Retail Staff Copping an Attitude. Was I in The Wrong?

Tejas57 on 18/01/2019 - 22:38

This happened this morning and i'd be interested if i you think i was in the wrong or not..

I finished work at 2am and got in my car where i keep my phone (I'm not allowed to keep it at work due to the nature of the work i do) and there was a message from my wife, asking me to pick some milk up for my 3 year old as she will need it for her 3am wakeup. No worries, this is something i have done multiple times.

It was also payday and i'd already been to the ATM and got my pay out (i'm an old school cash guy)

I stop at the 7/11 near work and grab a litre of milk, a meat pie and a coke (ie.. milk and dinner). I hand the cashier a $50 note as it was all i had. the purchase came to around $13.

The cashier proceeds to huff and puff, then proceeds to ask if i had anything smaller. When i told him i didn't, but if it was an issue he can give me back the $50 and i'll go elsewhere he snapped at me that "it's 2am and i should not be giving him a $50 but he will look after me this time"

Now, i understand it could be an issue, especially at that time, but he's less than 700m from a major office building running 24/7, as well as being in the CBD. I told this story to some people when i arrived at work tonight and to say they were not surprised is an understatement. A number of people i spoke to have told me they have also had issues with this cashier complaining even with a $20. however, i'm thinking… am i the arse for going in with a $50, is he cashier the arse for giving me grief, or is it shared?

Food & Grocery

Related Stores

7-Eleven
7-Eleven

Comments

    • Donaldhump on 18/01/2019 - 23:46
      +5

      I can’t wait to do this

    • scatman00 on 18/01/2019 - 23:47
      +1

      Do you also accept the change they give from a $25 note?

      • pegaxs on 18/01/2019 - 23:49

        It’s still a $50 note… it’s just “smaller” not lesser in value. So, no, I would not accept change as it it were a $25 note.

    • [Deactivated] on 21/01/2019 - 13:41

      They then proceed to ask you 7 more times haha.

  • spackbace on 19/01/2019 - 00:09
    +9

    Thank you, come again!

    • [Deactivated] on 19/01/2019 - 11:40
      -1

      That's now racist.

      Shame on you.

      (I didn't neg you. You probably know I have the least Fs to give for snowflaky sh!t)

  • leiiv on 19/01/2019 - 00:38
    +13

    Unrelated to the bad cashier attitude, I can’t understand the “old school cash guy” part. You use the card to withdraw money from ATM and use that to pay 7/11 store. Why not save the trouble of going to the ATM and just use the card at the store?? It is 7/11, they even accept AMEX.

    • Tejas57 on 19/01/2019 - 01:08
      +6

      i do it for budgeting - i find if i have cash i'm more reluctant to spend than if i use the card

      • payton on 19/01/2019 - 01:32
        -1

        I have OCD
        please grab a handful of coins, rub it in your hands then give it a whiff
        I absolutely loathe that someone else's metallic & sweat smell, and the thought of that smell lingering in my wallet, pants pocket, backpack, car coin tray and anything else I touch for the remainder of the day.
        shivers
        I lied, it only lasted till I wash my hands right after :P

        • pegaxs on 19/01/2019 - 08:21
          +1

          And that’s not OCD. Maybe a phobia of coins (Cupreolaminophobia) and/or germs (Mysophobia), but it’s hardly OCD.

          • A fish on 20/01/2019 - 16:29

            @pegaxs: I think it's actually called baby brain syndrome

        • Donaldhump on 20/01/2019 - 19:53
          +1

          How do you go With putting your ass cheeks on a rim of plastic where other ass cheeks have expelled **** at rapid rates, and the door handles with poop all over them.

      • tranter on 19/01/2019 - 10:33
        +7

        It's easier budgeting with the card because you can instantly see a record of where your money goes!

        • humdingaling on 19/01/2019 - 15:29
          +1

          i see its more to control spending

          take out 200 for the week…that's all you get to spend
          you do not have that level of control on cards

          • try2bhelpful on 19/01/2019 - 15:36
            +6

            @humdingaling: You do if you use a debit card, and only have $200 in it at any given time.

            • Miss B on 19/01/2019 - 18:24
              -1

              @try2bhelpful: I use my bank accounts to budget with 3 different banks. I have 5 accounts with NAB, 2 with ING and 2 with Ubank (only use one, the other is for bonus interest). It might sound weird, but most of it I transfer at the start of the fortnight to the account it needs to be in. My spending money is the exception, I like having to regularly check how much I have so I transfer it across in smaller amounts.

              • try2bhelpful on 20/01/2019 - 08:02

                @Miss B: I do a similar juggle of accounts to maintain interest rates. You might also want to look at Rams, although you can’t withdraw money without losing interest value.

          • highdealer on 20/01/2019 - 04:08
            +2

            @humdingaling: Yes you do, make a saving account and everyday account, at the start of each week put money in so you have $200 in the everyday account. Exactly the same thing no difference. If you have weak mentality then you have weak mentality.

          • [Deactivated] on 20/01/2019 - 05:13
            +1

            @humdingaling: I do something like this, but I usually only get small amounts out at a time, like got $30 out yesterday.
            Then I kind of pretend (think to myself) as if I'm broke and that's my only money.
            There is no reason why I should need $50 or more 'walking round money' , for most of the time.
            Maybe if I was going out for big night out or something, I would take out more.
            The rest just stays in the bank, out of sight, out of mind .

      • JungliChilli on 19/01/2019 - 15:53

        Agreed I do the same. It jsut seems more tangible than using a card.

    • Krankite on 21/01/2019 - 11:54

      Don't know OPs reason but using cash is a good way to limit your spending if you have trouble sticking to a budget.

  • Tech5 on 19/01/2019 - 00:44
    +3

    Cashier is a (profanity) and hates their job. I don't know what else they would be doing at 2am? Not like you went in at a particularly busy time either

  • payton on 19/01/2019 - 01:07
    +1

    When i told him i didn't, but if it was an issue he can give me back the $50 and i'll go elsewhere. Cashier was prob as tired as you and just wanted the day over with.

    Shoulda stopped at "i didn't" and not saying anything about going somewhere etc
    Bank account with no monthly fee & free debit card are everywhere, why don't people get one, put $50-$100 in it. Do all your small spends on it. Makes your home accounting easy.
    Cleaner, simpler than handling (and keeping) coins and notes

    • spackbace on 19/01/2019 - 01:39
      +7

      Next minute:
      "Went into 7/11 store at 2am with wallet full of cash. Got held up at knife point. Who to complain to?"

      Seriously who wants to have a few hundred in the wallet at 2am? Fk that

      • ozbjunkie on 19/01/2019 - 09:30
        +3

        I'd agree except I've been robbed at knifepoint by three iceheads and after they got a hold of the 100s of dollars I unfortunately happened to be carrying they were so overjoyed they forgot to bash me and stab me.

        Nothing tussles a muggers jimmies like their victim having absolutely nothing to steal.

        • ely on 19/01/2019 - 17:37
          +3

          +2 for using the phrase "tussles a muggers jimmies", -1 for not using an appropriate apostrophe, +1 overall.

          • ozbjunkie on 21/01/2019 - 18:01

            @ely: Ouch. I'm usually so good with my apostrophes. Must be the relived trauma of the whole ordeal.

            • ely on 21/01/2019 - 18:08
              +1

              @ozbjunkie: Happens to me too. Every time you tussle a mugger's jimmies you get a free pass on apostrophe abuse though. ;)

      • chumlee on 19/01/2019 - 09:58

        Low level drug dealers

      • Entropy Sky on 19/01/2019 - 13:46

        Insurance.

  • [Deactivated] on 19/01/2019 - 02:48
    +2

    am i the arse for going in with a $50,

    No, sounds like you didn't know it would be a problem

    is he cashier the arse for giving me grief, or is it shared?

    No. Think about their job…. Working for probably minimum wage, with horrible bosses taking advantage of them, then on top of that they are at such a great risk, especially if everyone paid in large bills and they had to keep sufficient change on hand for that.
    I often tell them, "I wouldn't want your job" , especially friday Saturdays late at night, in dodgy areas.

    Maybe just next time you get cash out like this to shop late night at servos, make it $520 or $620 or $540 etc, any amount that will include a $20 note when withdrawing from machine.

    • Stoz on 21/01/2019 - 13:21
      +1

      Amounts ending in $30 or $80 (eg $480, $530 etc) will get you the most $20 notes (4 of them).

  • JIMB0 on 19/01/2019 - 08:13
    +4

    Next time take a $100 note and buy a pack of gum.

    • pegaxs on 19/01/2019 - 08:34
      +8

      There is a fuel station in town where I live that has a bad attitude cashier and there is a sign in there that says “No $100 notes accepted”… so I go in there, put $50.06 worth of fuel in my car and pay with 2 x $50 notes.

      I just bathe in the outrage…

      • [Deactivated] on 19/01/2019 - 09:27
        +1

        Where do you even get$100 bills anyway
        I ain't seen one in many years,
        Even$50 are becoming rare to me machines all churning out$20 bills

        • Tejas57 on 19/01/2019 - 12:09
          +3

          the only time i see them now is in the casino

        • JungliChilli on 19/01/2019 - 15:54

          Atm spits it out at times.

        • Soluble on 20/01/2019 - 08:14

          Plenty of people carry hundreds, my local CBA ATM even gives $100 notes.

      • JIMB0 on 19/01/2019 - 16:24
        +3

        Should have put in $50.07 and got 2c rounded off.

        • pegaxs on 19/01/2019 - 18:42

          You are the bargain hunter of myth and legend… :D

          Next time they are on and i need fuel… $xx.07 it shall be.

  • leiiv on 19/01/2019 - 11:42
    +1

    I think it really depends on the store. Some stores discourage the use of card so much (eg charging surcharge or imposing minimum spend) that they prefer us paying for $1.46 with $50 notes rather than with card.

  • OBEY YOUR MASTERS on 19/01/2019 - 12:26

    I'm thinking you must go to the shop a heck if a lot only buying 1L of milk at a time.

  • bobbified on 19/01/2019 - 14:00
    +6

    he can give me back the $50 and i'll go elsewhere

    I'm going to look at this the other way around and say that the cashier might've taken what OP said in the wrong way. The "threat" of taking business elsewhere usually comes out of the mouth of someone that's pissed off or has bad attitude.

    I think a response of sorry, that's the smallest note I've got might have helped.

    What the cashier said after that isn't right, but I think he was really responding to OP's attitude with some of his own.

    • JungliChilli on 19/01/2019 - 16:01

      Based on what op said, the cadier huff and puffed before what you've quoted.

      Op has all the right to be frustrated and say what he said. Also op did say 'if there is an issue', I don't see any attitude from the op really. And if there was any, it basically because of the cashier.

      What the cashier said after is plain ridiculous. Doesn't matter what time of the day it is, op should be able to pay with a $50 note. This is the. Most common note and registers should keep enough change which again is not ops problem.

      • whooah1979 on 19/01/2019 - 16:17
        +1

        We only have OP's version of the event. We've found 7/11 employees which are mostly Asians to be rather polite when servicing their customers.

        • try2bhelpful on 19/01/2019 - 16:24
          +1

          hmmm, "serving?";"servicing" tends to have a different connotation.

  • Okayy on 19/01/2019 - 14:15

    Is it a that big issue that you end up making a thread? Why don’t you just call feedback line?

  • RADICALIST on 19/01/2019 - 14:27

    Complain to the stores management or did you want someone from ozbargain to do it on your behalf?

  • Cletus vandamme on 19/01/2019 - 15:14

    I'm my opinion no your not in the wrong. Who are you too know about regulations or whatever they may have for security purposes. That is entirely up to the store to have systems in place to properly secure the cash. I would have done the same as you, the clerk didn't have to give you attitude as he was going to accept the money anyways.

  • endolphin on 19/01/2019 - 15:39
    +1

    Surely the moral of the story is that it is 2019 and this was a problem in 2009 (maybe), but oh so very easily avoided now. Bloody hell mate save yourself a lot of stress and ditch cash!

  • try2bhelpful on 19/01/2019 - 15:45
    +1

    Sounds like the OP should start a new thread. "Has the useby date of cash been reached for everyday transactions".

  • nikey2k27 on 19/01/2019 - 16:29
    +2

    Try bus with a $20 dollar note

  • ely on 19/01/2019 - 17:34

    Aussie ATMs are crazy always handing out $50 notes. It's a pain.

    OP is crazy, just use a card, credit if you have the discipline to use it appropriately, debit if not.

    Store is crazy, FFS, it's the most common note that ATMs spit out, deal with it.

  • anderstand on 19/01/2019 - 17:45
    +2

    Why is your child waking up at 3am?!
    Wrong focus

    • pegaxs on 19/01/2019 - 18:45
      +2

      This was the first thing I said to my wife as I was reading this… That alone needs its own thread…

    • ChemicalMan on 19/01/2019 - 21:54
      +2

      Exactly and why do they 'need' milk?

    • Tejas57 on 20/01/2019 - 00:26

      special needs child with feeding difficulties.

  • p1 ama on 19/01/2019 - 17:45
    -1

    Why is this an issue? Sometimes people are nice, sometimes people are rude. That's life. You got what you want, so I don't see the problem.

    • DiscoJango on 19/01/2019 - 18:47
      -1

      its an issue because its becoming more common for retailers to whinge about accepting perfectly legal tender (notes and coins) instead of the easy, no brain power required pay pass method.

      OP: the guy behind the counter at 7-11 is a moron. just keep going back every night with $50's and $100's. even buy a $1 slurpee with a $100, just stand and smile.

      • gromit on 19/01/2019 - 19:48
        +1

        The attitude of the employee might be wrong but the policy is perfectly fine. Hell if it was my business I would flat out refuse large notes at that time of night. Card or $20 max, it is simply an unnecessary risk to the business and employee.

      • Noctusxv8 on 19/01/2019 - 20:52

        According to the reserve bank of Australia (and the law)
        It is the Reserve Bank of Australia’s understanding that, although Australian currency has legal tender status, it does not necessarily have to be used in transactions and that refusal to accept payment in legal tender banknotes and coins is not unlawful.

      • p1 ama on 20/01/2019 - 01:27

        its an issue because its becoming more common for retailers to whinge about accepting perfectly legal tender (notes and coins) instead of the easy, no brain power required pay pass method.

        If you want to pay cash, go to a place that accepts cash.

        Many people misunderstand the law, businesses do not have to accept cash as a form of payment.

        • DiscoJango on 20/01/2019 - 08:30

          in these times you would have to be a ballsy business to deny cash payments.

          • p1 ama on 20/01/2019 - 11:29

            @DiscoJango: Well that's their choice. Just like it's yours to choose whether you want to use cash or card.

        • A fish on 20/01/2019 - 16:35

          What I'd the Slurpee is already in the cup

  • ShannonN on 19/01/2019 - 20:14
    +1

    Did someone say KFC?

  • [Deactivated] on 19/01/2019 - 20:23
    +3

    You're good, the cashier is an arse.

    Basically he could (and should) have handled it far more politely. "Sorry mate, for safety reasons we don't keep much change after midnight. I can only take a $20 note or you could use a card". That's how I'd treat somebody if I was the cashier. It's just common courtesy.

    So he's an arse. No matter what his reasons, or the time of day, or the franchise policy, none of that negates his poor behaviour. Cashier is a total arse.

    • highdealer on 20/01/2019 - 00:28

      When i told him i didn't, but if it was an issue he can give me back the $50 and i'll go elsewhere

      And this behaviour from the OP is 100% polite and common courtesy, the cashier come up as an arse but we only hear the OP side of the story. We don't know both side of the story, retail worker are people too. 100% of the time i am nice to them i get positive service back.

      You can't expect people to treat you nicely and with common courtesy if you don't do the same to them.

  • Noctusxv8 on 19/01/2019 - 20:49

    It is the Reserve Bank of Australia’s understanding that, although Australian currency has legal tender status, it does not necessarily have to be used in transactions and that refusal to accept payment in legal tender banknotes and coins is not unlawful.

  • ChemicalMan on 19/01/2019 - 21:57
    +8

    I'm an old school barter guy. I went into a 7/11 to exchange eggs my chickens laid for a meat pie and basically had the same experience.

    • DiscoJango on 19/01/2019 - 22:14
      +2

      i just offer sexual favours in exchange for goods. a wristie is good for 10 liters of 91 octane.

  • CalmLemons on 19/01/2019 - 21:59

    Overzealous employee. This is the kind of guy who would die for the store chasing down a shoplifter over a $2 item.

  • smpantsonfire on 19/01/2019 - 23:17
    +1

    This has got to be the worst thread on Ozbargain.

  • smpantsonfire on 19/01/2019 - 23:21
    +4

    Next one, thread about a 7/11 employee giving OP $40 in $2 pieces because the three people before him gave $50 and the cashier had no change.

  • Zonty on 19/01/2019 - 23:52

    I think guy is stupid, when he has eft card to withdraw money from bank at ATM, why he'll not use at 7 Eleven. Well I believe cashier was rude but, to avoid conflict could have use eft machine.

    • idonotknowwhy on 20/01/2019 - 00:10

      You don't always need to avoid conflict. If the majority are submissive, the aggressive minority will profit.

  • Never Pay RRP on 20/01/2019 - 00:27

    Make a complaint to the head office. That sort of attitude is just a waste of your time (the cashier is legally obliged to take it, so don't know why they bother making a fuss)

    • Noctusxv8 on 20/01/2019 - 10:01
      +1

      The cashier isn't legally obligated to accept any form of cash. Just because it is legal tender doesn't mean they have to accept it. I quote from the reserve bank
      It is the Reserve Bank of Australia’s understanding that, although Australian currency has legal tender status, it does not necessarily have to be used in transactions and that refusal to accept payment in legal tender banknotes and coins is not unlawful.

  • Kranbone on 20/01/2019 - 02:07

    It's legal tender. He should've avoided being a arse about it too.

    • DiscoJango on 20/01/2019 - 08:31
      -1

      if i got paid $0.55c an hour to stand behind a counter and deal with all the cbd's drunken fools at 2am i wouldnt be too happy either

      • happirt on 20/01/2019 - 14:44

        his choice

      • Daabido on 20/01/2019 - 15:47
        +3

        Dollar symbol or cents symbol. Choose one, not both.

        • DiscoJango on 20/01/2019 - 21:01

          its 2019. a person can be both a man and a woman. screw you and your rules.

      • Never Pay RRP on 24/01/2019 - 09:37

        Being a jerk about doing your job doesn't help anyone…
        Drunken fools would only get even madder at the attitude

  • gimme on 20/01/2019 - 09:07

    Another pointless thread occupies the internet.

  • [Deactivated] on 20/01/2019 - 10:23

    Pulling a $50 like that was and will be a dick move

  • Misam0810 on 20/01/2019 - 11:55

    Hey, I see a lot of silly comments here, so as a servo worker ill help you out. The employee was a twat. The customer can pay how they like. Here is how it works, there is a drop safe where employee puts the fifty, this gives him fifty credit for the safe. He gives change to customer and gets the amount he needs to lift the float to original amount, normally only 200 max, in coins and small notes from the safe. Issue solved. Math not needed. Ps safe checks if it's fake for him before he gives change. This is not rocket surgery. Oh and then safe locks out.

  • happirt on 20/01/2019 - 14:44

    give it to him in 5c pieces next time with 5c extra and make sure you get your change.

    legal tender is legal tender.

    • whooah1979 on 20/01/2019 - 14:51
      +1

      The employee isn't required to accept cash.

      • happirt on 20/01/2019 - 16:52

        wow how things have changed…

        • gromit on 26/01/2019 - 16:52

          They haven't changed. Just a lot of people misunderstand the laws. Hell your idea of pay in 5c coins is actually legally limited to only $5.

          • happirt on 27/01/2019 - 02:36
            -1

            @gromit: from what i understand, they have at least changed since the introduction of electronic payment such as eftpos.

            pay in 5c coins is actually legally limited to only $5

            care to cite source?

            • [Deactivated] on 27/01/2019 - 09:57
              +1

              @happirt: Easy
              https://banknotes.rba.gov.au/legal/legal-tender/

              A payment of coins is a legal tender throughout Australia if it is made in Australian coins, but this is subject to some restrictions about how much can be paid in coin. According to the Currency Act 1965 (section 16) coins are legal tender for payment of amounts which are limited as follows:

              • not exceeding 20c if 1c and/or 2c coins are offered (these coins have been withdrawn from circulation, but are still legal tender);
              • not exceeding $5 if any combination of 5c, 10c, 20c and 50c coins are offered; and
              • not exceeding 10 times the face value of the coin if $1 or $2 coins are offered.
            • gromit on 27/01/2019 - 20:20

              @happirt: No they haven't changed. They have had some minor updates to add new coin denominations but otherwise remain the same. carlb has the correct citation for you.

  • Kamsi on 20/01/2019 - 19:28

    If Australia become cashless like in China, this type of thing would probably never occurred.

  • p3nf0ld on 20/01/2019 - 20:47

    The trouble is the 7/11 probably only had a certain amount of change. At 2:00am it is impossible to go to a bank to arrange more so if they run out of notes/coins that's it. We don't know all the circumstances but it might have been in the stores best interest for the OP to go elsewhere so that they can use the change to make other sales. There are always two points of view so it is important to consider the retailer as well.

  • potm on 20/01/2019 - 21:59
    +1

    Having worked at a petrol station in my uni days I can understand the cashier's point of view. There's usually not much change in the till so if you get a few people hand over 50s or 100s in succession for small purchases, you can run out of change. I've always been conscious about having smaller notes to use at smaller places since then.

    I will withdraw certain amounts from ATMs to ensure that I have access to $20 notes. These days though, it's mostly just splitting meals with friends where I need cash. This is where it is even more annoying, when you have a group of 6 people or so and everyone only thought to withdraw a $50 from the ATM. If you know you're going to dinner and will be splitting the bill, how hard is it to withdraw $60 instead of $50.

    • Never Pay RRP on 24/01/2019 - 09:41

      Agree with this, just don't withdraw in multiples of $50 and you will always have "smaller" notes

  • berry580 on 21/01/2019 - 07:53
    +1

    Name and shame?

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