Whining for ones

[aurelemsrealm]

This one actually happened a couple of weeks ago, but this is the first time I've been here in a while.

It's rush hour at the convenience store on a Friday evening. Both registers have lines several customers deep. One of the newer clerks is running the other register, so my attention is basically divided between both lines as I try to keep him going. On a side note, this guy has no ambition to take initiative, and such laziness grates on my nerves. No matter how many times I explain something to him, he still yells for help over what should be common sense. Anyway, it's also grocery day, so my irritation level is fairly high because I'd rather be stocking shelves, coolers and cleaning than dealing with customers at the register. I know that if I don't get groceries put away before I leave, they may well still be sitting there until I return to work Sunday morning. The only exception will be if the manager does Saturday morning paperwork rather than the assistant. So, I'm playing beat the clock.

A woman in the other line tells my coworker she wants her change in all ones. The change was $15-something. He gave me a blank look of uncertainty, so I knew he only had a small handful of ones. I told him to just do what he thought he could manage. He gave her five ones and a ten. She blurted out that it wasn't good enough.

My line was full already. She looked over at me. I told her don't bother because I don't have it, and I'm also not letting her butt into my line just to make change.

She started whining, "What am I supposed to do?"

I just shrugged indifferently, and kept ringing my customers up.

She continued whining about how unacceptable it was because she "needed all ones."

My response was that we're not the bank-o-matic, and that she should be glad she got a few extra ones at all. Furthermore, the rotten attitude cost her any snowball's chance in hell of getting extra ones unless she's willing to wait in line to make another purchase.

You see, I've been at my job long enough now that I pretty much don't give a damn about malcontent sucktomers. They simply don't phase me. In the end, she realized it was a losing battle, so she stomped off to pout about not getting her way. Meanwhile, the customers in my line laughed with me about her stupidity, and I closed my line to do other things when the customer tide finally ended.

[bainsidhe]

Not sure I agree with how you handled it, you came off as a bit rude, IMO. Yet you voiced the thoughts that go through every cashier's mind when dealing with customers who are convinced that stores should serve as a bank. I almost never have more than ten dollars worth of quarters in my drawer, and that's only if my change was just replenished. It really irks me when customers come up and ask if I can give them $5 in quarters or more often, sell them a roll. One woman actually tsked me and gave me a sideways look when I politely explained I didn't have that sort of change. "You know, <Competitor> is more generous" she tells me. How does that make us your friggin' bank?! Citizens Bank has their own branch in our store, stop asking the cashiers!

On the plus side, having those dammable dollar coins works in my favor. Someone will ask if they can get ten one-dollar bills and I simply explain I have the coins. Oh no, they can't possibly have that, they'll do without then.

[chainedbarista]

maybe not the best way, by what's ideal, but after being treated like a bank by so many who refuse to use a bank for that, i can relate.

a till has limited amounts of ones and fives; we can't give out these denominations in large amounts simply because some spoiled brat expects everyone to bow to their selfish needs. losing one spoiled jerk over not cashing them out as they think they should be is better than not being able to cash out a group of customers because that one person took what change there was to be had.

simple, really; if that person's need for small change is that great, they shouldn't have a problem going to a place that can accomodate them. if they can't manage, then the need wasn't so great after all.

(yes, my four years of dealing with those who wouldn't use their own sense to handle these problems of petty change at places that can take care of it has left me not feeling their pain one bit, but the pain of those who are forced to deal with their selfishness).

[Nyoibo]

I seem to remember that when I was trained we were told that you make the change out of the smallest number of notes and coins possible, if they want cash out it's in $50's or $20's, we're not a bank, there's a bank just down the road, we have to do the same thing to get change you do, piss off.

Although we weren't allowed to say the last bit.

[malmalthekiller]

I can understand your response if she was being rude about it. I'm sick of people complaining and bitching about change.

People constantly come up and ask for quarters, and I can't open my register without someone purchasing something, so they just glare at me and move on.

I've also had someone request all ones, and I had little left, and I tell them I won't give it to them. I don't have to give them their change how they want it, if it's going to inconvenience me, is how I see it.

[smileyeagle1021]

Oh, I feel your pain... I hate the people who get upset when I tell them I can't do change for $100... if you want to pay with a benjamin, more power to you... with the cost of hotel rooms that's not unreasonable... if you just walk up and say "I want 3 20s, 2 10s, 2 5s, and 10 1s" I will tell you to go to hell... I only have $400 in my drawer... that is all change, including reciepts for petty cash expenditures... there is no way in hell I'm giving away a quarter of my change to one person because they don't want to go to a bank.

[nomorecarts]

I have a better change situation than most, because i'm in a huge supercenter where my supervisors have change they can bring me, so I only need to keep enough to make it a few customers, but if I don't have it I don't have it. If it's not busy and you're nice and willing to wait(when the bank is closed) I'll be happy to call my supervisor to get it for you, and they'll be happy to give it to you.

I can't remember anyone freaking out on me about change though, since It's not uncommon for me to have 40+ 1s, and 10 or more 5s.

[Fungus]

For her to raise a scene like that when you guys were getting hammered is incredibly rude!

[Belari]

I once had a guy demand that I go in back and get into the safe to get him his change. I laughed in his face and asked why he thought a lowly cashier had access to the safe.

[Primer]

I used to work nights and weekends at an animal hospital. There was an ATM at the bank next door, but otherwise NO access to change of any kind. I took to cashing my paycheck on Friday afternoon and asking the bank for small change just so I would be able to make change over the weekend. I still ask for small change at the bank when I go. If I do have to break big bills at the grocery store, I'll use the self-check machines.