BE BOLSHY! STOP SUPERMARKETS STEALING OUR CASH

Lopo

Until of course...one day, as the cashier you are in a scenario where you have honestly forgotten and a dispute occurs...

Or....another cashier does a dodgy transaction when they replace you for a break....perhaps even using your till sign on in unique circumstances...

Lots of things do happen...

I agree....the extra signature is not really legitimately required but the extra signature does serve a purpose and is an acknowledgement and more usefully a reminder of what was asked to take place moments ago....its worth keeping this simple step in place for the cashiers and customers sake.

From handing over means of often multiple payment methods (loyalty card, multiple vouchers, perhaps a cheque, 1 or maybe more debit card), counting then entering, then obtaining the signature(s) then manually depositting them all in the till and remembering to retrieve the cashback all the time while the customer may still be packing items away and dealing with kids and nerve grindingly annoyingly perhaps even be on the phone have forgotten about the cashback themselves...who really can blame anyone.  

Other than a big red light and siren going off - perhaps even electric shock treatment to the cashier whenever a cashback transaction takes place ... The fault lies with no-one.   Its called being human!!!  

Besides...if there were a better solution...electronic or manual then it surely would have been put in place by now!    If your going to treat the supermarket with bank like withdrawal facilities then remember to walk out with it like you would in a bank!!  

Live with it people....please!!!

Lopo

ps. JB...we seem to be circling each other, or we're just vultures swooping in on the same posts!!

bennylugs

You sign the receipt to authorise the supermarket to debit your card £100, that is £50 for goods & £50 cashback. You initial the slip to say you have received the cashback.You can't do that if it hasn't been given to you!!!

paulie

LOPO, they only started doing cashback 5/6yrs ago didnt they? So if you did cashback then it wasnt that long ago (reffering to your comment 'in my younger days) Since then, there is a big red reminder at the end of the transaction that appears on the screen saying 'customer requires xxxx cashback. And you cant compare the supermarket to a bank, you go to a bank specifiaclly for money matters, you go to the supermarket for a bit of everyhting, groceries, clothes, ect and now they are offering cashback. It really is up to the cashiers to stay on top of things and give out the cashback. Maybe some people becoming a cashier thinking its easy and to most it is, most people I work with have degrees. But you need to be on the ball and have good customer service. I have forgotten cashback and I take full responsibilty and if that means I get a rollicking then I take that on board and hopefully I'll be more alert the next time.
Like you said customers may have a million things on there mind, kids to deal with, its oftent the end of the day, they are tired, its the last thing they want to do (come grocery shopping). I however am being paid to be alert and offer a service. For which they have already signed.

You may get dodgy staff anywhere but they always get caught and we do have our own passwords when signing on which nobody else knows. I am honest, I will not ever have anything to fear like that.

I still say No to signing twice for one transaction.

Paula x

MMMIARMW_II

When chip'n'pin comes into full effect from Jan 05, customers won't have anything to sign! So much of this discussion becomes academic, better to consider what will happen under the new system.  (Surely cashiers initalling recipt, as they get the cash out of the till, indicating cashback has been given??)

paulie

Chip and pin, now theres another topic, customers are not happy about ::)

Paula x

16011996

very true, my 8 year old read my number out as i typed it in the other day. and the machines aren't hidden enough for my liking.

Lopo

Aaarrgghhh...!    >:(

PAULIE, they offered cashback before 5/6 years, its closer to 10years ago, I know this from when I started working for a supermarket, after 1.5 years from when I joined became a part-time supervisor and the store was used as a pilot for cashback trials and although deemed successful the process was prone to people taking advantage just the same way then to present day (allowing for chip & pin of course).  It remains in its present form today.  The only drastic noticeable change in the whole process is that "some" retailers/banks have the cashback visible as 2 tranactions or clearly labelled as cashback when checked against statements.   From the trials, findings  indicated the need for the 2nd signature reduced the forgetfulness with both parties, ther is no harm done with this - it simply helps. Fine there are flashy red lights to remind the cashier, they can be unintentionally ignored would you not say??

I agree with you as I indicated in my previous post...

I agree....the extra signature is not really legitimately required but...

yes there is an obvious responsibility with the cashier...and people are only human and liable to forget....the process is flawed at the human level element...if the cashier genuinely forgets, and so does the customer...then the customer is marginally greater in the wrong I would say.....YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN YOUR MONEY !!!  !   Which is pretty daft, but naturally happens!!   This is why the 2nd signature is regarded as a gentle poke in the brain as a gentle reminder to the customer and cashier that a cashback has been requested!! !  Thats all in its simplicity.  A reminder and a touch on security!  I know the 2nd sig is not officially required!!!

The comparrison with a bank is valid, you are getting money of your accounts ?   How is that different when you go to the bank to get money out?   Do you go to a bank and sign and run off ?  Of course not...

I know its not easy being a cashier as I've been there and done it myself for 10 years part-time while studying for my A-levels and then degree and also while I was then working fulltime (2 jobs!!).  I assure you, I was "on the ball"  as you put it, no less than you I imagine as you clearly have pride in your role,  so did I, enjoyed it very much as it served me well and had a great time.  I have forgotten to give cashback a few times over the years and even receive it when shopping and have understandably had to put up with the consequences....but it happens, allow for it!

Wish everyone would live and get on with each other please!!  ...the 2nd signature does help the process... no need to encourage "bolshyness" as its the last thing we need these days...

(This topic has dragged....)

I still say Yes and who cares to signing twice for one transaction.

andyspencerj

Folks - can we keep this one on supermarket cashback (don't mind disagreement, but let's keep this one on topic - the supermarkets may be coming here to read this!)

andyspencerj

Folks - can we keep this one on supermarket cashback (don't mind disagreement, but let's keep this one on topic - the supermarkets may be coming here to read this!)

Funny you should say that - yes i do work for a supermarket! We have always had problems with cashback in the past and in the past few days some customers have actually quoted this website as part of their argument - woohoooo you're famous!

Althought i cant speak for all supermarkets, i can only speak for the one i work at - Marks and Spencer, and more specifically the branch i work at.

At our store we have had customers, whom after asking for cashback swear on the holy bible that they didnt - a lot of our old dear customers are religious. So in response to cashiers being called thiefs and made to look stupid, i tell all my cashiers to ask the customer to initial the cash back when they are signing for the sale to say that they have ASKED for cashback, not recieved it , but asked for it. Then once that part of the reciept has been put in the till, i.e. the one with the signatures on, the cashiers reach out the cashback, give it to the customer, then the cashiers put THEIR initials on the reciept that the customer takes home. Just to clarify, we ask the customers to initial that they have ASKED for cashback, we give it to then, then WE sign to say that we have give it to then, so if a customer says that they havent recieved it, regardless of if they have signed or not we will know if they have. Plus the fact that the cashiers have to sign prompts them to give it out.

Just to add we had a 'gentleman' in store who refused to sign for cashback- in the past someone refused to sign, we gave them the money then they said - sign for what cashback!! - so if people refuse to initial we dont give them the cashback! And yes you can quote that my store does that!

Robert_Sterling_3

OMG!  
 Whereas payments by debit cards only incur a per transaction charge for them.

This is exactly why they do not want you to take small amounts of cash back like £5
The deal is this:-
You want some cash back ... at no cost to you.
They want to reduce the amount of cash in the till which would otherwise have to be banked.
They have a transaction cost to pay.
In their opinion it is worth it to them when you extract money above a certain minimum amount.
£5 is below their minimum amount.

The more substantial matter is this.
Should you sign for the money before you get it? NO
Should they give you the money before you sign for it? NO