As with most things, handing change back to a customer is a skill. Master this skill to be both swift and accurate.
Cover image made using HTML and CSS, with light edits made using MS Paint. Emojis used for currency (USD, EUR, GBP, and JPY).
Has this happened to you at a cash register?
- You hand the cashier 20.00 for an item worth 6.70, but instead of geting back 13.30 you only receive 3.30. Extra time is spent confirming the proper amount of change.
Has this happened to you?
- When paying 10.00 in cash for a purchase costing 9.02, the 0.88 in coins slips from the paper bills onto the counter before you could hold them in your hand. Extra time is spent gathering the coins off the counter or floor.
Some of us have received change this way. Some of us have returned the change this way. A few of us have even experienced these situations as cashier and as customer.
Here are a couple of handy tips which are both helpful to anyone working the cash register as well as time-savers for everyone at the register.
| Tip 1: |
|---|
| When handing back change, start the count from the total (items plus the tax) and finish at the payment. |
This works best when the cashier tells the customer what's happening. Using the example above, here's a possible script:
--
That's 6.70. You gave me twenty.
--6.75...(takes 0.05 from the register)
--7...(takes 0.25, bringing change to 0.30)
--8...(takes 1.00 --> 1.30)
--9...(takes 1.00 --> 2.30)
--10...(takes 1.00 --> 3.30)
--15...(takes 5.00 --> 8.30)
--and 20.(takes 5.00 --> 13.30)
Not only does the customer receive the correct change, but both customer and cashier know that payment was given correctly.
For cashiers trying to establish rapport with customers by chatting with them, make the above script one of the last parts of the chat. For cashiers of few words, include the above script as part of the "few words" spoken.
As a bonus, whoever counts the register at night and the next day will see that all numbers match. And that means no grief from managers or ownership when numbers are off by a bit.
| Tip 2: |
|---|
| Once correct change is taken from the cash resigter, place the coins directly in the palm of the customer's hand before giving the bills. |
These are 4 benefits from using Tip 2:
- By placing the coins in the palm of the customer's hand, it gives the customer time to put them away before putting away the bills.
- It removes the extra step the customer is forced to take when the coins are on top of the bills.
- It reduces or eliminates the risk of coins getting away and landing on the counter or even the floor.
- It helps to speed up the line of customers waiting to pay for their purchases.
As a bonus, it also eliminates the awkwardness that both cashier and customer experience when the cashier places the coins over the bills and receipt.
For a cashier concerned with accepting or returning dirty money, latex gloves can be used.
| Tip 2 (Alternate): |
|---|
| Once correct change is taken from the cash resigter, place the coins on the counter. |
There may be a situation where Tip 2 from above isn't practical (especially if there's a partition separating cashier from customer). In this case, just leave the change on the counter and make sure the customer is OK with it. There's no awkwardness for anyone, and it's still quicker than placing coins over bills when handing back change.
💵 💶 💷 💴
Contrary to what some people say (including authorities), coins and paper bills are lousy vectors of contamination by airborne viruses and bacteria. ("Powdered substances", that's a different story. Wet money, however, should be handled carefully.)
Because of the metals used by most coins, either as coins or as plating for coins, they are already antibacterial. It won't stop coins from gathering dirt, but dirty coins won't get people sick from digital contact.
Just My Two Sats
Money handlers working with cash registers are just as important for providing excellent customer service as the sales associates or the management team.
Part of excellent customer service is just operating efficiently. This includes counting change in a way which proves accuracy to the customer. It also includes making money handling easy for the customer the moment change is handed back.
If these two tips are followed, less time is spent by both cashier and customer. This means more customers can be handled at the register in the same amount of time as before.
Once a cashier is used to following these 2 tips, more customers can be handled in less time. Everyone wins: the customer, the cashier, the management, and the store itself.
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