No, I won't take your pennies!

[BrenDAnn]

Tonight was aggravating, to say the least. I had a guy come in for some beer, and he had about 48 empty cans with him to turn in. As I took them from him, he stated "that's not even the worst part," and proceeded to pull out a baggie of pennies. He expected me to take $6 in loose pennies. *insert record scratch here* How about fuck no? This is a convenience store, and a teeny tiny one at that. Even if they were rolled, you'd have 12 rolls. I don't have the room for that many pennies either way. I took a dollar's worth, just to shut him up, because he stood there arguing how he was a regular and he had already counted the pennies. He grumbled as I counted out the $1, and said something about remembering this. Good luck, asshole. You're about three and a half sheets to the wind right now. Oh, and guess who came back later, magically with enough cash for a pack of smokes? Yeah. I was less than friendly with him, especially since he took it upon himself to "accidentally" drop the change he handed me. I understand being broke, and having to scrape by, but seriously, six fucking dollars in pennies? Take that to the bank in the morning!!

[gremcint]

you'd have to double check for your local area but I know there are laws here at least for how much you can spend in coinage. I think it was 26 cents for pennies. at least while we had them. basically gives you a bit more ammo to ditch the twits.

[CyberLurch]

Oh, I despise that nonsense. I, too, understand being broke, but if you're desperate enough to show up with a jar full o' loose change, you'll find I'm far more sympathetic if you spend it on food or gasoline, and not 'vice' products like alcohol or tobacco. And you'll also find I'm far more likely to help you if it's rolled and not just a big ol' pile that you dump on my counter. And yes, there is a limit to how much I'll accept.

I've been told frequently that I 'have to' accept it. Actually, no, I don't. I *MIGHT* accept a small amount as a courtesy, but mass coin is a bitch to deal with, especially during overnight shift, and I don't have the time. But the moment you try to 'force' me to accept it is the moment you're going to learn the truth of the matter, which is I don't *have* to deal with you AT ALL. That's the gist of that sign that says 'This store reserves the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason.'

You want to get rid of your bulk coin? There's a Coinstar down the block at the grocery. Yes, I know it charges a fee. And if I were inclined to accept $10 in nickels and pennies, I'd charge a fee, too. Trust me when I say you're better off at the Coinstar.

[Cai1987]

I had a family send in their little girl (probably about 8) to the truck stop where I worked to buy gas for them. She came up to the counter with a gallon Ziplock full of change. "My mom says she needs $17.46 on pump 3." My supervisor happened to be standing right there and just sighed.

[Roland]

I despise that stuff too. I had a guy ask for a pack of smokes and he said put the rest on pump 6.
I asked the rest of how much, and he dumps out a boatload of assorted change along with a few dollars in paper. I asked how much, and his answer, I don't know.I'm like wow. Really?
I must have been feeling charitable that day, because I counted it out. Turned out to be north of twenty dollars in coins.

Needless to say, that was the last time I took that much change.

[BrenDAnn]

The thing is, the town my particular C-Store is in, it seems everyone is payng-with-change broke by the end of every month. That's fine. What's not fine is what that dude tried last night, or any of the situations you guys have mentioned. Oh, and I only wish we had a Coinstar nearby. You'd probably have to drive to the bigger city to the south for that!

[Lace Neil Singer]

I once had a guy come into the petrol station with a grocery bag full of pennies. He dumped it on to the counter, said, "There's about ten quid there, what cigarettes will that buy?" and stood back expectantly. I told him that I wasn't allowed to take that many pennies and told him to go to the Coinstar. He whined but went. When he came back, having collected his money, the bag of pennies was actually worth, even with the fee taken off, closer to twenty than ten pounds.

[Racket_Man]

DAMN I am pulling out some old told before stories lately.

I see this shit all the time as a pizza delivery driver. Some brain dead moron is doing a Search and Destroy mission to find EVERY SINGLE LAST COIN THEY CAN FIND OR STEAL from the kiddies piggy bank, laundry money, change jar, couch money, pocket lint, outhouse, doghouse, etc. FOR A FRACKIN delivery pizza.

The best ones had been LARGE quantities of PENNIES.

The two that I remember are:
1. the customer who paid with a SUPER SIZED McDonalds cup of pennies (not mine but the story is true). Yes the GM at the time accepted this as payment (why I do not know).

2. a small half filled Zip-lock bag full of pennies (about $9 worth). YES I did make sure to count EVERY single penny while the customer stood there and bitched and moaned and complained that is was "taking soooooooooo long". Sorry BUT I WILL NOT pay for any of a customers order out of my own pocket.

More often than not the amount given to me is lower than the order total and they have to go on another S&D mission to find more money.

[Deserted]

I've been paid in coins before (although not recently, thank Gord) but I've already told the story that tops anything I've ever gotten.

[Trixie]

Had a guy pay with a dollar in pennies and they smelled so bad I had to wash my hands after the transaction. Had someone pay in $6 in nickels after the manager said we couldn't just cash it out for them.

But the topper for me was in the span of 2 hours had 3 people come in and pay with change. They warned me that they were going to do it but I didn't realize one about 15 bucks and the other 13 bucks. Then I had a kid come up and he bought about $8 worth of stuff. Needless to say that the registers didn't need any change for the rest of the evening.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Only time I was glad to get a ton of small change was when I was at the supermarket, and we had an issue with change. My till only had five ps and pennies in it. I had to tell every customer that I had no change before starting a transaction. One old lady said, "I have lots of change!" and paid for her shopping with a ton of small change. It took ages to count it all, but I was very grateful.

[Minflick]

I have been that person poking through the change purse upon hearing that the till needed something. My change purse ebbs and flows, and sometimes it's empty, but sometimes I swear I get a pound or two of money out of it!

[taxguykarl]

Only time I was glad to get a ton of small change was when I was at the supermarket, and we had an issue with change. My till only had five ps and pennies in it.

I did that at a dollar store once. I had about $10 in change at the time...the manager quipped about saving him a trip to the bank.
On another time I had so much change it was straining my pockets, I went to SCO (lighten up--I was the only one there) and fed that machine. It turned out to be $8 worth and my purchase was $15.

[wolfie]

but sometimes I swear I get a pound or two of money out of it!

Your flair says you're from California - wouldn't you get a dollar or two, rather than a pound or two, of change out of your purse?

[Sparklyturtle]

Back when I was a waitress I'd been working a lot of overtime so hadn't had a chance to go to the bank. The restaurant would trade our change and $1 bills for larger bills, but it had even gotten to the point where the cashier was up to her ears in quarters so no more exchanges. However, I needed to pay my rent, so I went to the manager's office and told her that I would pay her as soon as I got back from the bank. I told her I had the money, but it was in rolled quarters, tens, and twenties. She said, "I'll take the quarters - I need to go to the laundromat! Go ahead and bring your cash!" So I did. My rent was $140 for a tiny, very old travel trailer, so I paid her with $40 in rolled quarters, and the rest in tens and twenties. I liked living there - I was single with a sheltie, and I worked nights so I was a quiet tenant, and my dog was so quiet my closest neighbors were surprised to see that I even had a dog. Unfortunately the city eventually condemned the trailer, so I had to move out.