Topic: Modern commerce

[Pandora]

Post seen at Kevin Baker's place, The Smallest Minority.  He titled it "Modern Education" (and I could have put it in our Education section); however, I believe the economic angle is dominant, in that these mal/mis-educated young people are hired (when they *are* hired) because, as machines do the mental-math work if operated properly (which is also often not the case), they're not worth paying more than minimum wage.  The ability to do arithmetic in one's head is a rare skill today.

One comment there stands out, for two reasons:

DJ • 4 hours ago

The problem is not that these people cannot do math, nor is it that they cannot do simple arithmetic. In fact, it's not that they cannot count. The great problem is that than do not know, and cannot learn, that they can make change simply by counting out the change.

The total is: "15.54".

Count a penny: "15.55".

Count a dime: "15.65".

Count a dime: "15.75".

Count a quarter: "16".

Count a one: "17".

Count a one: "18".

Count a one: "19".

Count a one: "20".

Hand the change (which, by golly, totals $4.46) to the customer and put the twenty in the register.

This is how it was done for generations before machines began thinking for people. Now the people don't think, they can't think, and they don't know that they can't think.

That's the first reason, and that's how it's done, no "machine needed".  When I stood in as cashier for Target (front line "management" filled all holes, especially on the weekends), I counted back change even though the register made it unnecessary.

Here's the rest of DJ's post and reason number two:

A solution to a problem that didn't exist has created a problem that has no solution. This is known as "progress."

Otherwise known as government's raison d'etre today.

[Predator Don]

Pan, I can't tell you how many Ive had to explain how to count back change...to me. Not long ago, I bought something which cost 14.78. I gave the cashier 20.03. It kinda went downhill from there.....

[Libertas]

I'm always doing that Don, I am a bean-counter after all so how can I not?  I actually smile when I have someone bright enough to know what I am doing and how to complete it competently...otherwise I don't smile much...and if they screw it up (and short me) I let them know their error.

[ToddF]

Pan, I can't tell you how many Ive had to explain how to count back change...to me. Not long ago, I bought something which cost 14.78. I gave the cashier 20.03. It kinda went downhill from there.....

One of my small pleasures in life.  Take out those extra three cents, watch hilarity ensue. 

Or for extra Obamas and giggles, give her 22.03, for a 16.78 tab.  She'll give you the two back, then another three, all the while looking at you like an idiot. 

[benb61]

Pan, I can't tell you how many Ive had to explain how to count back change...to me. Not long ago, I bought something which cost 14.78. I gave the cashier 20.03. It kinda went downhill from there.....

I (an engineer) do this all the time.  The last time it happened and the cashier returned the correct change, I asked to see her manager.  She was worried she did something wrong but called for the manager.  When she (the manager) came over I complemented the cashier and told the manager what had happened and that they need to hire more bright young ladies like the one who helped me that day.  The next time I was in the store I did not see that cashier when I walked in.  I made it to the back of the store and there she was, she came up to me and thanked me (she remembered me) and said that she was promoted to Shift Manager the day after our first encounter.

[Pandora]

Good for you, and her.

[LadyVirginia]

Pan, I can't tell you how many Ive had to explain how to count back change...to me. Not long ago, I bought something which cost 14.78. I gave the cashier 20.03. It kinda went downhill from there.....

I (an engineer) do this all the time.  The last time it happened and the cashier returned the correct change, I asked to see her manager.  She was worried she did something wrong but called for the manager.  When she (the manager) came over I complemented the cashier and told the manager what had happened and that they need to hire more bright young ladies like the one who helped me that day.  The next time I was in the store I did not see that cashier when I walked in.  I made it to the back of the store and there she was, she came up to me and thanked me (she remembered me) and said that she was promoted to Shift Manager the day after our first encounter.

that's great

This problem I think goes back a few decades though. Since the advent of new math I think it was called. I worked as a cashier at a bagel bakery in college and for the life of me couldn't get the girl who worked with me to understand the count back change method. She insisted in  trying to do it I her head which she couldn't do. This back awhile ago and we had the machines that had keys and the total flipped up into the window . Never mind that I could and can do it in my head I still counted it back so the customer would know they had the right change. I don't understand why this is so hard. No one at that job explained it to me. This was my first job and it seemed the logical way to do it.

[Dan]

Ben, that's a great story. Thanks for sharing.

[Pandora]

One of my pet peeves is being handed receipt, bills and coins, in that order.  The coins end up sliding off the paper.

[richb]

A few years back,  I was going to sell TV's over the Christmas season,  at a now out of business electronics chain for a few extra bucks.   Amazingly  they still gave a math test to people applying.   They claimed that they needed to know if I could give out correct change if the power was out or the computers were down,  as they didn't close when those things happened.     I passed with no problem of course.    The guy who gave the test said most people didn't do very well or outright failed the test.   

(I doubt they stayed open when the power was out,  they had few windows and powered doors, and people would clean them out in the dark.  And I imagined few people use cash for a major purchase there anyway.  I wonder if it was more cover for needing a test that would be seen as discriminatory by some folks, hmmmmmm). 

[Septugenarian]

One of my pet peeves is being handed receipt, bills and coins, in that order.  The coins end up sliding off the paper.

So, then you have to stand there sorting it all out and putting it away while everyone behind you waits.  I'm "elderly" so it takes me a "little" longer.

[Pandora]

One of my pet peeves is being handed receipt, bills and coins, in that order.  The coins end up sliding off the paper.

So, then you have to stand there sorting it all out and putting it away while everyone behind you waits.  I'm "elderly" so it takes me a "little" longer.

I get that, I carry a purse.  That requires resting the thing on the counter while the sorting happens.

[Libertas]

One of my pet peeves is being handed receipt, bills and coins, in that order.  The coins end up sliding off the paper.

So, then you have to stand there sorting it all out and putting it away while everyone behind you waits.  I'm "elderly" so it takes me a "little" longer.

I get that, I carry a purse.  That requires resting the thing on the counter while the sorting happens.

Wassamatta?  Youz gotta smalla hands oh what?   

[Pandora]

Yep.

Counting back change gets the coins in hand first.