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I took my family to an independent breakfast place like a Denny's. It's a place where you pay at the cashier at the front.
The bill came out to $59.30. 20% tip is $11.86, but I usually round it up to the next whole dollar amount because I hate coin change. so $71.16 total becomes $72.
The restaurant is a bit hectic and there are people waiting. So I ask the cashier "can you take a hundred", and he says "sure." I hand him the $100 and say "just give me back $28 dollars." He says "man your going to make me do math?" He's the cashier and he has a smile on his face so I think he's joking. He prints out a receipt and says "the total is $59.30 I'm going to give you $40.70 back." I had already calculated that he was likely going to have to make change for me for the tip (its hard to get to 12 dollars with any combo of change he was going to give me) so I though It would be time saving to just say give me $28 back. I asked him If he would like me to show him the math. He said "no I got it."
A quick chain of math 100-28-59.30= $12.70
$59.30 on the bill $12.70 to the server.
Then he muttered something and said "okay have a nice day sir" with a visibly angry look on his face.
Then the people behind me asked him what was wrong and he said "oh that guy wants 28 dollars back out of 100. I don't know why he didn't just take the change and pay at the table."
So am I out of line to expect that this is a simple calculation. Does no one ever say just give me X amount back? Is that super rare?
I'm just curious not trying to belittle anyone. Are computer systems for cashiers now so automated they can only perform simple functions. I'm not being obtuse, I'm curious to know. Can the computer not make this calculation? Is there no field for cash tendered-what the customer wants back?
$100 tendered
$28.00 change
meal cost $59.30
$12.70 to the server.
I'm thinking the computer system was not well understood and the guy may have been new.
But things are so automated these days and people are so poorly trained perhaps this really was not possible with his register/computer. It looked like a very modern Point of sale computer with a touch screen.
Should I stop conducting business this way? Should I just have him refund me then change have him give me change for a tip. Seems like an extra step to me.
My relatives claimed they had no cash and All I had were 20s and a 100. I wanted to get rid of the 100.
The only reason this bothers me is because the people in line behind me seemed to think my request was odd and unreasonable as well. If it is then I will stop doing that.
I would let him do the extra step. There are people out there who purposefully try to confuse cashiers in order to scam money. Some business owners will train their employees to always go by what's on the register.
Location: Montreal -> CT -> MA -> Montreal -> Ottawa
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Yup, it's an extra step but, for me, I'd want to know that the server got the $12.70 that you intended. With the cashier's math skills (and attitude), that doesn't seem like a given. So I'd get the change from the tab, from that I'd ask him for the denominations that you need for the tip, and then put the tip on the table.
People's math skills are terrible these days to the point where transacting in cash is a huge pain. Not only do the clerks need the computer to do simple subtraction, but they hand you your change as a wad of wrinkles up bills and drop a bunch of useless coins on top of it. No thanks. I use a credit card.
I forgot the most important part of the story it was a cash only place. I normally pay for my meals with debit cards but when I withdrew cash at the casino it gave it gave me stupid 100s and I hate carrying that much cash.
But see this is why I asked... I know I have asked my waitress back for a specific amount at restaurants where the waitress is the cashier and had no problem. I do it with my barber all the time. hair cut is 26 I give her 2 20s and tell her I only need 10 back.
and I just found it sad that a cashier asked me "man, your going to make me do math?," ...It's kind of your job at least it was in the 80's.
I was just reminded of the mike judge film Idiocracy. "Um yeah just give me this many dollars"
i think instead of pre-algebra and algebra in middle school, they need to keep drilling simple arithmetic into kids heads.
I forgot the most important part of the story it was a cash only place. I normally pay for my meals with debit cards but when I withdrew cash at the casino it gave it gave me stupid 100s and I hate carrying that much cash.
But see this is why I asked... I know I have asked my waitress back for a specific amount at restaurants where the waitress is the cashier and had no problem. I do it with my barber all the time. hair cut is 26 I give her 2 20s and tell her I only need 10 back.
and I just found it sad that a cashier asked me "man, your going to make me do math?," ...It's kind of your job at least it was in the 80's.
I was just reminded of the mike judge film Idiocracy. "Um yeah just give me this many dollars"
i think instead of pre-algebra and algebra in middle school, they need to keep drilling simple arithmetic into kids heads.
They do...most people can do math...but when you return trying to figure out what some one else wants....well...it's not their job.
Asking for $28 is not unreasonable, but one extra calculation when its hectic may be a distraction to him in the grand scheme of things. Also, asking "If he would like me to show him the math" can be taken as condescending.
We just get the change and hand our server the tip because I do not like to leave it on the table.
We generally use a debit card for the meal and cash for the tip unless it is a cash only place but we also usually have the exact amount of the check as well.
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