Do You Consider 58c Extra as Rounding up?

I’ve been rounded up by like 13c or 18c before to charity. didn’t mind that and was also dealing with a person so I heard the amount and said yes.

This time it was a touchscreen I tapped a bit too quick and didn’t see the amount clearly (I do remember the words “do you mind rounding up” though) but still thought why not. Later I checked the receipt, and it was 58c extra for “rounding up to the next dollar”. isn’t that pushing it?

Like I thought rounding up was $19.98 to $20.00, or maybe $19.88 to $19.90. I’m willing to give some wiggle room for charity and it’s about 1% of my shop but 50c every week is going to make a dent.

Poll Options

  • 132
    Yes
  • 63
    -No

Comments

  • +10

    Donate $1.42 next time then you can combine the receipts and make a personal tax deduction.

    • -1

      you can’t choose what to donate. it just randomly comes up with the amount I think it depends on how close you are to the next dollar. but I thought there would be a limit. like if it’s over 20c the touchscreen doesn’t ask?!

      it’s my own fault I know i hover my finger over the screen ready to tap because I want to speed things up and sometimes don’t get to read everything.

      last time I did this in the flybuys app I wanted flybuys points not $50 off next shop, and after reading the $50 off T&C’s I tapped activate and ruined it. 😂

      • +9

        It's not random. It rounds up to the next dollar.

        You can also choose to manually add a donation.

        • -8

          So if my purchase was $1.05 you think it's OK to 'round up' to $2?
          Come in spinner.

          • +19

            @EightImmortals: If you accepted the round up, then yes. I do think it's okay.

          • @EightImmortals:

            So if my purchase was $1.05 you think it's OK to 'round up' to $2?

            apparently most users here do. if it's for "charity".

            early on it was about 8 yes and 2 no. yes is still ahead. 🤷‍♀️

            • +3

              @n3ck3ntry8bort0rgasm: it is the OPs choice as to whether he decides to donate to the charity. 95c is not a huge donation to make to a charity you agree with. If you don't agree with the charity you don't need to donate. We have been getting some really flaky posts lately and this is just another of them.

              • @try2bhelpful: what's wrong with flakey? I was just being honest. maybe I shouldn't have wrote my opinion/thoughts in the post and just have it be the title with a poll next time but wheres the fun in that? I don't think it's that difficult just a simple question and I got my answer.

                and not sure why my post is flagged as whinging by some comments when you scroll down forums and that's what most posts basically are, on most websites. isn't that why users come to forums? tbh if I saw the title of my own OP I would probably scroll past. 😂

                • +8

                  @n3ck3ntry8bort0rgasm: It is a pathetic amount for money going to a charity. You obviously don’t put a monetary value on your time. Frankly I’ve donated with a few of these things and I just make a quick yes or no decision and then move on. I don’t think OMG I thought I was donating 5c and now it is 95c. How will I be able to afford my investment car now?

                  I have been trying to scroll past the more pointless posts out there but this one is just so petty. I have no idea whether these charity things make a difference but the small amount of money means almost nothing to me but taken over the number of people who donate it might come to a useful amount. On the scale of “I’ve been scammed” it doesn’t even rate a blip.

                  However you are right that in the world is going to hell in a handcart scale this post is also a minor blip.

                  • @try2bhelpful: yeah petty. i didn't think of it that way when posting. I feel kinda bad now like it's sending the wrong message. maybe I should have left my own opinions about money out of it. because in the end everyone makes their own decision right?
                    I don't drive and don't have a car. but you are right I don't have a good idea of the value of money/time and saving money. but I am able to afford rent food and occasional product (I don't buy every single deal I post btw, someone had that opinion once as proof) so I'm not homeless like I assume some people that go to charities are.
                    I have a similar opinion of charities as you btw, not sure where the money is actually going. I remember a story about a well known charity it was revealed they spent over 70% of donations on paying employees and marketing ads etc. but they have to run the charity right so I thought some of that makes sense. but I have always accepted and donated so far anyway because society says it's the right thing to do no matter how little you have. I always wanted to know the amount though (I don't fully agree with it but I did it anyway). thanks for mentioning the petty part.
                    and you might not believe me but I had to look up what petty meant. I do that a lot I look up words while I watch movies. not that I'm saying it's bad or anything.

                    • +1

                      @n3ck3ntry8bort0rgasm: I didn’t mean to come over so harsh. The world is going to shit at the moment and I just had a FFS moment on this. My bad too. The amounts are really just so small with these purchases you just go with your vibe.. I do agree that the “charity” stuff can get a bit much. I certainly wouldn’t put money up on a go fund me page for some numpty who didn’t buy travel insurance and is now stuck. But a pet place doing animal shelter work is pretty much a no brainer for me.

                      The investment car is a bit of a running joke on this site. It is a bit about priorities.

                      Keep with the dictionary stuff. When I was a kid my mum sat me down with books and a dictionary next to me. What I didn’t know I looked up. Broaden your horizons. Next stop cryptic crosswords.

                      • @try2bhelpful: haberdashery718,

                        For once I agree with almost everything TBH has said above. The exception is the cryptic crosswords. Steer very clear of those. Like various 'social media platforms', cryptic crosswords can become an extreme waste of time.

                        • @GnarlyKnuckles: Cryptics are the extreme sports of word puzzles but they bring everything you know to the table and give you a puzzle to solve. They are addictive and can involve a high level of smugness if you do solve them.

                          • @try2bhelpful: In my experience cryptic crosswords are formulaic, and thus very boring. There is no actual discovery or learning of any kind involved. Thus, I have no interest in them. I like to engage in pastimes that teach me stuff; rather than pastimes than merely 'satisfy smugness'.

                            In the (often cryptic/redundant/moronic/gratuitous) words of many yanks though TBH:

                            You Do You

                            • +1

                              @GnarlyKnuckles: It sounds like you are doing cryptic crosswords from the wrong setters. If you find them formulaic or boring then you need to cast a wider net. However, iIf your aim is to be taught “stuff” then, perhaps, the cryptic crossword isn’t for you. However, I do urge others to approach them with an open mind. They train you to approach a problem from several directions. To think beyond the obvious and to not only provide a solution but how to justify it. You bring the breadth of your knowledge to the table. You can learn new words and if done in the spirit of the puzzle then you will have built it from the rest of the clue. However, to paraphrase your vernacular “each to his own”.

          • @EightImmortals: That's literally the definition of rounding up. You are rounding up to the next standard unit of measurement, which in this case is the dollar amount.

            There's no other way to do it unless you want to make it more complex and granular like "do you want to round up to the next ten cent amount".

      • Welcome to capitalism. What are you doing with all that accumulated time you save with your hovering finger?

        • What are you doing with all that accumulated time you save with your hovering finger?

          obviously accidentally accepting to donate a unknown amount to charity. 😂

      • You get better value in taking $50 off next shop anyway

  • +6

    but 50c every week is going to make a dent.

    I'm unsure if you are serious.

    • think about it in a year. that’s 52? weeks right. so $26 I could have had in my pocket. if $5 in a year I am much less likely to notice.

      • +16

        If $26 a year "makes a dent" that's quite worrying.

        • +4

          you do know what a dent is don’t you? it means you notice and care about it.
          if it’s at more shops a week it could add up to even more.

          I’m on a site that cares about scrounging dollars extra as discount (cash back ?) so to be honest not what I expected to hear.

          I guess you are one of the 2 who considers it as rounding up then. 💁‍♀️

          • @n3ck3ntry8bort0rgasm: If you care about the money, just disable the feature …

            • -3

              @7ekn00: ok I never knew you could do that will have a longer look next time.

              well my point is I don’t mind ~10c but over 50c is way more than expected. but I guess I have given enough by now.

            • +1

              @7ekn00: If you can point me in the direction of how I can disable those annoying popups at the self checkouts nearly every time I visit the supermarket you will have my eternal gratitude.

          • +3

            @n3ck3ntry8bort0rgasm:

            you do know what a dent is don’t you?

            Yes, I sure do.

            it means you notice and care about it.

            You would honestly notice $26 over an entire year?

          • @n3ck3ntry8bort0rgasm: I reckon a dent in this context is an amount that materially affects your standard of living. $26/y is nothing.

  • +3

    Yes it's rounding up to the nearest dollar in the context of donating change to charity. I believe Dominos does this too.

    I presume you are referring to Woolworths. Someone once mentioned they use these donations to offset paying tax. No idea if there's any merit to it or it's just BS.

    • Yes it's rounding up to the nearest dollar in the context of donating change to charity.

      ok fair I didn’t know that. last time at Myer it was like 13c I had no problem with that. the other time was at Priceline I think.

      looks like I will be making sure to tap decline every time now.

      number 1 is what’s your phone number/postcode? number 2 is are you a member? number 3 is round up for charity. I’m expecting a number 4 real soon if anyone has insider info on what it is please let me know. 😭

      • +1

        I mean the flipside is places like the Food Bank seem to see it as a huge boost with $770,000 in donations received (unknown time period) which can help countless other people. You won't feel that dent at all but it makes a difference to others in need.

        https://www.foodbank.org.au/woolworths-round-up-success/

    • +2

      they use these donations to offset paying tax

      It's just an urban myth.

      • ADACRHS

        Will this be approved by the committee?

        • +2

          7 letters ✅
          Makes sense ✅
          Innovative ✅
          Mapax agrees ❓

          • @MS Paint: All those ticks but no self-declaration!!

            Level 10 - Helpful Comment ✅

      • yep as it is a donation to the charity from you they are not eligible for a tax deduction on it.

  • +15

    If you don't like it just select no, always. I hate "forced" charity so I always unequivocally say no whenever asked (by self checkout, staff, door knockers, chuggers and beggars). Then once a year sit down, determine what you're comfortable parting with and donate it to a cause you believe in as a lump sum.

    • I hate "forced" charity

      yeah from what I remember multiple times you can’t select the charity. it’s already chosen for you and some just have random names so you have no idea where the donation is going. one time I asked and even the worker didn’t know.

  • -8

    ok I guess ozb has spoken. most here at least in forums are fine with paying an extra 50c every time they checkout and they consider it as rounding up.

    good to know I guess.

    • +3

      The OP alludes to 58 cents; not 50 cents.

    • +5

      Putting words in our mouths I see. I would imagine most people would just not donate if they don't want to donate.
      While I don't know if it's changed, the kiosks definitely used to say: "Would you like to round the transaction to $XX.00 and donation $0.YY to <Charity Name>?"

      • -8

        Putting words in our mouths I see.

        this is the fifth time now I try to say something which I thought "was the ozbargain way" because plenty of times I have had comments directed at me that said "on behalf of all users on ozb" or "everyone here thinks so and so".

        but when I use it the response is like "hey you can't that's rude!". I'm only trying to fit in. the other 4 times by the way are different examples but I tried to make a ozb inside joke and everybody responds as if offended. 😭

    • +3

      That's a rule for rounding.
      OP said they asked to round up

        • +4

          ERGO/as an example 'rounding $2.12 up to $3.00' is utter and complete BS that would be instantly rejected by any mathematician/statistician/scientist/academic journal/logical thinker/etc.

          No, it wouldn't. I don't know authority you think you have to speak on behalf of that group, but you're wrong.

          Up (or down) is being used as a modifier to explain the direction the rounding occurs in. It's exactly the same as the difference between the word "climb" by itself, versus the phrase "climb down".

          And no, we don't need you to speak on behalf of all the mountaineers now to tell us "climb" means to ascend a slope so a phrase like "climb down from a tree" is absolute BS.

        • +1

          They're not talking to mathematicians or scientists or academics, they're talking to shoppers. It's a very easy and straight forward statement to follow.

          You might be over thinking it a tad

        • You type too much on a pretty insignificant matter for a busy person.

        • There are actually a lot of different conventions for rounding which are applied in different contexts. It’s a fascinating topic.

          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rounding

          • @CommuterPolluter: Imagine if you had that knowledge before you dug your heels in and told us all that rounding up was BS and all the mathematicians and scientists and logical people only do things your way

            You know, before you discovered that wasn't even remotely true

            Anyway, thanks for the thousands of words on the subject, glad you're caught up with the rest of us

            • +1

              @Crow K: You seem to have confused me with somebody else.

              • -1

                @CommuterPolluter: I have! I apologize, I thought this was another GnarlyKnuckles "look at what I discovered" post

                (Probably a good warning sign of the "if you meet one arsehole a day then you met an arsehole, if you meet arseholes all day then you're the arsehole" metric, might be time for a break from OzB commenting)

    • +5

      please note that 'rounding' is a mathematically defined function

      It was "rounding up", not just "rounding". Even 200.01 rounded up is 201.

      • +3

        I use Roundup on weeds

    • +8

      A classic lengthy comment TALKING WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY on a subject, and being obviously clueless.
      Complete lack of understanding about math, science, and the law all in one go.

      Nice try, m7.1 (rounded up).

      • -7

        LOL. The mathematical fact/reality is it is not logical/appropriate to 'round up' numbers with a digit after the decimal point that is less than 5. Stating that you can 'round up' 2.1 to 3 is like stating that you can make white paint black if you chuck enough black paint in it.

        • +1

          Rounding up to the next whole number is “rounding up”. If someone just said they were “rounding” then that would be a different matter, in that case you can use your analogy. If you can provide me with an authoritative mathematical site to back your argument I would be happy to concede.

        • +3

          Excel has ROUND, ROUNDUP and ROUNDDOWN functions. They do what you expect them to (and don't cause the computer to break). People in technical sciences use them all the time.

          Dig out your handouts from "Introduction to Word and Excel" and see for yourself.

          • +1

            @Crow K: This is enlightening information. Thank you.

            • +2

              @GnarlyKnuckles: It's not just Excel that provides these formulas. The concept of rounding "directionally" exists everywhere you deal with numbers.

              Stating that you can 'round up' 2.1 to 3 is like stating that you can make white paint black if you chuck enough black paint in it.

              I'm not sure what this analogy means in this context, but if you think that black paint contains only physically purely black materials, you would be wrong.

    • Holy fckballs Batman.

      How have you forgotten primary school mathematics? Or are you incapable of reading?

      You are confusing "rounding" which can go either up or down, with "rounding up" and "rounding down" where it is directional. If it's undefined, the rounding is to the next unit (in this case it's dollars) otherwise the specified significant decimal is stated, eg 1/3 rounded to the second decimal is 0.33. or Pi to the third decimal is 3.142. Pi rounded to the next whole number is 3. Pi rounded up (and rounded up to the next whole number) is 4.

      "Rounding up" is there, right in the subject. And then it's repeated at least 3 times, once per paragraph.

      This is, quite literally, primary school arithmetic. Year 3 or Year 4.

      • “Holy fckballs Batman”.

        I must’ve missed that one from the TV series in my 1960s youth. Love it though.

    • +6

      What law says you can't ask if they mind rounding to the next dollar and then doing so when they agree?

      • Yeah my bad, I should have been clearer/worded it better. What I meant was the law in Australia is that you can 'round off' prices (to the nearest 5 cents), but you must round off (i.e., both up and down in accordance with the rules of maths); you can't just always round up.

    • +2

      Trying your arm at legal analysis again, huh.

      Can you share with the rest of us exactly what law is broken by asking someone if they want to round up an amount they're paying to the next dollar?

    • If only BS like that was illegal.

  • +6

    If the touchscreen is asking if you want to round up to the next dollar, this whole premise is exactly what it says…. "rounding to the next dollar". Pretty self explanatory and would apply if your purchase was $19.01 or $19.99. Pretty easy to hit the decline option rather than stress over how close to the nearest dollar you actually are.

    • -3

      "rounding to the next dollar".

      I just assumed it was only asking me because I was close to the next dollar. like 68.80, or 69.95 etc. wouldn't you? well maybe not because looks like I completely didn't understand what rounding up for charity meant.

      • Has nothing to do with understanding what rounding up for charity means. The key word you need to understand is "next dollar". Just like "on top of the hour" means 13:00 whether it is 12:01 or 12:59.

      • I just assumed it was only asking me because I was close to the next dollar. like 68.80, or 69.95 etc. wouldn't you?

        I would never have assumed this.

        This is as arbitrary as saying that you'd assumed the machine was asking for a donation because the month has an even number of days in it.

        (I would have assumed that the machine is asking because it makes the company look good if they can send out press releases saying how much their organisation has funneled into charities.)

  • +2

    If it said round up to the next dollar then yes, even $0.99 cents would be rounding to the next dollar.

  • +2

    You are rounding UP to the next whole dollar.

    It doesn't say round up to the next multiple of 10 cents or the next multiple of 50 cents.

    Neither does it say "if total is between $X.00 and $X.50 don't do anything, but if total is between $X.51 and $X.99 round up".

  • Is the poll based on the title or on the body?

    • I thought if the title was a question it would be obvious but maybe not.. as original said they got confused.

  • +2

    Just say no and donate a bit more to a charity that resonates with you every now and then instead of letting whichever company take the moral credit

  • +2

    Just in case you haven't realised it yet OP, the clue is in the word "UP".
    And FYI, most OzBargainers who are careful with their budget, would not agree to rounding up randomly at a checkout.

    • -2

      Just in case you haven't realised it yet OP, the clue is in the word "UP".

      yes thanks I actually hadn't realised. comments seem to be using both rounding up and rounding. I actually thought the small amount of cents (usually like 2, 3c) up to the next dollar was called rounding up. so rounding up to the next dollar can be the maximum amount of cents (in particular for charity). 🙏

  • +9

    Its cents.

    Its going to charity.

    And the OP is asked and has the opportunity to say no.

    Yet they are still whingeing. Gees.

    • +4

      The classic ozbargain forum post, whining over nothing, even when given a choice.

    • +1

      Absolutely. I wonder if the OP realises how bad this makes him look? WCON.

    • -4

      Yet they are still whingeing.

      why is impulsively wanting to get an answer from ozb whinging? aren't most forum posts a whinge anyway? I put a question in the title and put yes and no options. didn't think it would cause a chain reaction for so many people I actually thought I would barely get any comments since it's a poll. but seems like people want to discuss it or let me know something. it's not that deep. 😂

  • Donate two dollars and get the receipt then claim it off tax, cause with these round up, they claim it instead.

    • +4

      cause with these round up, they claim it instead.

      Doubt [x]

  • +2

    i've seen it ask me if i wanted to round up to $21.00 from my $20.00 purchase

    • +1

      at that point I think it should say "do you want to add a dollar to charity" instead of "rounding up". 🤣

      but if it's 00 I notice because I like things when they are whole and that's correct to the dollar. so it shouldn't ask you for anything!

  • +1

    One of the greatest cons is supermarkets who make over a billion dollars of profits every year asking the general public to donate to charity at the register.

    • They are just facilitating a convenient way for you to donate, in a situation where you are primed to do so, to support causes that you might otherwise overlook.

      I don't see the problem?

      • It's because there isn't one.

        It's the same twisted "logic" as when a celebrity appears in a UNICEF ad asking you to make a donation and blurting out "that guy gets $50 million a movie, what a CON asking US to give to that charity"

        • +1

          That's right. The alternative is to do nothing.

      • +1

        They're never a cause "you might otherwise overlook". It's always either something that you'd have to be hiding under a rock to not know about, like the Good Friday Appeal or Variety, or something that sits under a dedicated foundation that the company itself created as a tax deductible vehicle to soften their image and support whatever marketing narrative suits them at the time, like supermarkets supporting "farmers" and also, conveniently, every related advertisement they produce for months if not years afterwards.

      • If they really cared, they could donate the money themselves, or match customers' donations.

        • I'm not a Coles or Woolies fanboy, but just to give you some numbers, last year Coles donated 161M and Woolies donated 122M.

          They're actually some of the top corporate donators in the country.

  • Is the gullibility tax this high already?

  • I meant to vote yes
    But I accidentally clicked no. Was responding to your line “isn’t that pushing it”

  • +5

    I thought it was clear when this pop up appears that it’ll round up to the nearest whole dollar no matter how far away from that dollar you are, e.g. 5c or 98c.

    but 50c every week is going to make a dent.

    Is someone holding a gun to your head and forcing you to tap the yes button?

  • +3

    I never do round up. If I am donating to charity it's to one of my own choice, not the one that suits a big company to put in their annual report as a community service at my expense.

    But yep, if I were to deliberately select the round up option it's pretty clear that the principle is to the next whole dollar, not the next 50 cents.

    It's not like anyone is forcing you to click that button. Just say no.

  • +2

    Goodness gracious. If "50c every week is going to make a dent"

    Stop.
    Donating.

    This is not rocket science.

  • +1

    There was a joke going around that the company takes your cash and then puts through the donation and gets a tax deduction for it. Meanwhile you lose out.

    At the charity level they pay no tax as a NFP. Their employees get a Salary sacrifice arrangements (only available to NFPs, now you know part of the reason why even little bit wealthy people setup a foundation).

    If you are really into a cause just send them a cheque at the end of the year and you'll get emails and letters every month alerting you to another "need" they suddenly have.

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