In some stores, the cashier doesn’t even give you the change (except for the bills). Instead they use an automated coin dispenser.
They’re putting a piece of garbage in the middle of two valuable things, so you have to fish it out before throwing it away.
In a casino, for example (IANAG), the dealer is very particular about handling cards and chips to make sure the transaction is absolutely above reproach. However, in a purchase, declining to put money in someone’s hand can be a subtle snub, like, “I’ll pay you but you’re just a lowly cashier that I won’t deign to touch.” It’s not anything official, just my own observation from living my entire life here.
Yeah, it’s totally cultural. I understand that in many places, particularly Asia, they put the money on the counter or on a little tray so they don’t touch your hand. They certainly do that in Thai restaurants here, I’ve noticed. If you do that in America some people will think you think their hands are gross or something.
The put the bills first in your hand then the coins on top of the bills. Why? Because the cashier doesn’t know where your hand has been and they don’t want to touch your hand. 
This was how I was taught to count change back. When you opened the drawer, you counted to yourself as you took it out, .03 makes 8.75, quarter makes 9.00, dollar makes 10, then you counted it back to the customer the same way, starting at the lowest coin up the the biggest bill.
Nowdays thats hardly taught anymore, its all what the register says and they just grab it and hand it to you.
What is really sad, my wife and I recently went to eat lunch at a Dairy Queen, our order was $16.58 or something. I handed the girl a $20, she hits the button and opens the register and then says “uh-oh”. I’m wondering what is wrong, she turns around and calls the manager over to her and tells him “I forgot to punch in what he gave me (holding the twenty up to the manager) will that mess me up?” He tells her no, her draw will still be correct, just give me my change. She stands there a minute and says “How do I know how much to give him?” The manger gets this funny look on his face and stands there a second. Now I am thinking he is about to get on her for not remembering how to count change… Oh no, he is stumped too! He finally gets a napkin and a pen to calculate my change!!!:rolleyes:
So far, I see no explanation from a current cashier.
You’ve seen plenty from people who have worked as cashiers within the last decade. Like me. We were never taught how to make change in our heads and if it’s 10.73, we give you a ten and then 73 cents. Not rocket science.
I hate this too - invariably I drop the coins as they slip right off the bills. Now before the cashier hands any change back, I quickly hold out my fingers scissor-style with the palm facing to the side (just like playing rock-paper-scissors). Then I can put the bills away, count them, or stick out my other hand and take the coins. The cashier has to wait and can’t pile coins on top of my hand.
Zsofia- handing me 73 cents, then a ten ain’t rocket science either.
But that isn’t how people tend to read numbers.
What is dirtier than money? There’s a much higher chance that the money is unclean than that a washable hand is.
I want the coins first so I can put them away before dealing with the bills. So if they try to put the bills in my hand, I move my hand on top of the proffered bills and ask for the coins first.
I agree that most people can’t count up - it’s a rare enough occurrance that I remember the times it happens.
The easiest way is for the coins to drop down from the change-maker. It’s stupid-making but easier for the customer.
I once got wrong change from a young girl who had to ask her neighboring cashier how much change to give me because her till had malfunctioned, and when I pointed her error out to her, she said, and this is a direct quote, “I’ve never been good at algebra.”
Is there any hope for us?
Receipts are garbage? What if you need to return an item?
I put receipts in the wallet with currency, so laid atop the bills in my hand (or the other way round) is exactly how I want them.
Can you please give an example? It’s quite possible that the prices might be wrong, but in my experience, these machines are very good at adding up whatever numbers they have, and figuring the tax, and calculating the change.
**california jobcase **- the above is definitely the case for me. The method you seem to prefer is the opposite of what I prefer. So, no matter what, someone’s not gonna be happy.
Re: cashiers putting money on the counter vs. touching your hand… in Poland there is almost never a direct skin-to-skin $$ transaction. Almost every establishment (bar, corner kiosk, grocery store, etc.) has a little scoopy-looking tray for the money to go. It never made much sense to me: my hand is too dirty to touch, but the money that was just in my grubby fist is OK? But I was told it was considered rude to just hand over your dough instead of putting it in the tray.
I’m amazed by all the theories on this, and clearly there’s no one right answer.
When I was a cashier (15 years ago in college), it seemed like the only way to do it. I was not trained in a particular method, and I have no problem doing logarithms in my head, let alone making change. I just can’t conceive of anything but bills first, coins on top.
When you put the coins on top of the bills, the customer either:
- stuffs coins and bills in their pocket together
- lets the coins slide easily off the bills into their purse/pocket, etc., then folds the bills up to put away.
And receipts? I asked them what to do while they’re putting their change away - either give it to them when they’re ready, or put it in the bag.
2b)Let coins slide off bills as you try to grab everything. Coins scatter across counter or floor or even worse, between your car and the drive through window.
I’m surprised that “coins last” has become the dominant means here in America. I’m doubly surprised that anyone can defend “coins last” as a preferable means of giving change.
As noted by everyone, you give out bills (and sometimes receipts) first, then coins on top, you’re going to spill change.
It’s a silly way of doing business.
Personally I have no trouble handling bills, a receipt, and a few coins in my hand all at once. Maybe it’s just my big hands.
But if if I did have trouble, I’d withdraw my hand before receiving the coins, and put the other stuff away, and then extend it again for the coins. If I just stand there with my hand out, it’s not an unreasonable assumption on the cashier’s part that I’m ready to take the coins as well.