Counting Back Change

I will talk about how to count back change to a customer so that you don't need to freak out if the cash register doesn't do it for you.

[sifugurusensei]

this is why school fails. Instead of friggin algebra, why not start with using fake money and teach us practical skills. I just learn better from being interactive. I'm a real kinetic learner.

[heisenbooger]

As a kid I struggled with math, still do. One thing that confused me was change and what not. I'm a lot better now but, as soon as Id get the hang of one thing its fractions, multiplication and what not. Common Core. ain't it grand?. I'm scared to get a job at retail because of my situation. I can count change but if it was like $38.50 id have to process that for a second😂

[tubalcain]

Not quite sure why counting "back" is important... I understand counting the exact change to them but why not just count the $28.67 to them as you lay it in their hands?  I usually give them the coin first and say "there is sixty seven cents" then just start at the twenty then the five then the 3 ones....   Counting "back" from lowest to highest can usually get the customer confused instead of just counting in sequence from highest to and can get the cashier confused as well.   It's just much simpler and easier to understand the change your getting back.

[therealdeal]

I'm sorry I'm more of a visual person. I need to actually see you do it for me to get an idea of what you're talking about. you just explaining it is not enough for me personally. I need to actually see you do it. for me wasn't helpful sorry... but thanks.

[-raist]

Counting up is dumb, I already know I gave you a 100 and I know that my change is 28.67 don’t care if you can count up I don’t have time for that shit.

[kaande]

its like you were constantly holding back a burp haha but this video helped me a lit! thank you.

[lisagloer]

I was hoping for a visual not a lecture 😞

[Lholden]

I was living in Hawaii and at McDonalds one afternoon my drive-through order came to 4.17, I gave the cashier a $5 bill and 17 cents in coins...she was absolutely lost as to how much change to give me back...she handed me 2.35, I handed it back, thank goodness the manager came over and said, "give her a dollar!" as she saw me sitting there with a stunned look on my face!

[vendingdudes]

Another thing I would do if someone paid say, $6.48 and it was all ash tray change or piggy bank money for that desperate six pack or pack of cigs, is help them count it out on counter if possible. If there are customers in line behind this transaction, for God's sake don't take a half a minute and drop and spill all the coins into their individual cups while everyone waits. Just dump it all in the far left slot where the paper clips, car wash token or fifty cent piece goes and separate it out after the last customer in line is done and before you close the drawer. Heck, I've even just left the change on the counter if it's all kind of spread out and covered it quickly with a National Enquirer or whatever and finished the next couple of transactions over the paper and then cleaned up after they're gone.

[vendingdudes]

I agree with some of your method, and sympathize with the comment from Danny. I am glad you pointed out the coin is gathered in one glop and plopped in their hand. Coins placed on counter, or on top of bills and transferred to their hand are annoying. Consider the possibility that the customer still has a wallet in one hand, or the bag of purchases in a hand. Put the change in their hand so they can quickly scan it, if desired, and then immediately slide into their pocket, if they choose, so their hand is ready to receive the bills. Of course, you will be so fast and efficient at acquiring the change and peeling off the bills that generally the customer will cup the change and then clasp the bills you give them in a quick one, two action.

I don't like the counting back of bills individually. What I have always preferred to do is gather the bills from the till and then fan them out, but tightly, so that all bills are visible and announce the dollar amount as one sum. So, in your example it goes like this.

Cashier: "That'll be seventy one thirty three, please." (Customer hands over a hundred dollar bill. Cashier places it directly on top of drawer over tray, or on shelf just above if design of register allows).
Cashier: "Out of a hundred." Eye contact! I'm old school, and didn't necessarily have a register that displayed the change. You calculated it on your own, so I don't announce the number of the change out loud yet.
Cashier digs out change using both hands, using two fingers at a time to pull up coins, then cups them in one hand while getting bills. Alternatively, could hand change to customer at this point and just say "...change makes seventy two...". At this point you are only working with bills; the change is cupped in your dominant hand (or already given to customer) so use both hands again to pull up bills. I was fond of flipping up the bill clips in the drawer of all the bills I would pulling out (in this case, left hand flips up the twenty slot, while the right hand flips up the five and one slot) and then pull correct amount of bills of each denomination with right hand (starting at the twenty, move left to right and build) and then close the clip as you go. This gave me the opportunity to double check I didn't give more bills accidentally because you're able to finger them as you collect them. My fingers are generally too slippery or dry and not long fingernails either, so I had to do it this way. People with longer fingernails seem to be able to pinch out bills with the clips closed, but I can't do it. So, pull off a twenty, a five and three ones, tap them to make a neat stack, use other hand thumb/forefinger to fan them slightly so denominations are visible, and announce "...and twenty eight makes one hundred. Thank you"

Only when the customer acknowledges the correctness of the exchange, by nodding, or putting money in pocket or wallet, do you then put the hundred under the tray, close the drawer and worry about the next customer.

While this is a long description, this process takes about 3-5 seconds, no matter what the amount is. I have watched dumbfounded as cashiers have taken a full twenty to thirty seconds to do this, looking at the 'change to give' amount on the screen multiple times. Almost every one, because they are looking at $28.67, start with the bills because that is how it reads. Then they are left with one hand holding the bills, while they then have to use one finger of one hand to try and suck up one coin at a time for the change. Then hand you the coins on top of the bills. It's maddening.

[alanpastrana]

So I have question well rn I am working as a cashier at a grocery and when I have to close like when your all finish I struggle a little bc for us you need to leave 300$ on the cash register for the next person to work there and I get lost when u need to count the bills like you need to subtract to make 300$ it's confusing not sure if I am explaining right but hopefully someone can help me out thank you or if anyone works at a grocery store too