A Smashed Lollipop

[Shaman]

Back Story: Small store, lots of big bills so low on change (Ones, Fives, and Tens)

A man in business casual came in and wanted change for a $20. He didn't want to buy anything, but whatever I decided to check. So I checked the register and found that there is only 22 ones 1 ten and 1 five. So I saw that there isn't enough change to give him and cater to my other customers (I'd have to give them dimes). He got irritated and then I explained to him that there isn't enough change and unless he purchased something and I wasn't compelled to give him change. I was nice, smiling, and told him how you wouldn't go to a Walmart and ask for change for the $20.

Then he took a lollipop and smashed it against the table and said
"Fine give me change now."

Scratched the table and broke a piece of the lollipop. Some customers were thankfully there and one of them came over to defuse the situation (I was managing the place alone). The good Samaritan helped defuse the situation. I told him that I didn't feel safe. I was shaking afterwards and kind of slightly cried a little near another customer.

It was truly scary and if it weren't for the other customers I don't know what I would have happened.

He apologetic after the lolli-smash and but still maintained that I shouldn't have counted the ones and then refused him. I gave him $19.50 and he left. He was saying, "I come here all the time" and "Now I don't want to come here" To which I replied "That's fine, Please leave"

Low and behold I was stuck giving dimes to several other customers.

How do u guys deal with giving change and big bills?

[EricKei]

I'm not sure you're ever "compelled" to take anyone's business, but your local laws may vary. Check with the higher-ups at your store. Also, ask them if they have a policy (that they actually intend to follow) regarding this sort of thing. Also, they shouldn't have left you in the store all alone -- with someone else, present, they could have sent another manager to where that guy should have gone in the first place: a bank. Making change for needlessly large bills isn't your company's job. I guess you're just lucky he didn't have a hundred.

Again, check with the brass first but, maybe they'll allow you to refuse to break bills like this if it means giving out more than like $5 in change...? When it comes down to it, making change when you really cannot afford to makes this one guy happy...er, less annoyed, but it ticks off everybody else. It's not your fault, it's his.

[wolfie]

When it comes down to it, making change when you really cannot afford to makes this one guy happy...er, less annoyed, but it ticks off everybody else. It's not your fault, it's his.

Especially when the person you're making less annoyed just wants to break a bill (i.e. they're not BUYING anything, so the store isn't making any money off them) and the people who get ticked off are actual customers who have BOUGHT stuff.

[AnaKhouri]

If I have it, I will break a bill; if I don't, too bad. There's a bank across the street.

We can usually get more change if we need it, so sometimes if people buy a $2 item with a hundred dollar bill first thing in the morning, I get pleasure out of giving them $50 in ones for change while they gripe about how much space all those ones will take up in their wallet. Hey, on the bright side, people will now think you're a stripper when you pay for stuff!

I did refuse a sale one time on the basis of not having enough change; the main store had opened up a kiosk in the mall to sell purses over Christmas, and the money we took over there was what we had for the day. One woman wanted to buy a coin purse with $100 bill as soon as we opened. I flat out told her I couldn't change a hundred and I'd hold it if she wanted to come back after she got smaller bills. She never came back. Oh, well.

[Mr Hero]

Alternate title for the thread: Candy Crush Saga

[greyblade23]

Why not give Mr. Break-my-twenty the dimes? When I worked at a convenience store, that was more satisfying than handing out lots of ones. Even better if I warned them ahead of time and they got pissy when they got their change.

[drjonah]

Aaaah yes, my least favorite holiday 'Everybody pay with a $20 day'.

At my store, if we start to blow through change like confetti, I've put up a polite sign at the register asking for ones, fives, tens, whatever. Most of my customers are happy to help. Of course we still get the ones who look right at the sign and still pay for their $1 item with a $20 with a smirk on their face followed by 'That's all I have hehehehehehe'

And then there are the ones who just can't grasp the concept of why we don't have unlimited cash flow like Awful-mart does. I mean after all, they have a petty cash fund of $20,000, so that must mean EVERYBODY does.

[TheSHAD0W]

He deliberately damaged product he didn't already own, even if he was trying to make you change his bill; that's criminal mischief, or something similar.

[XCashier]

I'm not sure you're ever "compelled" to take anyone's business, but your local laws may vary. Check with the higher-ups at your store. Also, ask them if they have a policy (that they actually intend to follow) regarding this sort of thing. Also, they shouldn't have left you in the store all alone -- with someone else, present, they could have sent another manager to where that guy should have gone in the first place: a bank.

Eric's right; your company likely has some sort of policy for transactions such as these. Definitely ask the management what to do next time.

Making change for needlessly large bills isn't your company's job. I guess you're just lucky he didn't have a hundred.

I hate those jerks with the fire of a thousand suns. Why the hell don't they ever go to a BANK -- you know, where they actually do have tons of money to circulate -- and break their big bill there? Nooooo, they have to go to some retail store (bonus points if they've just opened for the day) and harangue the cashier for not having enough money in the till to give change.

[RealUnimportant]

Every day this week one of my first customers has had a £50 & only needed a cheap ticket. Once a month is more normal... My float has been struggling enough with all the £20s-for-a-£5-spend, without this on top! I can usually keep a dozen fivers in the till, I've been down to one or two more often than ever before, and I've been a till jockey on & off for 25 years now!

[eltf177]

I agree with TheSHADOW, this guy should have been given the heave-ho!

[Gaki]

I still tell the story of the time I gave a rude-ass guy 98 dollars in just ones.

It's the most satisfying thing in the world.

At the store I'm in now, we're only allowed to have 100 dollars in the drawer at a time but very frequently we have quite a bit so usually breaking stuff isn't a problem but we have a very limited amount of change as a "back up" and when it's gone, it's gone.

I have people coming up trying to break 20s when I have the sign out that says I'm desperate for ones and fives. Like...no dude. I'm not gonna do it. I've got one five and ten ones and no tens. I can't do it. And of course the look on their face when you say "you want quarters?" is like if you asked Dracula if he wanted a nice toasty piece of garlic bread.

[XCashier]

I still tell the story of the time I gave a rude-ass guy 98 dollars in just ones.

It's the most satisfying thing in the world.

Would be even better if you were in Canada: their ones are coins. Imagine one of these jerks having to walk away, their pockets loaded down with $98 in loonies and twoonies...

[Gaki]

Would be even better if you were in Canada: their ones are coins. Imagine one of these jerks having to walk away, their pockets loaded down with $98 in loonies and twoonies...

That is the best mental image.

[manybellsdown]

I hate those jerks with the fire of a thousand suns. Why the hell don't they ever go to a BANK -- you know, where they actually do have tons of money to circulate -- and break their big bill there?

I was refused at a bank once, trying to get change for the $100 my ex always insisted on giving me for child support. They said they "didn't have the money" to make change for non-customers.

Then they asked if I wanted to open an account. I'm like, no thanks, I prefer to do my banking where they actually have money.