insufficient change

I was tricked or it was just a mistake?

@besweet (9861)

Ireland

February 22, 2020 12:08am CST

Yesterday we went for our weekly visit to the Friday market for groceries. There are some usual stands we prefer and the first stop was for the cherry tomatoes, main ingredient for our Greek salad. They were super fresh and I was excited but had only large bills to pay and the guy complained because it was a small purchase. He was talking to other customers at the same time and I have him a 50 bill, and he gave me back only 39 in change. My tomatoes cost just 8. Since I didn't count the change at the time and realized it after leaving his shop I didn't go back. The amount was very small, equivalent to around 80 cents, however I paid 37.5% more for these tomatoes. I want to believe that he just made a mistake because it was a very busy time. Has this ever happened to you when you are shopping with cash? How would you react?

13 people like this

14 responses

@rappeter13 (8608)

• Romania

22 Feb 20

I am sure it was only a mistake. It can happen, especially with smaller amount of money. I was in both situations, being the one that "deceived" and and the one who "was deceived".

2 people like this

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@rappeter13 (8608)

• Romania

22 Feb 20

@besweet Then it was only a mistake, which can happen with everybody

1 person likes this

@besweet (9861)

• Ireland

23 Feb 20

@rappeter13 It happens yes, the amount was small so I am not sad, but next time I will remember to count..

1 person likes this

@besweet (9861)

• Ireland

22 Feb 20

I am shopping from this stand every week, I don't think he would do it on purpose.

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@JudyEv (326054)

• Rockingham, Australia

22 Feb 20

I guess I'd just try to be more alert next time. Perhaps it was an honest mistake.

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@besweet (9861)

• Ireland

22 Feb 20

I hope it was because I am a frequent customer and buy from him every week. It was my mistake also because I didn't count.

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@LadyDuck (458591)

• Switzerland

22 Feb 20

I am sure it was a mistake, I would go back and tell him.

1 person likes this

@besweet (9861)

• Ireland

22 Feb 20

It was just a few cents, and it was a busy time. Also they speak another language and it's often difficult to explain what happened. Next time I will just count my change. It happened to me once before with the taxi from the airport and when I counted the wrong change in front of the the driver he said that's all he could give me.

2 people like this

@besweet (9861)

• Ireland

22 Feb 20

@LadyDuck I think he didn't speak english very well or he thought I was a tourist and didn't know the currency. I didn't argue, just need to remember to be more cautious.

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@LadyDuck (458591)

• Switzerland

22 Feb 20

What the taxi driver said makes no sense, what if he had no change to give you? That is not a reason.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (306704)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

23 Feb 20

I like to be optimistic, but I know how some people are and don't think it was a mistake. You would have had a hard time convincing him of his mistake had you gone back. You saved yourself the hassle and embarrassment. You'll be more aware next time.

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@besweet (9861)

• Ireland

23 Feb 20

Yes I also think it wasn't worth it to go back. Also the native language here is not english and it can be difficult to communicate sometimes in the local market. I am responsible for not counting my change too, this was my lesson of the day.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (306704)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

23 Feb 20

@besweet It's a good lesson.

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@lovebuglena (43080)

• Staten Island, New York

24 Feb 20

I would've gone back there to try and get my money back. Thing is, how do you prove that he gave you less money than he was supposed to, unless you do it right after you get your change? Hopefully, it was just a mistake but that doesn't bring your money back.

1 person likes this

@besweet (9861)

• Ireland

24 Feb 20

There is no way to prove it, I realized after leaving the store. If it was a big amount I would go back and try though. However with all those people I doubt that he would remember the amount and the change.

1 person likes this

@amitkokiladitya (171936)

• Agra, India

22 Feb 20

Yes it is happened many times so I always check my money back before stepping away from the counter

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@besweet (9861)

• Ireland

22 Feb 20

I think I was distracted also because it was very busy time. But something was wrong with the count and I realized only after going to the next grocery stand.

2 people like this

@besweet (9861)

• Ireland

22 Feb 20

@amitkokiladitya we need to be more careful, with small amounts it's ok but if it was more I would feel sad for my oversight.

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@amitkokiladitya (171936)

• Agra, India

22 Feb 20

@besweet sometimes it happens especially when I am in a hurry

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@snowy22315 (170201)

• United States

22 Feb 20

I think things like that have happened, but usually it is to my benefit. Probably not worth going back though, he would likely argue with you.

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@besweet (9861)

• Ireland

22 Feb 20

I didn't go back, it was a busy time and it was too late when I realized. There are no receipts either in the market so it's more complicated.

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@May2k8 (18094)

• Indonesia

22 Feb 20

It happens often and therefore I always recalculate it before stepping out.

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@besweet (9861)

• Ireland

22 Feb 20

I should have done that, it's my mistake. It was just a few cents and I think he just counted wrong, because of all these people waiting to buy the groceries.

1 person likes this

@UmiNoor (4483)

• Malaysia

23 Feb 20

Since the grocer was busy as you had said, he might have just made an error when giving back your change. You should just turn back and ask for the correct change.

@marlina (154166)

• Canada

22 Feb 20

Once in a while, the cashier makes a mistake. We have to watch

1 person likes this

@besweet (9861)

• Ireland

22 Feb 20

Yes I need to be more responsible and check my change. It was a small amount so I didn't feel sad.

@DianneN (247099)

• United States

22 Feb 20

I’m sure he was just too busy, but I’m very alert when change is due me.

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@besweet (9861)

• Ireland

22 Feb 20

The mistake was from me also, I should have counted the change. It's ok because it was a few cents but next time I will be more careful.

1 person likes this

@thelme55 (76484)

• Germany

22 Feb 20

Maybe you have to count your change before you leave the shop. I always count my change before leaving the shop.

1 person likes this

@besweet (9861)

• Ireland

22 Feb 20

Yes that's what I should do. It was very busy and people wanted to shop behind me so I left without counting.

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@happylife1 (13404)

• Karachi, Pakistan

22 Feb 20

Yes in busy time some one may have mistake in counting

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@besweet (9861)

• Ireland

22 Feb 20

I want to believe that it was a mistake, but it's his job and they need to be more careful. I also need to count before leaving the shop.

@piyushbhatia1 (11698)

• India

9 Jul 20

The receipt should include the money paid and the change to be given back.