I will be with you shortly, when I've finished serving this customer.

As for the plastic bags, we get customers to bring them to us on the market and use them again. Unfortunately, they also bring us the torn, mucky, tiny ones that are no good. Morrisons are the best, they are the strongest (we sell wild bird food) even stronger than the ones we buy new. When I go in a supermarket, I put nearly everything into a separate carrier bag, then use them on the stall!

Of course, if everyone had a shopping bag, this would make life easier, be more eco friendly and stop me having to take stuff out of a bag when someone says, save your bag, I don't need one, after I have put it in one.

[NITA EDWARDS]

I work the till in a charity shop, and the till tells me what change to give. I take the largest notes out first then the coins and automatically hand the money over in that order,ie coins on top of notes, but I`m going to try and change that now