1 penny change from shops

jrtfan

Hello, not sure if I'm putting this in the right forum.

I've noticed recently that it's become commonplace for corner-shops in my particular area to keep back any one pennies when they return change - ie if something costs £1.49 and I pay with a £2 coin, they'll often give me back 50p change and shut the till.

It's just set me off wondering about this. I know that sometimes, if something costs 11p for example, they'll say not to worry about the penny and just accept 10p for the item - that's their perogative. But do they have the perogative to choose whether or not to return the correct change to a customer?

Just curious! Would be interested to hear what other people think, thank you.

HappyMJ

jrtfan wrote: »

Hello, not sure if I'm putting this in the right forum.

I've noticed recently that it's become commonplace for corner-shops in my particular area to keep back any one pennies when they return change - ie if something costs £1.49 and I pay with a £2 coin, they'll often give me back 50p change and shut the till.

It's just set me off wondering about this. I know that sometimes, if something costs 11p for example, they'll say not to worry about the penny and just accept 10p for the item - that's their perogative. But do they have the perogative to choose whether or not to return the correct change to a customer?

Just curious! Would be interested to hear what other people think, thank you.

They can do what they like. If you don't it then pay £1.49 in exact change. There's no law that says they even have to give any change at all. Think about the buses that don't give change if you don't have the exact fare.

theoretica

In the US I have seen many shops that have a saucer for pennies on the counter - if you need a penny you take one out, if you are given one you don't want you put it in.

If I am buying something for 99p with a pound coin I usual say to put the penny into their charity pot, but if I paid a fiver and am being handed change anyway I will dump it all in my coin purse. I would expect to be offered the penny though. One of the points of 99p pricing is apparently to make sure the till is opened and change given rather than the person behind the counter pocketing the money - it isn't just because it looks less than £1!

Spendless

I've never had this happen to me. On the very very rare occasions that the cashier has not had the right change, they've told me this and I've either said it doesn't matter, or they have given me slightly too much change. I think after my initial surprise of somewhere doing this I'd say you owe me 51p and you've only given me 50p and see what their response is. If the view is taken that they don't have to give the odd penny back, I'd either pay by debit card if possible or always make sure a had a handful of loose change on me.

tibawo

The is a topic I am keen to follow as the odd1p is nothing but this year I have been putting them in a small coke bottle which is already half full" not counted them yet.

I do get annoyed when a shop assumes you don't mind. It is like when just because I am on the same committee as my mum people assume we will have the same opinion because we are family. They look shocked when we have a healthy debate and even more when it makes no dent in our relationship!

bexster1975

I agree with spendless

It's unacceptable that a shop doesn't need to give you the correct change. Buses, vending machines etc are different, and if signage says no change given I agree that's your problem. I'm not sure many people would shop in a store if its signage said exact change needed as we don't give change!

Bexster

gsymoo

I've never had this happen to me. I'm surprised that a store would allow it, as it would make it very easy to take from the till at the end of the day. You'd just need to keep track of roughly how many people you did it to then help yourself at the end of the day. It wouldn't show in the cashing up, as it would be money that would be given to the costumer.

I know if only 1p's but they'd at up quickly!

zaxdog

If this happened to me I would just calmly say "You appear to have given me the wrong change" whilst holding out my hand with the change given to me on it.

After all 1p or not it is my 1p :rotfl:

meritaten

I have never worked in any shop which would condone this. The customer is entitled to the correct change. if they do this to every customer they are (depending on how busy they are) making a tidy sum every month. and it ISNT their money!
the larger stores I have worked at like their tills to balance TO THE PENNY! and view any discrepancy suspiciously, especially if the amount is more than it should be.
If a cashier has a problem with running out of change providing it isn't a large sum I just usually tell them to keep it. normally the change is kept on or by the till and usually put in any charity boxes.

wondercollie

Canada no longer issues pennies.


Change is rounded up or down to the nearest 5 cents.

System

I expect to be paid my 1p. I'd stand there if it wasnt offered as well.

All the loose change in my house gets saved up and given to the charity we support a couple of times a year.