Broke mom tries to pay for groceries for hungry kids with quarters. Store refused.

[Liberal_in_LA]

Mom Denied Groceries for 'Hungry Children' Because She Can Only Pay in Change

A mother, who's too embarrassed to release a photo of herself or her name, was denied at a grocery store when she tried to pay for her hungry family's food in loose change. The woman who's using the name "Jean" to get her story out said, "We had nothing to feed our children with. So we broke out the change."

Jean says that she brought $32 in quarters to the Save-a-Lot in Portland, and grabbed what she could afford from the store. When she got to the register, she told the clerk, "I have change. Sorry, it’s hard times right now." And he pretty much said, "Oh, hell no."

Actually, according to Jean, what he really said was, "Well, we can only accept $5." To which Jean responded, "It's money. Money's money." But he wouldn't budge. Jean was "mortified," so she went to another grocery store, where, at first, she was met with similar results.

The manager of the second store refused to accept her change as well, and instructed to her use to the change machine, which charges a 10 percent fee. Jean couldn't afford to lose the money, so she broke down and started crying in front of another customer. The stranger was moved by Jean's tears -- and disgusted with the store's policy -- so he told her he'd buy her change from her at no fee. After hearing that, the store agreed to just pay for the fee if she used the change machine.

http://thestir.cafemom.com/in_the_news/128227/mom_denied_groceries_for_hungry

"We apologize for the inconvenience the customer experienced at the store," said Fred Meyer Public Affairs Director Melinda Merrill. "Receiving change for a payment is a rare occurrence. Fred Meyer stores do accept change as payment and we will work with our store directors and management teams to ensure they know this."

•QFC would only accept $5 or $6 in loose change.
•Albertsons said they would only accept $5.
•WinCo and Safeway didn’t have a cutoff, but said they tell customers to use the change machine.
•Only Whole Foods and New Seasons were open to accepting change, no matter what the amount.



http://www.katu.com/news/local/133019318.html?hpt=us_bn7

[MADem]

1. What assholes--most stores I've been to don't charge the fee if you use

the change machine.

The way they treated that woman was unacceptable.

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. ...and it's not like she was paying with pennies. Quarters aren't that hard to count

[Poll_Blind]

6. BTW, I was thinking that too. I mean, is it really THAT difficult to count out QUARTERS?

Geeze.

PB

[LiberalFighter]

7. I imagine for most people.

But we don't know if the stores hire those that can count.

[Liberal_in_LA]

8. Just grab 4 quarters at a time and count 1...2...3

[LiberalFighter]

29. But they might not have hired people with that capability

to count that high. Or understand how many quarters to a dollar.

[octothorpe]

216. I'm pretty sure most people know how to do that...

Even those with a minimal education should know that. I suspect this was just plain laziness on the clerks part. It's not like 35 dollars would have taken long to count out either. Maybe three minutes at the most, aye?

[Randypiper]

47. I always separate the quarters out when I use the change machine

Paying 8% on other change isn't too bad, but not for quarters.

[dionysus]

84. me too.

[SnakeEyes]

198. hey, careful who you bash

lots of stores in different areas are union.

[octothorpe]

217. I don't get that statement.

Is it wrong to criticize people who are members of unions if they do their job poorly? Part of a union or not, that holds little relevance to them being cold-hearted pricks (or in the person's opinion above us, too stupid to count)

[MADem]

15. I agree with you. Even with pennies, hell, money is money.

It's not like she ripped off a laundromat--she raided the piggy bank. Who hasn't been there at some point in their life?

I can remember some tough lean days in my youth, and I vowed I'd never forget 'em. I wouldn't want to shop at a store with such mean-hearted assholes, and I'd let 'em know it, too.

[PSzymeczek]

129. Back in about 1974,

When gas was about 35 cents a gallon, I paid with $1.75 in pennies and the gas station didn't quibble. Like the lady said - money is money.

[roguevalley]

97. fred meyer was bought out by kroeger a few ago. Old man meyer

would not have allowed this. What a bunch of bullshit. Poor woman. I would have bought her groceries. This SUCKS!!!!!

[AmyDeLune]

196. I think it's more a case of the clerk being a jerk---

I've been a cashier at Freddy's for 3 years now and never in all that time have I been told that there is a limit on the amount of change we can accept as payment. The only policy regarding change I have been instructed on is that we can only exchange $2.00 worth of quarters for cash (unless of course someone had made a purchase with a large amount of change and we had it to spare).

And yeah, Fred would have fired that cashier on the spot for treating a paying customer that way.

[aggiesal]

201. I believe it's also ...

illegal to refuse legal tender.

I went into a State office in LA to pay a corporate fee in cash, and
there's a sign that says, only checks, credit or debit cards accepted.

I immediately told the clerk that it's illegal to refuse legal tender.
She said that if everyone paid in cash, they would get robbed.

Have you ever heard of SECURITY?

[Ken Burch]

2. More evidence...they're in it to starve the poor to death.

How dare she pay with mere peasant coinage?

:sarcasm: :puke:

This is what "market values" leads us to, folks.

[CoffeeCat]

38. So true!

Seriously! If this woman can't pay with her American Express Gold Card, then she
needs to get the hell out of the store!

BTW--isn't it ILLEGAL to refuse to accept money for goods and services? I thought
money was "legal tender" and that it was illegal to refuse to accept it.

I've NEVER heard of a store refusing to take change.

And another BTW--If I was in this store, and understood what was happening to this
woman, I would have helped her buy some things for the kids. I would have helped.
I'm nothing special. I'm not a saint. So--what's with people treating another
human being with such disdain? You see someone in trouble, and you help--or if
you aren't in a position to help--you at least avoid humiliating them.

Ok, AGAIN, I'll ask--where's the mothership that dropped us off here? I'd like
a ride home--away from this crazy place! The experiment failed. You can pick
us up now.

[chervilant]

140. Indeed!

I want a berth on that Mothership! I want all the Nimnuls--who so richly deserve a Darwin Award--to enjoy the fruits of their hate-mongering and hedonism--ALONE!

[Devil_Fish]

155. I is illegal if the debt is all ready incurred. For example a parking ticket, or red light ticket.

"All Debt Public and Private." Un-fortunately in this case, the debt is not yet incurred. it would be once the transaction is approved by both parties, So if she were to wait till the food was scanned and totaled before declaring her intent to pay in change, then they may have to accept it, but that is a gray area.

If she wanted to pay a fine, like a red light ticket, or a debt collector, utility bill, credit card bill, etc. they would have to accept any amount, even in pennies because it is "legal tender for all debt".

[former9thward]

156. People always say it is illegal to refuse money.

It is not. Particular in this situation. Money is legal tender for a debt. If a store refuses to sell to you then there is no debt. Also money is just one form of legal tender. There is nothing that requires a store to accept money. They can specify something else.

I think $32 of quarters would have been reasonable because they could have been counted fairly quick;y. But $32 in other forms of coins would not be. It would slow the line down too much and a store could reasonably put limits on that.

[Enthusiast]

160. I like the term "peasant coinage".

This flat out pisses me off.

[chervilant]

183. Me, too.

And, I'm disturbed by the responses from a few herein who seem intent upon justifying the manager's behavior and/or the store's policy (a word of caution: be careful how you language a response to such individuals--apparently, some of them will whinge and get your comment deleted...).

[Poll_Blind]

4. What kind of bullshit response is "We can only accept $5"? It's "We only CHOOSE to accept $5."

I don't know about Save-a-Lot, but I'm not surprised by QFC. I'm a little surprised by Albertson's, but they've also been moving into the realm of QFC.

BTW, see how some corporations feel free to treat customers? It's not like there's a real reason for it.

There's a chance this story alone might get Save-a-Lot, say, to change it's policy. If it does it's not because a place like Save-a-Lot is going to endure some economic hardship on behalf of the cutomer, take one on the chin for the little guy.

No, somebody's going going to go "Ahh...we'll accept change in any amounts now."

It's just somebody's call.

PB

[izquierdista]

16. Save-a-Lot is a cut rate Food4Less

At least Food4Less keeps their stores nice and tidy, probably not to reflect bad on their parent company, Kroger. Every Save-a-Lot I have seen looks like it is overdue for its once a month cleaning. They do have low prices, but mostly because they manage to get closeouts or crates salvaged from train derailments and overturned semis.

[JVS]

39. Stores like Sav-a-lot keep costs low by having very few people working at a time.

A consequence of this is that it is very easy for lines to build up even under normal operating conditions. Counting out a large quantity of change is going to tie up the line (probably the only line) and cause a major backup. This will cause them to lose business if customers don't have a lot of time to wait in line. Counting out change also opens up opportunities for error and drawers coming up short. It sucks, but this kind of thing should be taken care of at a bank or credit union, not at grocery store line.

[Jkid]

51. This also applies to every other service job these days.

More managers are finding out that you can make a lot more profit by keeping less people working at a time.

[dotymed]

115. Usually, the store manager is allotted a certain amount of

manpower each week or month. They have to stay at or below that level, work the extra hours for free or possibly be replaced. The bottom line is usually controlled from corporate.

Years ago, I managed convenience stores. They even had their own warehouses that they brought their pre-priced merchandised from. For instance, one of the warehouse items was rolling papers, even though you could get them from the local cigarette vendor much cheaper, these (depending on your inventory and/or weekly order) were brought into the store at full retail price. Back then about $1.00 a pack. This was a part of your inventory. Even though you could purchase an item for less, it had to come from their warehouse and stocked on the shelves at full retail. This made it much harder to obtain your bonus. If any theft (shrinkage) took place, then it was charged against your inventory at full retail. It also allowed corporate to profit from their warehouses.

Many managers would go down to the local cigarette supplier and purchase rolling papers at wholesale prices to stock the stores with. This allowed them to create a "pad" to protect their bonuses against "shrinkage." The same thing with each cup at the soda fountain. The store was charged full retail (as if the cup was full of pop) on their inventories. Those usually had company logo's and you had to make-up for that loss by using other creative accounting techniques. Imagine how many empty cups are ruined at the soda counter. We had to save each cup we found before it was removed form inventory.

Also, corporate, usually depending on your weekly profits, mandates how many man hours you allowed to use each week. So, if a convention is in town one week, you (as manager) would have to work extra hours to keep up with the increased volume. Then, the next week you could work less if the extra customers were gone, because last weeks sales indicated that you were understaffed, therefore, this week you have extra man hours that you don't need.....It got old quick.

[JVS]

152. While the problem is heightened now, I frequented a Save-a-lot back in 2005 when things were better.

Even in the good times Save-a-lot is a shoestring operation and only has 2 registers, and that second register is seldom open.

[Name removed]

138. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

143. What if

you don't have time or transportation to get paper money for your change?

[JVS]

151. What if other people don't have time to count your change?

Oh wait, that's what happened in the story.

[Ken Burch]

179. You just don't get it.

The issue is corporate arrogance...the woman isn't to blame at all.

Don't take the side of the rich against the poor.

[totodeinhere]

163. That's a sad fact of life. In our society people with inadequate access to transportation do suffer.

It sucks but that's the way it is and I don't see it changing anytime soon. And I doubt if that store's manager cares if she has transportation or not.

[JVS]

169. The TV spot had her saying she didn't want to spend the gas money to go to her bank.

[chervilant]

173. Apparently,

you'd just have to suck it up.

:sarcasm:

[unapatriciated]

145. doesn't take as long as you think.

I have worked in grocery stores for the last 15 years and have had many customers pay in change. I would count it myself quickly in front of the customer. What takes time is when the customer tries to count it out for you.
I worked at one of the busiest stores in California (the only grocery store in a major ski resort-Mammoth Lakes). It was common for the locals at the end of the month to have to raid their change jar.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

5. Sounds like the doctor that won't take cash money for his services.

Not taking legal tender.

As a lawyer, I say: :wtf:

[kag]

80. I had a doc that did that.

My husband tried to give them a $20 for our copay, and they said they could only accept credit cards or checks. Checks? Rather than cash? That just makes no sense to me.

Anyway, my husband told them that that was illegal, but they just looked at him funny and said that it was their new policy.

He didn't argue. He gave them the credit card.

But we don't go to that doc anymore.

[droidamus2]

153. Actually...

I grew up in California and I am pretty sure the law there is if a business refuses to accept legal tender to pay for something it is considered to be paid in full. I may be wrong but I seem to remember that being the law.

[progressoid]

9. Christ - What has happened to our country.

:grr:

[femrap]

10. If grocery stores are going to

behave in such a cruel fashion, then I think we should punch our thumbs through the plastic coverings of their most expensive cuts of meat. :evilgrin:

[Rabblevox]

11. I'm not pimping for them, but the downtown Safeway accepts any amount in change...

and I'm not trying to invalidate the OP (wait , yes I am. It's sensationalist and inaccurate) Try not to post shit about my city unless you live here.

[MADem]

17. Well, it wasn't a Safeway, it was a Save-a-Lot.... nt

[Iggo]

128. That's what you got out of this? "Portland sucks?"

Aw.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. Ah yes great Depresion here

By the way have completed bill fr more than a few people. Happening more and mre often.

[Douglas Carpenter]

13. How can people be so heartless? How can people be so cruel?

[Bluenorthwest]

122. Easy to be hard, easy to say no

yep

[Douglas Carpenter]

208. especially people who care about strangers, who care about evil and social injustice

[HubertHeaver]

14. As an assistant manager of a store in the early 80's I accepted

over $300.00 in pennies for a purchase. They have no reason to not accept any form of legal tender. The banks don't get pissy with their business customers so the store doesn't lose when they turn in the change.

[Mosby]

19. business customers cannot deposit loose change

It has to be rolled.

You didn't make it clear whether the pennies you accepted were rolled or not because if they were loose some employee first had to count 30,000 at the pos and then roll them up later when they counted down their drawer. Wonder how many hours that would take?

[HubertHeaver]

25. It took the manager, the customer, and I

about 15 minutes--stacks of 10, sets of 10. Each set of 10 was 1 dollar. Line 'em up, count. When we finished, we dumped them in a bank bag. The bank took them, ran them through their change counter. We were their third largest customer so they didn't fuck with us.

To answer your first question, the pennies came in rolled, we opened the rolls and counted. The lady that did the drawer-counts accepted our total for the pennies so balancing the drawer didn't take any more time.

[jeff47]

42. Depends on the bank.

Some will roll for business customers, especially retail.

[aikoaiko]

135. Its true. Even as a individual my bank would take bags/jars or change and sort/count it by machine

[Horse with no Name]

58. NOBODY takes rolled coins. n/t

[Codeine]

71. I love taking rolled coins at our store.

Our bank charges a fee to buy rolled coin, while swapping it out with a customer is free and makes the customer happy -- win/win.

[Horse with no Name]

73. They don't around here

people have been known to put washers or slugs in the middle.

[thesquanderer]

82. slugs, etc.

If that's really a problem, people padding rolls with junk, it's easy enough for the cashier to accept the roll, see it's the right size, and break it into the register compartment, and quickly scan to see that it's all legit.

I can kind of understand the markets' hesitation about getting paid in high volume of loose change, causing an unnecessary delay for other customers. But if someone goes to the bank and gets the empty rolls (which, as far as I know, are always free), and takes the time to package them up, I don't think anyone should refuse them.

[JVS]

136. I wouldn't worry so much about slugs as just being given short rolls.

When I rolled change as a kid and teenager, the bank always wanted my parents' account number so that if there were any discrepancies they could fix it.

[unapatriciated]

149. not only that but most stores have a change counter, I know where I work does

and all the other grocery stores I have worked at. As Codine mentioned upthread some banks charge for buying rolled coins in large amounts. When I worked at Von's in Mammoth Lakes more than a few times the manager would not get enough coin for a busy week-end and would ask the employees to bring in change.

[provis99]

162. slugs are probably worth more than pennies.

And really, putting a slug in with a roll of pennies is just ridiculous; it's akin to those dopes who think they're getting ahead by putting one or two Canadian pennies in a roll.

[efhmc]

103. Do you mean banks? I take my gson and his saved rolled coins

to add to his savings all the time. It's a Chase account.

[Horse with no Name]

105. I should have clarified. Retail stores. At least in our area. n/t

[efhmc]

119. Thanks. I think one can still take the rolled coins to the service

windows at many grocery stores and get them changed to cash. May be wrong but used to do this with no difficulty.

[firehorse]

148. I use rolls of pennies to buy things that cost a dollar at the dollar store.

We have a coin jar, and every few months I roll coins while watching TV. I bring the coins to the bank or sometimes spend them one dollar at a time. But I don't think I'd bring a loose bunch of change and try to spend over $5. It creates a long line for those behind.

[kestrel91316]

111. I own a small business and have NEVER EVER even NEEDED to

deposit loose change. I am forever running over to the bank to GET change. I can't imagine a business like Sav-a-Lot that does a lot of cash business wouldn't use up that much loose change in about two days. Probably less. They are just asses.

I'd be tempted to file a complaint with the stte attorney general that they were not willing to accept legal tender.

[efhmc]

120. You know that's right. I have had many cashier ask me for/be

happy to get change.

[kestrel91316]

200. Stores go through HUGE quantities of change. They have to run to the bank

for it. Even me, with my teensy little practice and most sales being check or cc.

[elocs]

114. Evidently my bank is a little more enlightened.

When I had a newspaper motor route I would come in every week with over $200 in change to deposit and they would simply dump it into their machine to be counted. I saw other business people do the same. Never had to roll any coins, ever.

[efhmc]

121. Again, my gson's bank take his rolled coins but have also told

him he does not need to roll but he loves to do it.

[ingac70]

18. Places are funky about that....

Years ago I tried to buy stuff with a roll of quarters (bank rolled, no self rolled) and the clerk got all pissy and said "we don't take those!". I just left my stuff at the counter without saying a word and went on my way. It should be illegal to refuse US currency in the fricken US!

[JI7]

21. well, can't they just open it up and count it ?

were they worried it wouldn't be enough for something ?

[ingac70]

22. No way they would have counted it....

I used to wait tables and rolled change to deposit in the bank. I always wrote my account number on the rolls. The tellers acted so bitchy about that I started swapping my change on weekends at a McDonald's I used to work at and the manager was pleased to do it.

[JI7]

20. i really don't understand the reasoning behind this policy

yeah, i get it would take more time. but i don't think most people would use change like she did. they would be rare cases.

[totodeinhere]

92. I'm not defending the policy at all, but the reasoning might be that the transaction might take too

long and cause other customers to have to wait in line, especially since they operate with a bare bones staff. I know that if I saw someone in front of me paying with coins I wouldn't mind the extra wait, but not all customers might have that attitude.

[blueamy66]

107. Then open up another freaking line.

I'm sick of waiting cause the manager is trying to cut costs by only having 1 or 2 cashiers open...and this is on the freaking weekends.

Never mind the lack of people to bag my groceries!

[efhmc]

123. Take the coins to the service desk. This has worked in the

past. Maybe will now.

[octothorpe]

219. That would be a valid-ish concern with pennies or mixed change, but this was all quaters

How long could it take to count out thirty-five dollars in quarters? I'm guessing most could do it in a matter of three minutes.

[Vehl]

23. Isnt it Illegal?

To refuse to accept money in any form? (I might be wrong about this)I remember reading somewhere that the money(be it coins or notes) printed by the US mint can be used in any form and/or combination.

Can the lady seek legal redress?

This is a heart breaking story. The Store cashiers are asses!
:(

[Xithras]

31. No.

The law says that all businesses in the United States must accept American currency, but that simply means that it would be illegal for a company to require payment in Pesos or Euros. The law also says that paper dollars and coins are recognized by the government as American currency. From these two laws, many people wrongly assume that businesses have to accept paper money or coins...but the law doesn't actually say that.

The law requires that American businesses accept American currency, but it doesn't actually specify any particular form of that currency. They can require credit cards only, checks only, cashiers checks only, wire transfers, etc. The only limitation is that they MUST accept amounts specified in American dollars.

Legal: "We only take checks"
Illegal: "We only take pesos"
Legal: "We don't take cash payments over $50"
Illegal: "We take cash, but not American cash"
Legal: "We only accept credit cards, and will charge you $10 for this service"
Illegal: "We only accept credit cards, and will charge you €10 for this service"

[lonestarnot]

34. They could be pressed. Money is fucking money.

[JVS]

40. They could always just choose to boot you from the store instead of making the sale.

People holding only loose change is not a protected class.

[lonestarnot]

35. True that, if a stink were made by enough customers, what we all go to jail? hmmmmf.

Bad press.

[JVS]

37. I'm neutral on this.

Yeah, it could be bad press. On the other hand, if I had to stand behind people and wait for change to be counted, I'd be annoyed and I would favor stores that have more prompt customer service and policies against bringing in a lot of change. Then again, I quit shopping at Aldi's because I got sick of always waiting behind people who were either running a restaurant or hoarding food (seriously, who buys 12 gallons of milk at a time plus a bunch of other shit?) I also doubt that the woman in the article was surprised to learn they wouldn't take so much change. Most people learn that lesson as kids after scrounging up a bunch of coins for some toy or special item. Also the reason that the store doesn't want her money is the same reason that she and her family were able to have it as savings: spare change is a pain in the ass to do transactions with and that's why it was in that jar in the first place.

[lonestarnot]

77. Why are you in such a rush? :)

[Name removed]

132. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

142. Deleted message

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[hfojvt]

95. I always figured that coins were better money than bills

bills, after all, are just pieces of paper, but coins are metal, which has more use-value than mere pieces of paper.

[eilen]

203. Wow, you must be really impatient

Aldi's cashiers are lightening fast.

Seriously.

I go to Price Chopper and Tops and feel I am patient with WIC customers ahead of me with 2-3 separate orders. But I get really impatient when it is just regular customers and the cashier acts like he/she has just one arm and my shopping is causing them one big inconvenience.

[tropicanarose]

199. I agree. This is ridiculous

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

78. Deleted message

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[lonestarnot]

79. political and organizational applications of psychology

[lonestarnot]

85. "Keep talking like that, and someone will shoot you someday."

Just what the fuck do you mean by that?

[lonestarnot]

89. not may, not maybe, not perhaps, not could, but "will" shoot you. Still waiting for your response.

[Xithras]

213. Wow. Did I miss something?

Did someone say something about shooting ME? WTF was the deleted message about?

[marlakay]

24. Sheesh money is freakin money!

that mom already felt bad, how awful to make her feel worse….ugh…

[Agony]

26. It sez "In God We Trust" on the stupid thing. isn't that enough for these idiots?

i think that was sarcasm, but I am not sure?

[Duer 157099]

27. I'd have gone through the line multiple times, each time

paying $5 or less.

They'd still get all my change and get to stick to their stupid rules.

[NBachers]

28. Jeez, I've been in that position plenty of times, scrounging for change to get food on the table

This poor lady must feel bad enough already; now she's made an example of in front of everyone.

What a bunch of creepy assholes.

[christx30]

154. If I saw that woman,

I would have taken her $32 in change, given her $50 in bills, told her I was bad at math, and wished her good luck.

We all need help from time to time. I was able to buy $9 in groceries for myself (speghetti) with change, which kept me fed unti I got my check.

[Missy Vixen]

30. We shop at QFC and Fred Meyer

We'll be calling Fred Meyer in the morning, asking for the manager, and asking him or her what their policy is.

We know the QFC manager at the store we shop at. I have a feeling we'll be having a face-to-face chat.

This is unacceptable, especially when one stops to think that anyone walking into a grocery store with $32 in change is most likely desperate to start with.

-MV

[blogslut]

32. Pennies and nickles I can understand - even dimes but, quarters?

Anyone who's ever worked a register knows that you can never have too many quarters.

[lonestarnot]

33. That is against the fucking law! She should have called the ... oh.

Nevermind.

[Codeine]

53. It's perfectly legal. Just dumb.

I run a grocery store and I take change all the time. People need groceries and I need their money.

[Horse with no Name]

60. Exactly.

Most of the grocery stores around here are trying hard to keep their doors open.

I have heard second and third-hand stories of that happening around her. In one story from an employee, the manager was running the register (regional chain)and a woman came up with a few groceries and had mostly nickels and dimes and pennies to pay for them. The groceries came to about the amount she had in change. The manager (who is a republican, by the way--but not a tea party idiot)told the woman to keep her change and he no-saled the purchase. He pulled the woman aside (who had a few kids with her)after she checked out and told her that if she needed anything else, to get it.

Human kindness exists out there...and hopefully as times get tougher, people will start seeing more of it.

[lonestarnot]

75. Now that is a lovely grocer!

[lonestarnot]

74. And the talk of doing away with the dollar bill and making a coin instead?

What of that if it happens? Not so dumb, another richie rich agenda.

[quakerboy]

184. How is it legal?

How can anyone refuse legal tender for payment? I am under the impression there are laws regarding legal tender and its uses. If you can chose not to accept one form or another, wouldn't that undercut the validity of the issuer of that form, and by association any other form issued by that entity?

[Codeine]

187. It's only required in the case of debts.

If I haven't given you groceries you owe no debt. It's no different than a night clerk at the Stop-n-Rob who won't take a $100 bill.

[quakerboy]

192. Interesting

Trying to think how that standard applies, and the logical extensions.

I can pay my water and electric bills in pennies, but probably not my mobile bill as that's prepaid. And my internet bill would depend on which day, as they send it out before the service period starts, but the due date is after the service period starts.

Or if I walk into one of those trinket stores with a "you break it, you bought it" sign and smash the three ugliest things on the floor, they would have to accept pennies

So possibly if she had just opened all the containers and licked the contents, this gal could be considered to owe the store for the contents, and then could pay in coin unless they still refused to let her purchase the items?

[Skittles]

36. gawd

it wasn't like she was someone just trying to be a pain in the ass - it was something she needed to do....that store manager - WTF

[lonestarnot]

221. Skittles!

:bounce: :hug: :hi:

[DeSwiss]

41. K&R n/t

[BlueCheese]

43. I think the stores should have taken the quarters in this case.

It can't take that long to sort out $32 in quarters. Having said that, I think it would be reasonable for a store to decline transactions that would take too long. If someone had a $32 total and came up with an unsorted sack of pennies, I think it'd be reasonable to say--Hey, come on, there are people behind you in line. Can you count these out for us first, or get the stuff changed at a bank?

[Horse with no Name]

62. Lots of transactions at the grocery store take up time.

So...how do you feel about couponers?

They take up lots of time.

What about new cashier trainees that don't know their produce codes and have to stop and look everything up?

They take up lots of time.

What about people buying a months worth of groceries at a time?

They take up lots of time.

What about Food Stamp, WIC transactions, and a cash purchase all in one?

They take up lots of time.

What about folks who buy cigarettes or Lottery Tickets? Most stores lock them up at a separate location and the cashier has to go across the store to get these items.

They take up lots of time.

What about allowing old people to write checks? It takes forever for some of them to write it out because of decreased motor skills, poor vision or generalized weakness.

They take up lots of time.

Why is that counting out MONEY in any form or fashion is more of a burden than any of these others types of transactions?

I'll give you the answer. Aesthetics. It is because most people do not want to SEE poverty and the stores do not want their other customers to feel uncomfortable about what they are being forced to witness.

[totodeinhere]

93. You might have hit on the real reason. But I don't think that anyone in this thread is defending the

policy. We are just guessing why the store decided to have the policy even though we don't agree with it.

[blueamy66]

109. Exactly

I guess we all need to learn patience...including me

[quakerboy]

185. Incorrect

They all have coin machines now. They make cash from those machines. Kind of an anti-discount. Its not aesthetics, its greed.

[suffragette]

45. Good on the kind stranger who offered to help

Boos to the stores who have these policies, especially the one who could not see their way to alter them for someone clearly in need.

[barbtries]

46. that happened to me at a gas station years ago

and i was about out of gas. people can be such fucks. then the next guy comes along and says i'll buy your change. people can be so great. :cry: the meanness in this place is getting to me.

[Lizzie Poppet]

64. The thing about gas stations...

The thing about gas stations is that with some exceptions is that you pay after the product is delivered (and not recoverable in any practical manner). In that situation, if all I had was change, I'd say: "This is the money I have. Take it or leave it."

[barbtries]

67. not for gas

prepay. they wouldn't take my cash. i took off on fumes.

[Lizzie Poppet]

72. Wow, that sucks!

It's usually only pre-pay around here (Portland) after 10PM, and not at all stations.

[thesquanderer]

81. You generally need to prepay at gas stations...

...in areas where people are more likely to be scrounging for change in the first place. I'm not saying it's any kind of "conspiracy," though... practically speaking, it's also where they are likely to have a greater number of "drive-offs" if they didn't require prepay.

[Bluenorthwest]

125. Of course in Portland, you are not pumping it, you sit there

they pump. An attendant is present at the car. In all other states save NJ, the only employee is in the cubicle or 'store' and the added security issues mean prepay is the only way they do it. Here in Oregon, we fuel differently.....

[eilen]

205. Long Island too. nt

[barbtries]

175. here in NC

and in CA where i come from it's always prepay. i didn't even really know that there were gas stations left that let you pump before you pay! lol

[prismpalette]

118. its my job

My significant other works at a service station and is always happy to take change because as long as people are paying, he has a job. Maybe checkouts should be aware their jobs depend on people checking out with whatever form of payment they have.

[AsahinaKimi]

48. There are these change machines that some supermarkets have

In San Francisco, where you can dump your jars of change into, and it will count your money. Then give you a reciept that you can bring to the cashier. That receipt can either be used to buy store items, or will be given back in the form of dollars.

I used to bring a big plastic jar to this store all the time, and get back cash. The only other way to do it, is to go to a bank, get your own paper rolls, and roll them youself. Bring them back to the Bank, and they will give you cash in exchange.

[annabanana]

52. Those machines charge a chunky fee for that.. An amount that a stressed

budget might not be able to afford.

[AsahinaKimi]

55. I don't remember too large of a fee but in any case

Its free to get paper money rolls from the bank, and they don't charge for exchanging coins for cash. I have done both at times.

[smokey nj]

61. The fee is 10%.

[GoCubsGo]

56. Most unions will do that for nothing.

You don't even have to roll the coins. Just dump the money into a machine, and no fees like banks and store machines charge. I have a big jar of pennies headed that way soon...

[AsahinaKimi]

59. I love collecting those coins

Though most of the time, I do use the change as a tip, especially if I go to the bakery to get a loaf of fresh bread, what ever change they give me back, goes into the jar, with ususally a dollar on top.

[Guilded Lilly]

177. Yes. Just take to the bank. We all know how much they love taking money in...

and yes, they might ask you to roll it, but they wouldn't charge 10%. Our local banks have never turned down change that I know of. Many of the larger grocery chains now have banks inside their buildings as well.

[Ohio Joe]

49. The Albertsons in SE Denver will take change

I've paid more then $20 in change and they did not even blink, much less comment.

[lunatica]

50. Some people like to hurt those who are already hurting

they make up random rules for their own convenience and act like they're written in stone. I've always hated that about this country. Americans like their rules. They act like breaking their rules simply can't be done.

[southernyankeebelle]

54. This country has lost all compassion. Makes me sick. No wonder god has given up on america.

[rug]

57. One of my most depressing moments was in Sav-a-Lot.

Next to the Spam was generic spam. Next to the checkout was a cardboard box full of discounted dented cans of generic spam.

[Cresent City Kid]

63. My father used to own a laundrymat

I went to the A&P across the street almost everyday to buy food with quarters. I avoided spending more than a few dollars at a time to avoid embarrassment, but it never occured to me that someday a store would not accept legal tender. Today, I see people buying a single bottle of water and a bag of chips with a credit card. Maybe it's because of my advanced age, but I can't see that as normal. If the nature of money is going to evolve, fine, but we can't have this process prevent people from buying food.

[idiotgardener]

86. laundromat

[kestrel91316]

116. "Laundrymat" is a colloquialism and not necessarily a misspelling.

[Cresent City Kid]

220. Especially in New Orleans

It looked a little funny typing it, I had never used it in writing. I just spelled it like we pronounced it.

[madmom]

65. Ok here's what I would have done, if I had the time. Separate the food stuffs

into $5 lots and go through the line however many times it took. What would their argument there be, well we can only take $5 from each customer? after every transaction she was technically a "new" customer. Leave their crap on the floor or counter, see how long it takes to put it back, I'll bet counting the quarters would have been quicker.

[Tsiyu]

66. They better get used to taking change

It may be all the payment they get if the economy doesn't improve soon.




(Where I live, you can pay with change. Appalachia is used to it, not pretentious or lazy about it and no shaming.)

[treestar]

68. Cash is cash

I could see them asking her to wait so that it doesn't hold up other customers, but geez.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

69. I believe that in America this is illegal.

A lot of countries have laws explicitly permitting people from refusing payment in large numbers of small coins. My understanding is that the USA doesn't, though, and turning down legal tender money is not allowed.

That said, IANAL.

[Codeine]

70. We can refuse any currency we want, be it coins or large bills.

hat said, it's just dumb -- all you get is a pissed-off customer and a lost sale. I need to keep my customers happy so they keep shopping in my store and I need their money, regardless of its denomination.

[Lenomsky]

100. In the UK it's true a store can refuse coinage over a set level ..

I have no idea but would guess around £5GBP this is also true for Banks although your own Bank will always oblige if counted & bagged which are then weighed. Following the US lead I'm transferring to a Credit Union over the next week or so.

Tragic story my heart goes out to the poor woman and her family.

My local store is only too happy and actually asks me for small coins 20p and above. Sometimes I simply take a bag of coins and return later when counted and they give me notes. They want my business and my small change.

----------------------------------------

I'm a regular reader of DU and this is off topic but could somebody explain to me how your social welfare system works? I understand this varies from state to state. PM is fine or point me to a thread that elaborates.

In the UK through our National Insurance System a worker pays around 12% and an Employer tops this up with around 14%. It may sound a huge % especially for those that are never in need of support but I feel it's fair if you earn more you pay more and support those in need.

I currently receive around £65 per week Job Seekers Allowance (there is no time limit but certainly some red tape if unemployed for too long a period), rental accommodation is paid in full indefinitely, mortgage payments (interest only) will be paid for 1 year with possible extensions (you are not required to pay this back). Health Care is free for all regardless including Dental Care if unemployed. National Insurance also covers a small State Pension at retirement age.

Our system is not perfect and is abused however I feel it remains a necessity as do most people in the UK (I'm pretty sure on this). A vote winner is always the National Health Service and Schooling.

I guess what I'm getting at is what happens when you have breached the US Welfare payment time limit?
How is rent paid, how do you eat, how do you pay for heating etc The basics that everyone should have.

[PSzymeczek]

134. To your last question,

It isn't paid, and you don't eat. You are out on the street and screwed. You learn to debase yourself and try to beg, which is illegal in many places and sets you up to be arrested.

[Lenomsky]

209. WOW .. a harsh reality

Think I'll avoid moving to the US then .. my partner is a US citizen.

[MedicalAdmin]

146. You commit a class d or c misdemeanor. Enough for jail but not for prison.

Throw a brick through a store window, sit down and wait forth cops. Voila - 2 months of meals and a bed. The only downside is the occasional rape which (sarcasm) peasants should be used to 30 years after Reagan.

[eilen]

207. Well, this how one lady does it....

The *GUERILLA CAPITALISM WEBPAGE *

http://home.earthlink.net/~anitaastrologer/


"WRITER/ researcher Anita Sands Hernandez raised four children as a single mother on welfare, (AFDC), back when it existed. Now, since Clinton's TEMPORARY AID DEAL, TANF, welfare, AFDC, ATD all do not exist. What exists is a cheap workers’ pool for the city. Yep! The state /City makes today’s single mommy leave her kids and bus 20 miles to a freeway to clean trash at dawn working til 5pm, bussing home in the dark, enabling the crumbum city to fire all city workers who make (rather MADE,) l0 times the dole worker’s salary. DAYCARE costs are exorbitant so Mom ends up with zilch, nothing, just an aged, bent back. And Homeless on the street with her children . So in all of Anita’s writings, she recommends a guerilla capitalistic approach for the aid recipient with chidren.

FIRST a doctor’s letter stating that the single parent cannot clean freeways. We assure you that his/her body will have a reason. Second, that parent should start earning all he or she can with a COTTAGE INDUSTRY!Out of the horrific experience that welfare was, even then, this writer/ researcher wrote CONFESSIONS OF A BOTTOM FEEDER And FRUGAL LIFE STYLETIPS -- a pair of free, online Seminars, and over the years expanded them to l00 then 200 seminars or chapters, files all free. The GUERILLA CAPITALISM WEBPAGE (you’re on it now,) is a PORTAL TO THE articles. The Maze will lead you to every one, just trust the maze and walk it. The BOTTOM FEEDER lore will instruct the reader in HOW TO EARN A DHARMIC LIVING and teach your kids to do likewise and leave the government out of it. It is an ARCHIVE for PARENTS CONCERNED about THE FUTURE day-- when the Government and economy both fall into a shambles. While these three websites are an inspiring BEST CASE SCENARIO AVENUE, they also are a worst-case scenario survival guide, but a path to pursue in a life emergency.

Anita faced Single Motherhood by rolling up her sleeves and starting a cottage industry! Then she began to look for a job and she noticed how little TRICKLE DOWN THERE REALLY WAS for WORKERS. After deductions, daycare, she couldn’t have paid the rent. With Welfare she could JUST pay the rent. She needed money for food, as food stamps were about half of what the family ate. So she researched cottage industries. The information on wage slavery, how a man today earns less than a man in the 50’s, (If he were paid the same minimum wage they earned back then, he’d be earning 170$ an hour in today’s money terms. What happened? We have been basically like LOBSTERS in a three decade SLOWLY HEATING UP POT. This made her create the GUERILLA CAPITALISM WEBPAGE that you’re on, the CONSPIRACY PAGE, THE MELTDOWN PAGE,which answer the question “WHY is it that our POLITICIANS STIFF us WORKERS ?.” (They work for the oligarchs, CEOS’ transnationals is why. DUHHHH!) AND THE FIX INDEX PAGE, all the things we need to accomplish AND last, the FUN ACTIVISM website, how we and chums, family memberspals can link in solutions"


Please note that I do not endorse Anita's methods. However, she is one prolific lady.

[Lenomsky]

210. Thanks for the info I understood Clinton was ..

more or less forced by the FED to limit spending how ironic that Dubya could rack up the largest deficit ever.

I'll have a browse of Anita's site but it's not easy to read.

Thnaks

[eilen]

214. She's very hard to read and is kind of loopy but also entertaining.

at least I think she is kind of funny.

[DRoseDARs]

165. The US Treasury Department disagrees, unfortunately. n/t

[louslobbs]

76. K&R n/t because I have nothing nice to say about these "corporate people."

Lou

[thesquanderer]

83. I guess it's change they can't believe in (n/t)

[lonestarnot]

88. Snort.

:rofl:

[idiotgardener]

87. I know this store.

There is a store right across the street that is much, much cheaper. I wish I knew how to tell "Jean".

[SoapBox]

90. Now these businesses won't accept American money!

F*ck'n outrageous!!!!!!!!!!

[PatrynXX]

91. lemme guess. nobody can count anymore :(

sad... another reason to go to a grocery store with a credit union inside..

[kentuck]

94. I would think that stores would have to take any legal money...

I think she should sue.

[Codeine]

189. Doesn't work that way.

there's no legal violation or grounds for any suit.

[woo me with science]

96. People don't matter anymore.

This country is losing its very humanity.

Look at what gets defended even here on DU, by people who call themselves Democrats. We are losing our priorities and our human compassion.

Some days I can't stand to read any of this crap. It is too depressing.

[chervilant]

191. Well,

I'm in complete agreement. However, all of my rebuttals hereinabove have been deleted. Apparently, one mustn't point out when someone else is being patronizing or offensive...

[woo me with science]

202. Keep speaking out about what is right

and what is wrong. Every time someone makes a stand for what is right and human and decent, it matters. We can't afford to forget these things or let them be rationalized away.

We are the 99 percent. Thanks.

[blackspade]

98. What the hell?!

I'm with her. Money is money.

This is a bullshit policy designed to skim an extra 10% from folks down on their luck.

[mistertrickster]

99. When I worked in retail, we were always short of change. She's helping them out. nt

[dotymed]

101. You're broke, use the Change machine and pay 10% more.

? Capitalism knows no bounds.

I have a "change jar" that is almost full. I assume we can still go to the bank, get wrappers and sell them the change for no fee? I would not be surprised if we can't.

I guess the "change jar" has become a thing of the past.

I am always amazed when I see (usually young) people throe their pennies away when they get them for change. I have also noticed that some (esp. gas stations) just round off your change. They usually say (around here anyway), do you want the penny? Or they round up your change and give you a nickel instead of the 4 cents you should receive.

[GoCubsGo]

113. Bingo!

If they take $32 in coins, they don't get their cut from the Coinstar machine at the door. See how that works?

[efhmc]

102. Inconvenient?For Whom?The STORE?They are there to serve

their customers. This is one of the basic problem for usa business. They serve their corporate members and not their customers.

[McCamy Taylor]

108. Stores are NOT there to count the hundreds of pennies in your bank because you are too lazy to do it

yourself. Plenty of people roll their own coins and take them to the bank. Why should check out lines in stores get backed up because someone does not want to be bothered? Most of the time this is not about poverty. It is about laziness.

Imagine yourself in line behind someone with a huge jar of small change listening while she talks about how this is so much easier than trying to roll it herself and take it to the bank. Imagine this going on for thirty minutes in a store with a single register. Imagine customers leaving in disgust.

[kestrel91316]

117. The person wasn't trying to pay with pennies. She was trying to pay with

quarters, which is a HUGE difference.

[efhmc]

126. Lack of empathy for others is another thing which is ruining this

country.

[Enthusiast]

166. Too lazy?

How in the fuck would you know what the circumstances are?

[barbtries]

178. no, it's about poverty.

and as was also noted elsewhere, the woman's change was in quarters.

[chervilant]

211. Imagine

one of those disgusted customers carrying a resentment about this event for days, weeks, months, even YEARS after...

[McCamy Taylor]

104. People (who are not even poor) take advantage of stores to empty their piggy banks.

Customers take advantage of a cashier to dispose of the contents of a piggy bank or money jar because they do not want to be bothered rolling the coins themselves. One woman actually said "This is easier than taking them to the bank, because they want me to roll them first." In that case, it was a small store with a single register before Christmas. I waited thirty extra minutes as they counted out her pennies, nickels and dimes. The line was up to about 10-12 people by the time she was done.

[lonestarnot]

106. meh. What when they do away with the dollar bill and make it a coin?

That be ok to reject too?

[Iggo]

137. That's not what happened here.

But you knew that.

[chervilant]

212. Wait!

I'll get out my tiny violin...

[Downtown Hound]

110. One of the reasons why I like the self-checkout stands

yes, I realize that they do take jobs, but they're awfully nice for avoiding embarrassing situations like this with asshole clerks. You want to pay with change at one of those, the machine doesn't care!

[efhmc]

124. I hadn't thought of that.

[laundry_queen]

144. I was just going to comment on that

The place I lived in a few years ago had a really hard time finding cashiers so they put in some self-checkouts at 2 of the stores (no, really, I lived up in a northern part of Canada, where no one wanted to take the cashier or serving jobs because they didn't pay enough, and they started at $15-18/hr. No one wants to live up there, so there's always a labour shortage. McDonald's started at $14/hr). I always used it to use up my change. The machine didn't care if I put in penny after penny, or quarter after quarter. It just counted it for me and I got rid of some change. About the ONLY thing self checkout is good for.

[varelse]

112. The comments are kind of disheartening

I've had to pay for groceries with change before - it's embarrassing enough without having the cashier refuse to take the money. I'd be happy to wait a little longer in line if it meant the kids could be fed.

[classof56]

127. Just read an article about a movement to save money by eliminating paper dollars

Seems that Republicons, eager to pare government spending in these austere times (according to the NYT), have championed a changeover from greenbacks to dollar coins. Looks like this may be the wave of the future and perhaps merchants might want to rethink their way of doing business as customers walk in with bags full of coins to complete their transactions. Be sure to point out it's what Repubs want. Should make it easier to deal with. Sigh...

Glad Fred Meyer came around. I spend a good deal of time and money at my local Freddie's, so I feel better about them knowing this. Roguevalley is right--I'm pretty sure Fred himself would never have put up with a customer being treated that way. He was, of course, one of a kind!

Peace

[Iggo]

130. How much of the 10% fee from the change counting machine goes to Sav-A-Lot?

[DontTreadOnMe]

131. Ok, this is the way she should have handled it.

They stated they would accept $5 worth of quarters.

So buy $5 worth... and hold up the line as long as possible. Then go around and get back in line... and buy another $5 worth of items. Hold up the line even longer. What, they have a rule where you can only buy with change once a day? Bring in all your kids... have them buy $5 each. Ask a few people in the store to buy something for you. Tell everyone around you in line what is happening, I would not have been embarrassed about it at all. I would have made a HUGE scene at the store. I would have made the store manager very uncomfortable. The store manager would not be happy with me in that situation. I would have been asking for price checks, and changing my mind about items at the register. Can you add this gum... oh wait, I don't want the gum now.

I have zero patience with stores that have poor customer service or unreasonable policies. I make it a very public scene when it occurs.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

133. I Would Have Accommodated Her Because I'm A Softie

But it is an inconvenience to the people waiting behind her and what if there was another person with a lot of coins.

[perdita9]

139. Legal tender is Legal tender

I hope that women sues their butts. Also, publish the names of these stores so people will know to take their business elsewhere. There's no reason to put someone in hard times through this.

What a bunch of d@#ks!

[Recovered Repug]

147. Coins are legal tender for all debts, public or private.

In this case, there is no debt so the store can place restrictions on what form of payment they accept.

[DRoseDARs]

167. As asinine as the situation is, the US Treasury Department agrees with that assessment. n/t

[Swede Atlanta]

141. This is atrocious but....

I suspect the reason the clerk at both stores said now was one of two things:

(1) They aren't smart enough to count that change OR
(2) They couldn't be bothered...they were just too lazy and would rather take a debit or credit card transaction

The last time I checked coins were legal tender. If I was her, I would raise this with the Secretary of State and state Consumer Affairs division. The stores may have violated the law and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent thereof. After all they always have signs saying if you steal or try to buy cigarettes or alcohol and are not of legal age they will so prosecute. What goes around comes around.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

150. We would have bought her change if we had been behind her in line if we had the cash.

Then when it was our turn in line, we would have walked away from our items and made sure to say loudly and clearly to the cashier and to the manager on the way out that we would not be back because this is a policy that does nothing but hurt the poor and is horrible customer service. I don't shop in places where one person's money is better than someone else's.

[totodeinhere]

168. Unfortunately you were not the one in line behind her and apparently the person who was felt

differently about it than you do. It's a sad fact that there are a lot of callous uncaring people around.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

194. Believe me. I understand.

I live in Oklahoma, a state where people only pull their head out of their asses and care about other people after a natural disaster or a terrorist attack. And let me tell you I call people out on it as often as I can.
Duckie

[totodeinhere]

204. I have run into the type too here in Nevada. But in fairness, there was a good person in this story.

The stranger was moved by Jean's tears -- and disgusted with the store's policy -- so he told her he'd buy her change from her at no fee.

[Beacool]

157. We have become a nation of insensitive and callous bastards!!!!

I don't know if it is the 24 hr. cycle of news, sometimes brutal, that permeates our psyches; but people seem to be far ruder and colder than in my childhood. Service stinks in most places, particularly when flying. Customers everywhere are treated as a necessary evil. Common courtesy on the street has also gone downhill. Why has the fiber of society defrayed so much? I'm not even that old and I'm yearning for another era.

:(

[totodeinhere]

170. That applies to most of us but the rich are treated like kings and queens. n/t

[Enthusiast]

158. The cruelty of a faceless corporation.

How could they do this? How could our nation allow such a callous disregard for their fellow human being?

See how this perfectly illustrates that corporations are not people? This is a teaching moment.

[roamer65]

159. There is no empathy anymore.

That is exactly is what is going to take this world right into upheaval.

[benld74]

161. BOVINE DUNG! Pure and simple!

[OwnedByFerrets]

164. Fucking assholes

[Ken Burch]

171. It's sickening to read a lot of the comments at the Katu.com link

Many of them are bashing the woman and defending the store on this.

As someone who grew up watching that station from time to time(I was raised in Salem, where we always watched the Portland stations for the evening news back in the day), I was familiar with KATU's efforts to present itself as, essentially, the most conservative network affiliate station in Portland. They were always the ones who's editorial comments during election time, for example, included opposition to the measures calling for public utilities in Oregon.

[northoftheborder]

172. Too sad story. These times I've never seen, and hoped I never would.

[masmdu]

174. Of course the store is wrong....but why not just go through the line 6 times for 6 seperate 5$ buys?

[Guilded Lilly]

176. Money is money. Period. The lack of common decency however...

is appalling. The acceptable level of meaness in this country has reached a hideous level. Going the extra step or even having a heart, by God, has seemingly become way too much of an *imposition*.

This wasn't an *inconvenience* for the customer. This was a humilitating slap in the face for someone who was down. It would behoove EVERY DAMNED store owner to worry more about being a human being with a kind heart, and teaching every single employee the art of compassion...than to make demands on what form the money they make is in.

We get nothing but ugliness from the top levels down, with no accountability whatsoever. It is now time to MAKE people and businesses accountable for inappropriate behavior.

We must all use the power of the written word, the pen, the blogs and even the damned media to recapture heart in this country. Perhaps then we can hope that a bit of the national soul is repaired.

[woo me with science]

206. Well said. nt

[sulphurdunn]

180. Increasingly,

paying cash draws attention and sometimes suspicion. Nobody gives plastic a second look.

[quakerboy]

181. Legal tender is legal tender

How can it be legal to refuse to accept payment in legal tender? If that is allowable, what meaning is there in that printing on our bills, "this note is legal tender for all debts public and private"? What value is there in money?

Arguably, coinage is the most valid money, as I understand that paper bills are not even US government issue.

By the standard that even though coins are legal tender, businesses are not mandated to accept them in payment, Couldnt I start a business, provide a product or service, then refuse to accept payment in anything other than wheatback pennies, and sue them when they cannot pay me?

[Recovered Repug]

215. There is no law stating that cash (or coins) must be accepted for

services not yet rendered. The lady in question did not yet have a "debt" to the store, so the store had the right to place whatever restrictions they wanted to on payment.

[Synicus Maximus]

182. The store was wrong not to take the change of course, you would

think the manager would know that taking $32 in change would save the store a few dollars as they would not have to buy 3 rolls of quarters from the bank. I save my change and roll it from time to time and use the rolled coins at a couple of local stores. They love it, it saves them money and time.

[dkf]

186. The Challenges of Spending a $100 Bill

Some businesses won’t accept the $100 bill.

We recently came across a Facebook status update from a friend of Bucks who had trouble spending a $100 bill. Here’s what she wrote: “I think it wld be easier to spend hungarian florints than pay with a $100 bill in nyc. people act like you’re a con artist for even trying.”

In a Bucks post on Tuesday, “The Merchants That Don’t Take Cash,” we wrote that a growing number of businesses are no longer taking cash and that those no-cash policies are legal. We also noted how it’s perfectly legal for businesses to decide not to accept a certain denomination like a $100 bill.

According to the Department of the Treasury’s site, businesses “may refuse to accept large denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy.”

http://bucks.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/10/the-challenges-of-using-a-100-bill/

[minavasht]

188. I'd split

the order in 6 $5 items and then go trough the register 6 times, paying $5 in change each time.

[dkf]

190. The Merchants That Don’t Take Cash

http://bucks.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/sorry-no-cash-please/

Hacienda Encantada Resort & Spa in Cabo San Lucas Mexico doesn’t accept cash for purchases on its property.

The no-cash policy is fine by me, since I rarely carry cash anymore and tend to use my debit or credit card to pay for everything anyway. Still, the policy seems to be spreading everywhere, from airlines to hotels to restaurants, so we thought we’d check the laws (if any) on the subject and gather a list of places where our greenbacks have been turned away.

First, as to the question of legality, it appears that no-cash policies are perfectly legal in the United States.

According to the United States Department of the Treasury’s site, there is no federal law requiring that businesses  accept currency or coins as payment for goods or services. In fact, according to the government Web site: “Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether or not to accept cash unless there is a state law which says otherwise. For example, a bus line may prohibit payment of fares in pennies or dollar bills. In addition, movie theaters, convenience stores and gas stations may refuse to accept large-denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy.” And it seems that few state laws mandate accepting payment in cash.

[eridani]

193. Some branch banks have CoinStar type setups with no fees charged

The generally expect that you do business there, but I've used the machine at my local branch even when not depositing.

[azygous]

195. Oh hell! I tried to pay at Wal-Mart with four rolls of quarters

And the clerk said, "I'll have to call the manager." I replied, "It's MONEY! You HAVE to accept it!"

I am a little 70 year old woman, but I don't take any shit. He insisted on counting every damned coin, and I said "Fine!"

But I walked out with my groceries. People need to stand their ground.

By the way, my bank branch was right across from the checkout, and the reason I paid with quarters was because the damned bank refused to buy back my rolls of coins.

Fucking shitheads.

[DainBramaged]

218. I like you

:toast:

[AllyCat]

197. They apologize for the "inconvenience"??? Jerks! Apologize for acting like a...holes

and then we can talk about what "sorry" means. I'm going to start asking at stores I go to and ask them about this policy and make a stink if they have a cutoff. Jerks.