Do you wait for your cent?

ThisIsDan · 19-01-2012 10:10PM #1

I bought something in a newsagents today for 9.99. I gave the guy behind the counter a tenner and waited for my cent. After a few seconds of waiting he gave me an "oh yeah...sorry" look and reached into the till and gave me my cent change. On my way home I got to thinking...maybe a lot of people don't bother to wait for their cent. Maybe other people would rather get to where they are going quicker than wait for their cent change. I know that Sweden and Finland don't even produce these for circulation with only a few available to cater to the coin collection market.

So my question is...Am I the only one waiting for their cent?

Swampy · 19-01-2012 10:11PM

Always do. Straight into the charity box with it.

thesandeman · 19-01-2012 10:27PM

Not normally in a convenience store or whatever. But if Im a cent or two short I do the reverse.
Same in my local pubs if the loose change is 5 or 10 cent.

Mikko Mallikas · 19-01-2012 10:36PM

I´m glad Sweden don´t circulate them , as the Swedes would probably be quite confused

P. Breathnach · 19-01-2012 10:58PM

Yes, I expect to receive my change. And I expect to get my till receipt. In most shops, you get them together. [I have an image of being challenged by security when leaving a shop, and not having any proof that I paid for the goods.]

I often notice people not picking up their change, or bothering to retrieve coins that they have dropped. We still have some wispy ghosts of the Celtic tiger.

simit · 19-01-2012 11:01PM

Really depends on the attitude of the person behind the till. If it's some lazy cow with a vacant expression and chewing gum then, yeah.

De Hipster · 19-01-2012 11:02PM

I did this earlier today ...got some weird looks from others in the queue & the guy behind the counter laughed as if I'd obviously miscalculated the change due.

It's not the value but the fact that it's my cent! What next, 'oh you're waiting on your fiver?!'

naughtysmurf · 19-01-2012 11:11PM

Always wait for my change no matter how small, save everything smaller than a € in a bag and cash them in at the end of the month, you'd be surprised how much it adds up to

Howjoe1 · 19-01-2012 11:13PM

no. only if it's something i want a receipt for

thesandeman · 19-01-2012 11:15PM

It does annoy me though if Im somewhere that doesnt know me and they say 'Ill owe you a cent'. My reply to that is 'give me a 2cent and Ill owe you one'.
That usually throws them :-D

vicwatson · 19-01-2012 11:41PM

Swampy wrote: »

Always do. Straight into the charity box with it.

And the charity box gets emptied into the till when full

:pac:

MyKeyG · 19-01-2012 11:44PM

Not in my local shop because I know that if I'm ever short they won't make a big song and dance over it but shops that I know wouldn't let me off with a cent I wait for it on principle.

aujopimur · 19-01-2012 11:59PM

I always wait for mine, and I pick them up off the street.

wmpdd3 · 20-01-2012 12:03AM

I always wait for the change, but I must be the only person in the world who hands the petrol station guy €20.04 for my petrol.

dxhound2005 · 20-01-2012 01:10AM

naughtysmurf wrote: »

Always wait for my change no matter how small, save everything smaller than a € in a bag and cash them in at the end of the month, you'd be surprised how much it adds up to

I'd be very surprised if it added up to more than you put in the bag.

loopymum · 20-01-2012 09:42AM

I took a product back to Lidl recently and it was 59.99 and she gave me €60 and asked for a cent, now that was cheeky seeing as she didn't have the change.

RoboRat · 20-01-2012 09:52AM

I always wait for the change, but I must be the only person in the world who hands the petrol station guy €20.04 for my petrol.

I filled my car up in my local garage, I used them all the time and it came to €80.02 and I gave the checkout assistant 100 - she gave me back €19.98, although this is technically right it was extremely petty. I gave them another chance but this time it was €70.01, again they gave me back €9.99 from the €80. Needless to say I don't use them anymore and never will again.

theteal · 20-01-2012 10:03AM

RoboRat wrote: »

I filled my car up in my local garage, I used them all the time and it came to €80.02 and I gave the checkout assistant 100 - she gave me back €19.98, although this is technically right it was extremely petty. I gave them another chance but this time it was €70.01, again they gave me back €9.99 from the €80. Needless to say I don't use them anymore and never will again.

Whoa whoa whoa, this logic is completely backwards to me. I expect to pay the full amount and am very grateful of the goodwill gesture when they let me off the couple of pennies. If you paid by laser or cc you would get no such discount. You now avoid a shop because they charged you what you owe them

lala88 · 20-01-2012 11:27AM

RoboRat wrote: »

I filled my car up in my local garage, I used them all the time and it came to €80.02 and I gave the checkout assistant 100 - she gave me back €19.98, although this is technically right it was extremely petty. I gave them another chance but this time it was €70.01, again they gave me back €9.99 from the €80. Needless to say I don't use them anymore and never will again.

Are you for real?? You dont use them because they charge you the amount you used? Also how are the ''technically'' right? Thats how much it costs! This is like people with the ESB when they make a show over them looking for money that they are owed

RoboRat · 20-01-2012 12:46PM

Yes I am for real, when I bought food, milk sandwiches etc in the same shop and it came to 1, 2 or 5 cent under the euro I left it with them - I was a regular customer and they knew me.

Its a cent for christ sake. I worked in a garage for 3 years when I was in college and it was never an issue as long as customers didn't take the piss - ie going 10 cent over etc. Most garages still do this and its not an issue for them because they don't want to annoy their customers by giving them a ton of change.

This is like people with the ESB when they make a show over them looking for money that they are owed

No its not, thats dodging a bill. Its a given that working a pump, especially one that is delivering petrol quite fast is not that easy to get it spot on. They have abandoned the days of 'service' for 'self service' so there has to be a little give and take when dispensing petrol.

uck51js9zml2yt · 20-01-2012 12:54PM

I always wait for it.
Had it recently were i was told they didn't have any cents.

When I said to give me 2 cents I was old she couldn't as her till would be down.
She eventually made a song and dance and go her purse to give me a cent back.

Needless to say, I took it:D

old_aussie · 20-01-2012 01:11PM

NO.

In Australia it's no good waiting, as we don't have one or two cent pieces.

keithclancy · 20-01-2012 01:51PM

RoboRat wrote: »

I filled my car up in my local garage, I used them all the time and it came to €80.02 and I gave the checkout assistant 100 - she gave me back €19.98, although this is technically right it was extremely petty. I gave them another chance but this time it was €70.01, again they gave me back €9.99 from the €80. Needless to say I don't use them anymore and never will again.

Thats just silly, if you want paper change then just fill the car to a round number.

Why not go and beat the crap out of a Card Machine.

lala88 · 20-01-2012 03:57PM

RoboRat wrote: »

Yes I am for real, when I bought food, milk sandwiches etc in the same shop and it came to 1, 2 or 5 cent under the euro I left it with them - I was a regular customer and they knew me.

Its a cent for christ sake. I worked in a garage for 3 years when I was in college and it was never an issue as long as customers didn't take the piss - ie going 10 cent over etc. Most garages still do this and its not an issue for them because they don't want to annoy their customers by giving them a ton of change.

Its not there problem if you let them change now is it? Just because you do that they should let you off why? What difference should you being a regular customer make?? If its only a cent why are you so p***** off about it?

R.D. aka MR.D · 20-01-2012 04:23PM

Well I always wait for mine because i work in a shop and if the person doesn't take the change with them then the till is left over and the end of the night and our rules are that the float has to be exact and anything over be it 10c or 10e has to be declared and sent to head office. This requires a pain in the arse change in the paperwork.

To the person who was offended by the shop assistant asking for the remaining amount i can imagine it is a till issue as well. If the till is down even a few cent it has to be declared. Then note on file says: xxx till down by x amount.

It might be silly and personally I think it is and it would be solved by a charity box (not allowed though!). Or a 'take a penny leave a penny tray'!!

RoboRat · 20-01-2012 04:40PM

Thats just silly, if you want paper change then just fill the car to a round number.

Easier said than done with some of the pumps. The petrol flies out of them and even when you try, its next to impossible to get it spot on. Please note this is only SOME pumps, most are fine and I don't have an issue with getting it on the mark.

If its only a cent why are you so p***** off about it?

Im pissed off about having a pocket full of change that I don't want weighing my pockets down.

This pisses me off and obviously some of you penny pinching misers seem to think it unacceptable to not get your cent back, personally I don't give a toss. Its not a by-product of the celtic tiger, it just doesn't bother me as its an insignificant sum of money IMO. I would do about 5 transactions a week (give or take) so over a year that's about €2.60 (if all transactions came in at 99 cent, which they don't), so its not worth the time IMO.

Its not there problem if you let them change now is it

Im not asking anyone to change, nor am I stopping them? I also never referred to a place, where is there?

Just because you do that they should let you off why?

Punctuation, helps. Just because you do that, should they let you off? why?

biko · 20-01-2012 04:44PM

Don't usually wait, or I just say "it's fine" and walk off. But it bugs me when some assistants doesn't even bother giving it back.

Let's say you get 200 customers a day, that's only 2 euro but in the long run... we're talking free pints at the weekend

seamus · 20-01-2012 05:00PM

RoboRat wrote: »

Easier said than done with some of the pumps. The petrol flies out of them and even when you try, its next to impossible to get it spot on. Please note this is only SOME pumps, most are fine and I don't have an issue with getting it on the mark.

Do you ask your mobile phone provider to let you off some money too when your phone won't hang up on a call for a couple of seconds?

I do agree that in some cases a pump will jump by 2c instead of 1c no matter how lightly you touch the handle (this is down to the way it's being calculated), but ultimately it's still petrol you've taken. It's in your tank, so why shouldn't you pay for it on principle?

If you're worried about having a pocket full of change, then keep a few coppers in the car. If the pump goes over, grab a 1c coin and hand it over.

RoboRat · 20-01-2012 05:10PM

Do you ask your mobile phone provider to let you off some money too when your phone won't hang up on a call for a couple of seconds?

WTF? What is it with these inane comparisons... they make absolutely no sense? What next, do I get annoyed with the chipper if he puts in a few less chips than last time? Do I get annoyed the the barman if my pint isn't exactly filled to the top? No and no.

I think its petty when a garage, after just putting 80 euros into their till (and about 3500 over a year, in fuel ALONE) finds it necessary to give you a pocket full of change. If you don't agree then fine but I, as in me, am not bothered to go there again. Every other garage is happy to work to this attitude so I am happy to go to those places.

enfant terrible · 20-01-2012 05:19PM

wmpdd3 wrote: »

I always wait for the change, but I must be the only person in the world who hands the petrol station guy €20.04 for my petrol.

I give even the one cent if I go over, do most people not?

lala88 · 20-01-2012 07:31PM

RoboRat wrote: »

WTF? What is it with these inane comparisons... they make absolutely no sense? What next, do I get annoyed with the chipper if he puts in a few less chips than last time? Do I get annoyed the the barman if my pint isn't exactly filled to the top? No and no.

I think its petty when a garage, after just putting 80 euros into their till (and about 3500 over a year, in fuel ALONE) finds it necessary to give you a pocket full of change. If you don't agree then fine but I, as in me, am not bothered to go there again. Every other garage is happy to work to this attitude so I am happy to go to those places.

I wouldn't be surprised....

watna · 20-01-2012 08:08PM

The smallest coin in NZ is 10c as they use swedish rounding. It took me a while to get used to it and I used to stand there and wait for my change when none was forthcoming!

At home I do wait though. If everyone did that then over a year the cents would add up for the shop! I'd rather have it and put it in the charity box, tbh.

Larianne · 20-01-2012 08:18PM

RoboRat wrote: »

I filled my car up in my local garage, I used them all the time and it came to €80.02 and I gave the checkout assistant 100 - she gave me back €19.98, although this is technically right it was extremely petty. I gave them another chance but this time it was €70.01, again they gave me back €9.99 from the €80. Needless to say I don't use them anymore and never will again.

RoboRat wrote: »

Im pissed off about having a pocket full of change that I don't want weighing my pockets down.

This pisses me off and obviously some of you penny pinching misers seem to think it unacceptable to not get your cent back, personally I don't give a toss.

But if you waited for you change of 1 or 2 cents, you'd have a few in your pocket so when filling up at the petrol station you could pay the €80.02 in full and you won't have a pocket full of change.

1 and 2 cents won't weigh you down.

RoboRat · 21-01-2012 11:20AM

I wouldn't be surprised....

Because you know me so well.

But if you waited for you change of 1 or 2 cents, you'd have a few in your pocket so when filling up at the petrol station you could pay the €80.02 in full and you won't have a pocket full of change.

Its not an issue in any other garage I go to; that's why I will go to these garages as they seem to grasp the concept that people sometimes go over and its petty to charge them 1 cent over.

1 and 2 cents won't weigh you down

Erm they do if you have lots of them? Anyhow, I could have received 1 x 20 note or what they gave me back which consisted of 4 x euro coins, 1 x 50 cent, 2 x twenty cent, one x five cent and one x 2 cent and 1 x cent coin.

End of the day, I have no problem paying over when I am paying by Visa/laser. For convenience, most garages will leave you off when paying in cash - that's my experience anyhow and every other garage I have used and went slightly over have shown a bit of cop on.

lala88 · 21-01-2012 12:31PM

RoboRat wrote: »

Its not an issue in any other garage I go to; that's why I will go to these garages as they seem to grasp the concept that people sometimes go over and its petty to charge them 1 cent over.

Erm they do if you have lots of them? Anyhow, I could have received 1 x 20 note or what they gave me back which consisted of 4 x euro coins, 1 x 50 cent, 2 x twenty cent, one x five cent and one x 2 cent and 1 x cent coin.

End of the day, I have no problem paying over when I am paying by Visa/laser. For convenience, most garages will leave you off when paying in cash - that's my experience anyhow and every other garage I have used and went slightly over have shown a bit of cop on.

I still think this has to be a piss take! You'd giving out because your charged for something you've used it may onlt be 1/2 cent but you still used it. Just because anyone other garage you've gone to have let you off (something i find highly unlikely) why should this one?

Id feel sorry for some one whos so thight with money that they have to worry about (a) Not getting a cent back and (b) having to pay an extra cent

dxhound2005 · 21-01-2012 12:40PM

I have a solution for the pumps that constantly slip 2 or 4 cents over. Instead of trying to squeeze in the last few cents to make an even amount just stop at €19.80, €49.94 or whatever.

keithclancy · 21-01-2012 01:23PM

dxhound2005 wrote: »

I have a solution for the pumps that constantly slip 2 or 4 cents over. Instead of trying to squeeze in the last few cents to make an even amount just stop at €19.80, €49.94 or whatever.

How about you just fill the car and pay with card.

I haven't tried this getting a round number thing into the car in years.

And since it pay for everything by card my online banking arranges all my fuel purchases into my financial planner.

TanG411 · 21-01-2012 01:25PM

I wait for my receipt, the cent is a bonus.

P. Breathnach · 21-01-2012 01:40PM

There is more to life than worrying about a filling station being particular down to the last cent.

If I switch my supplier because he wants to four cents on a fill coming to €60.04, I might be asked for €63.00 for the same amount of fuel at the next station.

dxhound2005 · 21-01-2012 04:43PM

keithclancy wrote: »

How about you just fill the car and pay with card.

I haven't tried this getting a round number thing into the car in years.

And since it pay for everything by card my online banking arranges all my fuel purchases into my financial planner.

Yes of course. I should have been more specific, my solution applies only to people who have to or choose to pay by cash.

MyKeyG · 21-01-2012 04:53PM

RoboRat wrote: »

I filled my car up in my local garage, I used them all the time and it came to €80.02 and I gave the checkout assistant 100 - she gave me back €19.98, although this is technically right it was extremely petty. I gave them another chance but this time it was €70.01, again they gave me back €9.99 from the €80. Needless to say I don't use them anymore and never will again.

I agree we're talking about goodwill and not making a monetary issue. I too would be inclined to favour a business that didn't fuss over a few cents if it meant I didn't have to walk out the door pockets rattling.

itsyuranan · 21-01-2012 04:59PM

Always do. Even if I paid the correct amount.

TanG411 · 21-01-2012 06:40PM

itsyuranan wrote: »

Always do. Even if I paid the correct amount.

RoboRat · 21-01-2012 08:21PM

I still think this has to be a piss take! You'd giving out because your charged for something you've used it may onlt be 1/2 cent but you still used it. Just because anyone other garage you've gone to have let you off (something i find highly unlikely) why should this one?

Unlikely? Do you actually drive? Every other garage I have used wouldn't dream of doing that. I started a thread in the motors forum and there are a lot of people who agree with me (a lot who don't too, but I'm not alone!)

Id feel sorry for some one whos so thight with money that they have to worry about (a) Not getting a cent back and (b) having to pay an extra cent

Listin, dont feal sorry for me, ill get buy.

How am I tight, did you actually read my posts? I have already said that I'm not tight fisted and I dont care about cents etc.

How about you just fill the car and pay with card.

I do 90% of the time and I don't give a fiddlers if they add it on then, I actually expect it.

I have a solution for the pumps that constantly slip 2 or 4 cents over. Instead of trying to squeeze in the last few cents to make an even amount just stop at €19.80, €49.94 or whatever.

Or just go to another garage that's not as petty... they're very easy to find!

MyKeyG · 21-01-2012 08:28PM

RoboRat wrote: »

How am I tight, did you actually read my posts? I have already said that I'm not tight fisted and I dont care about cents etc.

That's boards for ya. People see what they want to see. I agree with you completely. Taking €30.01 out of a €50 note is pointless, inconvenient and completely petty. I hate when businesses do it.

lala88 · 21-01-2012 09:30PM

RoboRat wrote: »

Unlikely? Do you actually drive? Every other garage I have used wouldn't dream of doing that. I started a thread in the motors forum and there are a lot of people who agree with me (a lot who don't too, but I'm not alone!)

Listin, dont feal sorry for me, ill get buy.

How am I tight, did you actually read my posts? I have already said that I'm not tight fisted and I dont care about cents etc.

I do actually and alot more charge when you go over then when you dont. Yes i did read them your giving out about being charged a cent if thats not being tight then i dont know what is.

Again if you dont care about cents why are you going on a rant about it?

lala88 · 21-01-2012 09:37PM

MyKeyG wrote: »

That's boards for ya. People see what they want to see. I agree with you completely. Taking €30.01 out of a €50 note is pointless, inconvenient and completely petty. I hate when businesses do it.

How is it petty for a business to want money for something you've used? People may say now its only one cent next they'll want to be let off 5 cent then 10 cent and so on

MyKeyG · 21-01-2012 09:52PM

lala88 wrote: »

How is it petty for a business to want money for something you've used? People may say now its only one cent next they'll want to be let off 5 cent then 10 cent and so on

You're really not paying attention are you?
We're talking about choosing a business that does not fuss over 1 cent. Getting back €19.99 is a monumental pain in the hole therefore I would return to a garage that doesn't split hairs.
Besides you're quite incorrect when you say it's a charge for something that's been used. The machines aren't that accurate. No one can say that that cent of petrol went into your car. A good business will use it's discretion and not make a big deal over the cent and therefore not break your cash. There's nothing worse than walking around with a wallet full of shrapnel.

lala88 · 21-01-2012 10:38PM

MyKeyG wrote: »

You're really not paying attention are you?
We're talking about choosing a business that does not fuss over 1 cent. Getting back €19.99 is a monumental pain in the hole therefore I would return to a garage that doesn't split hairs.
Besides you're quite incorrect when you say it's a charge for something that's been used. The machines aren't that accurate. No one can say that that cent of petrol went into your car. A good business will use it's discretion and not make a big deal over the cent and therefore not break your cash. There's nothing worse than walking around with a wallet full of shrapnel.

Its a business there not there to let you off even if its a cent! If they were to let everyone off a cent it would all add up and could lose a nice bit at the end of the year. So why then should they let people off just because they dont like having change?

MyKeyG · 21-01-2012 10:50PM

lala88 wrote: »

So why then should they let people off just because they dont like having change?

Because many others do. My local shop does. And that my friend is the real smart business!!! That's what you don't seem to get. Let's say I'm a customer and you're the business man. You're asking if I'm really willing to go somewhere else over a cent. My question is are you really willing to lose business over one?

I would say the cents they let off are more than compensated for with the change they keep.

lala88 · 21-01-2012 11:10PM

MyKeyG wrote: »

Because many others do. My local shop does. And that my friend is the real smart business!!! That's what you don't seem to get. Let's say I'm a customer and you're the business man. You're asking if I'm really willing to go somewhere else over a cent. My question is are you really willing to lose business over one?

I would say the cents they let off are more than compensated for with the change they keep.

Just because other do that doesn't mean everywhere should! Thats there problem if they let people off but just because one place does it why should anothers feel they should have to aswell?

If it was your business you'd be fine with lets just say letting 200 people off a cent everyday? Thats €2 every day €14 every week and so on it would all add up at the end of the day

Do you wait for your cent?

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