Sunday, October 28, 2007
How to give change
For all you cashiers, or want-to-be cashiers, out there, here is the proper way to give a customer change:
1. Put the coins in their hands first.
2. After they put the coins away, give them the dollar bills.
3. Then hand them the receipt.
Think it takes too long? Try this summary procedure:
1. Put the coins in their hands first.
2. Put the dollars and the receipt on top.
The customary way seems to be to give you the dollars and the receipt all bunched up (in very unorganized fashion), and then dropping the change on top. There are three errors with this procedure.
First, the dollars can be at least handed over in an organized fashion so they are not facing every which way.
Second, change should not be dropped into the customer's hand as if the customer has leprosy. If you are worried about touching someone, keep hand sanitizer handy.
And third, coins slide around when they are on the top of dollars or receipts. The customer has to do a balancing act to keep the coins from sliding off. What should the customer do, create a little funnel with the dollar bills and pour the coins in a pocket or purse?
On the other hand, coins in the hand can be cupped, and the hands are a no-slip surface. I can curl my fingers around the coins, put the dollars where they are supposed to go (wallet or purse compartment) and then put the change where it goes (pocket or purse).