Businesses which round change in their favor (pay, balance, employee)

[concept_fusion]

Does it frustrate anyone else when you're not given back exact change for food purchased at restaurants?

I was at the coffee shop today and bought a few things. I paid with cash and they rounded the change in their favor. I know it isn't a lot of money, but if they do this to all their customers they are seriously padding their bottom line. That change adds up. It might be a little thing, but if the menu has prices and they're not followed, that's deception.

It seems pretty widespread. Am I the only one who notices this?

[Lowexpectations]

I've never had this happen before

[westcoastforme]

Originally Posted by concept_fusion

Does it frustrate anyone else when you're not given back exact change for food purchased at restaurants?

I was at the coffee shop today and bought a few things. I paid with cash and they rounded the change in their favor. I know it isn't a lot of money, but if they do this to all their customers they are seriously padding their bottom line. That change adds up. It might be a little thing, but if the menu has prices and they're not followed, that's deception.

It seems pretty widespread. Am I the only one who notices this?

I see this happen all the time. Especially at restaurants with waitresses.

I hate change so it doesn't bother me. But then again I generally tip 15% unless the service is outstanding

[LizfromtheBronx]

I've never had this happen before either - I don't use cash much, but I expect to be given my accurate change back, unless I'm being waited upon and I say I don't need change (often when paying cash in a restaurant, I'll do it this way - easier.)

[harry chickpea]

My guess is that the employees are "clipping." It happens when the business owner or manager is not on top of his game. There is no need to be silent about this. Announce loudly "GIVE ME BACK MY CHANGE!!!" Let other customers be aware. Embarrass the **** out of the employee.

Here's the thing - if a business wants more money, it gets to raise prices. That happens all the time. There is no incentive to tick customers off with hinky theft.

[jclarkson1986]

I get this once every couple of months. Funnily enough, it happened on Saturday. To be honest, I am not that worried about it.

I bought something and the store owed me 17c change. The due gave me a nickle and a dime and I could see in his draw he had no pennies. It's easier and quicker for me to take the 2c loss than wait while he finds another till, changes money into it etc.

I get it more the other way - where by they own me 23c change but I get passed a quarter. I figure it all balances out in the end.

Even if they did 2c per customer (most pay on card anyway), it's not going to add up to much more than a rounding error unless they are McDonalds doing it in every store!

[SaucyAussie]

I find the opposite much more common, and frankly I appreciate it. I hate being hand 4 pennies.

[17thAndK]

I don't use cash for much anymore either, but in all the years I did, no one ever short-changed me except by very occasional mistake. Something they were horrified by when the error was pointed out to them.

[ChiGuy2.5]

I've never had this problem before either. I did have a small mom and pop convenience mart I frequented. There they would do the opposite and give you back a nickel instead of 4 pennies, etc. I loved that so much that anytime I did get back a single or a couple of pennies I would just throw it in the give a penny jar. It really makes you think we should just eliminate pennies once and for all.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

I have never had that happen.

Is it not common all over the country to have penny dishes at the register? If you need a penny to make your purchase, you take one or a couple. If you don't want your pennies from your change, you drop them in the penny dish. I just assumed that was country wide.

Maybe not.