Who Was Suckier? Me or Her?

[iradney]

I wouldn't have made the customer leave the line to get change, then get back in line. I would have called the manager over to take the bill to the cash office to break it, then proceed with the transaction. Yes, you might have had a long line, but that would have been the best way to handle the situation imo.

I respectfully disagree.

That's a great way to handle it if the store is quiet and there are no queues.

However, the OP stated that from the second they opened, they were busy, so it's most likely safe to assume that there was a line behind the lady. Why, then, must the other customers be inconvenienced because of one person that didn't plan ahead?

[Phantomgrift]

Bad form on the customers part.
I've paid for small things with large bills on rare occasions, but I have the common courtesy to ask the cashier if they have enough to cover it. If they don't I either buy something larger or find an ATM.

[Primer]

Due to extenuating circumstances, my SIL is living with us, rent free. I've told her on numerous occasions that I don't want her money; she needs to keep it to pay for her personal and medical expenses. She still insists on passing me $500-600 on occasion, but it's all in hundreds that she gets from the credit union. I just wait till I have a large purchase, OR I'll go through a self checkout and feed it into the machine.

[draftermatt]

There has been the occasion or two that I have only had a $100 bill as the only cash in my wallet to pay for a small purchase. However, before the clerk has the opportunity to ring my purchase through, I always state up front that all I have is a $100 bill and can it be broken on a small order. If not, it's not suck on the clerk's part, I just use my debit card.

That's what I do too. I'll ask "Is it alright if I use a $50 or $100"

Simple and effective. Normally I have other monies I can use, but I want to break the big stuff.

[JLG]

Your were not sucky. You just opened and most tills are not set up with enough change to break a $50

On Sundays we get so many $100 bills to pay for a purchase less then $10
We have a change drawer up front put I can only give a couple of cashiers change for that $100

And on Sundays we also get SO MANY cash returns over $200 as soon as we open. We don't really have that much money in the cash office on Sundays. If these people would not do these things as soon as we opened everything would go much smoother. But all of these idiots are lined up waiting to get in and use those $100's and return that $399.99 rug that was paid in cash

[dbblsanta]

I respectfully disagree.

That's a great way to handle it if the store is quiet and there are no queues.

However, the OP stated that from the second they opened, they were busy, so it's most likely safe to assume that there was a line behind the lady. Why, then, must the other customers be inconvenienced because of one person that didn't plan ahead?

I guess it depends on the store. Where I work, there is always a supervisor on the front end for overrides, sending people on break, etc, and the cash office is right next to the registers. It would probably take less than 2 minutes to break a hundred by asking the manager. Yes, 2 minutes of standing around with a long line waiting will seem like an eternity, but in the end it is only 2 minutes.

The customer definately should have asked permission first though.

[kibbles]

While it's not fair to automatically assume it was a fake, being cautious and not breaking what you can't break is not sucky in the slightest.

[JustADude]

or find an ATM machine.

Sorry, Phantomgrift, but I have to say this:

ATM stands for Automated Teller Machine. Saying ATM Machine is like saying you're going to get a drink from the water-fountain fountain. Same thing with PIN Number (Personal Identification Number).

[Nashida]

You guys made me feel so much better. I mean, I felt bad mostly because she had to leave to go break it, but I really wouldn't have been able to make change correctly if she hadn't. And as far as asking the supervisor to break her bill for her, he'd probably say the same thing: we're not a bank.

Also, when I said people rarely pay with more than a $50, it's usually on smaller purchases. I'll typically see $100 bills if someones pays for a $200+ filter pump and they don't have a credit card/checkbook on them.

[Whyme]

In one of my first jobs as a cashier a guy bought a lightbulb. One lightbulb. He paid for it with a $100.00 and we had just opened. He complained the whole time we had to wait for money so we could give him his $98.11 in change. I STILL remember him and it's been over *mumble mumble* years.

[Evil Queen]

I don't understand why people even use $100 bills (unless it's for a really large purchase where smaller bills would be the bigger hassle) when we all know damn well they can be a serious pain in the butt.
When I'm at the bank and I'm asked if I would like my money in $100's I say no thank you. Why? Because they can rarely be broken.

I use $100 bills to pay for my rent. Why? Because it's a hastle to go to the bank and say "Hi, I need $400-$800 in small bills please!" They generally have a lot of hundres that rarely move so I just ask for hundreds.

Though the last time I was there I got $20 worth of dollar coins. I love those things.

[XCashier]

I use $100 bills to pay for my rent. Why? Because it's a hastle to go to the bank and say "Hi, I need $400-$800 in small bills please!" They generally have a lot of hundres that rarely move so I just ask for hundreds.

If you're paying for a large purchase (say, over $75) with a $100 bill, that's fine. Or paying rent with several hundreds, that's acceptable. Not a problem.

It's just the twits who buy a pack of gum and pay with a $100 that are irritating, especially if it's the first purchase of the day, because it cleans out your till. Then they complain about having so many small notes and too much change. Well, duh.

[aurelemsrealm]

I also love the ones who think that if they make a small token purchase, say a 30-cent pack of gum, that you're somehow obligated to make the sale or give them the change however they want it.

I had a woman one time who wanted to bust a $100 bill. I told her no, knowing that I had barely more than $100 total in my register. She threw a hoof-stamping hissy fit, grabbed a 30-cent pack of gum, threw it on the counter, and sneered, "Now you have no excuse!"

I just picked it up, and tossed it aside. "I don't need an excuse. I'm just not doing it. Get your change elsewhere."

I'd have been diplotmatic enough to explain to her that I didn't have that kind of change in my drawer, but her attitude made me feel as though I didn't owe her any sort of explanation. No was good enough for her.

[AriRashkae]

Back on the bill checking, I've actually had to explain to bank tellers how to spot a phony without a pen. (I used to be awesome at catching them. Haven't had any practice lately since I'm live-in now)

In addition to the watermark, strip (I've had to refuse bills because someone's friend thought it'd be "funny" to show how you could pull them out. ), red and blue fibers, color changing #, all the bills are embossed, not printed. Run your thumbnail over the president and check for ridges. Any bill but the most well-worn or washed should still have some ridge definition.

Also, Crane Paper (who makes the base paper for currency. ONe town over from me. ) makes awesome stationery. That is all.

[Enjis]

I suppose the only 'law' a SC would be able to use to back up them using a large bill for a small purchase would be the one about legal tender.
If the $100.00 bill is legal tender, a store has to take it.

Now, I know you CAN'T if you don't have change, but it IS legal tender, and getting upset about someone wanting to use it is a bit unfair.
I never liked it when that happened to me when ringing up someone, but I could not say anything if the person wanted to use a large bill. It was legal. Aggravating, but legal.

Of course, I was lucky that we usually had 'change fund' registers that we could go to to get more change when that happened. Smaller businesses did not, so I understand the pain.