Overcharged by a penny
By Lena Kovadlo
@lovebuglena (51522)
Staten Island, New York
April 6, 2026 10:16am CST
I went to the Turkish store yesterday and bought a package of bulgur for my mom as she was out of it.
The price was $2.99.
I gave the cashier $3 at checkout.
I expected to get one cent back but she didn’t give me anything.
If the register was out of pennies, she should’ve told me “I’m sorry I cannot give you a penny back because we’re out”.
She did no such thing.
And there was no other explanation.
Since it was only a penny, and I didn’t feel like dealing with it, I didn’t ask her where my penny is but, out of principle, I should’ve said something.
I looked at the receipt before I left the store and it says that I actually gave her $2.99 when in fact, I actually gave her $3.00.
8 people like this
7 responses
@lovebuglena (51522)
• Staten Island, New York
6 Apr
Yes. Also, if they are out of pennies they should excuse you and not over charge you. This whole rounding up thing is ridiculous.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (55892)
• Canada
6 Apr
I am sorry that you encountered this.
The penny hasn't been taken for currency and hasn't been minted in our country since May 2012.
Even if you have a roll of them today, they are only worth their weight, not currency.
And everything is rounded up or down, you only pay the exact amount if it is a digital transaction.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (51522)
• Staten Island, New York
6 Apr
Wow! How come? Is it because it’s expensive to produce?
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (55892)
• Canada
6 Apr
@lovebuglena Too expensive and nobody wanted to use them any longer.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (51522)
• Staten Island, New York
7 Apr
@Juliaacv Well, there’s no way to avoid the penny. Even if you price things so they don’t add up to pennies tax will not guarantee that.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (51522)
• Staten Island, New York
6 Apr
I usually don’t pay cash but some stores have a minimum for card use so no choice but to pay with cash.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (188468)
• Boise, Idaho
8 Apr
@lovebuglena ........Yes, there sure is. I think that companies have set up protocol where they don't give change whenever they can get away with it and such to counter the lack of pennies that will be available in the future. It has to be in their favor, not the customer's when all is said and done.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (51522)
• Staten Island, New York
6 Apr
That’s true but the existing pennies did not vanish. There are millions if not billions in circulation.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (51522)
• Staten Island, New York
9 Apr
@celticeagle what will they do next? Get rid of the nickel, which also costs more than 5¢ to make?
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (85642)
• United States
6 Apr
A lot of stores are using the BS excuse of the US Mint no longer making pennies. Here’s what you tell them in response: there are over three billion pennies in circulation, so there is no shortage. No new pennies, but you gladly accept old ones. 
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (51522)
• Staten Island, New York
6 Apr
I could’ve given her $3.04 and she could’ve given me 5¢ back. But I bet if I gave her $3.04 she would’ve been confused and not known what to do.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (51522)
• Staten Island, New York
7 Apr
Yeah. Only a penny but still. Pennies have not gone extinct. They are still in circulation. Prices shouldn’t have to be rounded up.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (84165)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
6 Apr
It could easily be a computer error, but it's only a penny. Are you really going to miss it?"
@lovebuglena (51522)
• Staten Island, New York
6 Apr
It’s not about the penny itself; it’s the principle of it. If you owe me a penny, you should give me the penny or at least explain why you’re not giving it to me.
