US money

[Charles Anthony]

There are primates with all four paws having an opposable digit.

Does that help them weed out the underground economy?

[M.Dancer]

The advantage of coinage over paper currency is that it is practically indestructible. The Federal Reserve can blow up tomorrow or the minting stopped by raging anarchists but the existing currency can still circulate successfully forever and ever amen.

The only modification I'd make is relatively frequent replacement of currency with currency of new design, so as to weed out the "underground economy".

How would that weed out the underground economy?

I have a friend who is slightlu eccentric and believes come armeggedon that coin will be the ....umm....coi of the realm.

When he moved to PEI he had his coin reserve loaded on pallets and shipped via transport because of the weight which was in the hundreds of pounds...

[jbg]

How would that weed out the underground economy?

The mechanics of exchanging "old money" for "new money" in large amounts might be daunting, particularly when all cash transactions over $10,000 USD have to be reported to the Treasury

[BZBee]

I think this first trade-off between ease of use is completely destroyed by cashiers who give change by handing the paper bills in your palm and then piling the coins ON TOP of the paper. This always boggles my mind. Can somebody explain this to me?

The cashier counts and removes the change from the cash register all at the same time (it's more efficient that way) and I think it's natural for him/her to put the coins in the most convenient spot (usually the hand closest to her/him that is being held out) so, providing your reflexes are quick enough, why don't you just pull back the hand that the bills are placed in and quickly replace it with the palm of the other hand to receive the coins? Or, if you're female and carry a purse, just open it up and shove it toward the cashier so the money can be deposited inside (you can sort it out later); if you're a man open your wallet to the bill compartment so only the bills will be placed there and then the cashier will be forced to hand only the coins to you. I don't mean to be derogatory but are you serious? What would you have them do instead?

[Charles Anthony]

I don't mean to be derogatory but are you serious? What would you have them do instead?

I am very serious.

I would rather they just put the coins in my palm FIRST and then put the paper on top. It is not like I am asking for much of an extra effort. They must give both of them to me anyway.

I can manipulate both the coins and paper with my one hand that way as I walk away with my merchandise.

Your suggestion forces me to stay in line and hold up the flow at the check-out counter.

Are YOU serious?

Are you saying that you would rather float a slip-sliding stack of coins on top of paper bills???

I should use two hands instead of one???

I forgot to also mention that I only have two hands. Furthermore, nobody else is going to carry my merchandise for me. Thus, my other hand is usually ahead of the game and has already cleared my merchandise off the counter. Should we all hold up the flow at the check-out counter?

As an aside, this reminds me of something else: cashiers should hand back your plastic card immediately after they swipe it instead of waiting until everything ELSE is done. That way, you can put it into your wallet, grab your merchandise and walk away with your receipt. Again, the alternative is to have the customer wait and wait and wait until everything that the cashier must do is completed and then hold up the queue while putting the card away.

[jbg]

The question of where to place the paper relative to the coins should be a confidence issue in Parliament, since it relates to money. Let's head to the polls on that issue.

[Charles Anthony]

JBG, I will second that motion!

[Wilber]

I think this first trade-off between ease of use is completely destroyed by cashiers who give change by handing the paper bills in your palm and then piling the coins ON TOP of the paper. This always boggles my mind. Can somebody explain this to me?

Good point. I hadn't thought too much about it but agree. I hate it when they pile the coins on top of the paper. Some of them invariably slide off onto the floor. Putting the coins on the bottom should be basic training for cashiers. If they still counted change in the old manner where you start at the amount charged and count up to the amount paid it would be the natural thing to do.

[guyser]

As an aside, this reminds me of something else: cashiers should hand back your plastic card immediately after they swipe it instead of waiting until everything ELSE is done.

Fraud, they want to check the card against the actual signature. IN my case they should not bother, the sig has been worn off.

[Charles Anthony]

to check the card against the actual signature.

Correct.

However, there is no need for debit cards.

[geoffrey]

to check the card against the actual signature.

Correct.However, there is no need for debit cards.

There is no need for credit cards really either. I'm sure the fraudster would look at the signature and know how to remotely sign it before using the card.

Sheesh.

It's a waste of time.

[BZBee]

I am very serious. I would rather they just put the coins in my palm FIRST and then put the paper on top. It is not like I am asking for much of an extra effort. They must give both of them to me anyway.

I can manipulate both the coins and paper with my one hand that way as I walk away with my merchandise.

Your suggestion forces me to stay in line and hold up the flow at the check-out counter.

Are YOU serious?

Are you saying that you would rather float a slip-sliding stack of coins on top of paper bills???

I should use two hands instead of one???

I forgot to also mention that I only have two hands. Furthermore, nobody else is going to carry my merchandise for me. Thus, my other hand is usually ahead of the game and has already cleared my merchandise off the counter. Should we all hold up the flow at the check-out counter?

It's just the way they count out your change...bills first, then change and that's the way it is placed in your palm; they are supposed to count it out for you but many don't. This isn't an issue for me because I very rarely use cash anymore but when I do, I do get out of the way before messing with putting away my money...it's the courteous, sensible thing to do. For those of us with two usable hands, it shouldn't be such a big deal.

As an aside, this reminds me of something else: cashiers should hand back your plastic card immediately after they swipe it instead of waiting until everything ELSE is done. That way, you can put it into your wallet, grab your merchandise and walk away with your receipt. Again, the alternative is to have the customer wait and wait and wait until everything that the cashier must do is completed and then hold up the queue while putting the card away.

You mean you don't swipe the card yourself? We do here in most places for credit or debit (we push the appropriate button) and sometimes, for credit charges, the cashier will ask to see the back of the card. I feel much better when they ask to verify the signature. If my signature wears off, I'll order a new card....a card without a signature can cause you big trouble if lost or stolen.

[Wilber]

It's just the way they count out your change...bills first, then change and that's the way it is placed in your palm; they are supposed to count it out for you but many don't. This isn't an issue for me because I very rarely use cash anymore but when I do, I do get out of the way before messing with putting away my money...it's the courteous, sensible thing to do. For those of us with two usable hands, it shouldn't be such a big deal.

I agree with Charles, they should change the way they count out change. Start with amount due and count up to the amount you gave them, the time honoured way that was used when people didn't have machines to tell them how much is due. That way they would start by giving you the coins. Most don't count out change anyway because the machine does it for them. I find that whenever there is glitch in the system and the register doesn't tell them how much change to give, half the time I have to tell them because they have trouble figuring it out for themselves.

It really doesn't matter to the cashier whether they give you coins or bills first. They should be doing what is most convenient for the customer. It's the courteous, sensible thing to do.

How do you use both hands to mess with your money, grab the stuff you just paid for and get out of everyones way at the same time? When it comes to waisting time, I hate picking coins up off the floor because someone has slapped them on top of bills and they have slid off. The older a person gets the more difficult and inconvenient it becomes.

[Wilber]

to check the card against the actual signature.

Correct.However, there is no need for debit cards.

There is no need for credit cards really either. I'm sure the fraudster would look at the signature and know how to remotely sign it before using the card.

Sheesh.

It's a waste of time.

It may be a waist of time but if you don't sign your card, it is stolen and used, the bank can deny any responsibility.

Debit cards aren't perfectly safe either.

Debit card skimming

Cash may not be the most convenient thing to use but it does have its advantages.

[BZBee]

I agree with Charles, they should change the way they count out change. Start with amount due and count up to the amount you gave them, the time honoured way that was used when people didn't have machines to tell them how much is due. That way they would start by giving you the coins. Most don't count out change anyway because the machine does it for them. I find that whenever there is glitch in the system and the register doesn't tell them how much change to give, half the time I have to tell them because they have trouble figuring it out for themselves.

It really doesn't matter to the cashier whether they give you coins or bills first. They should be doing what is most convenient for the customer. It's the courteous, sensible thing to do.

How do you use both hands to mess with your money, grab the stuff you just paid for and get out of everyones way at the same time? When it comes to waisting time, I hate picking coins up off the floor because someone has slapped them on top of bills and they have slid off. The older a person gets the more difficult and inconvenient it becomes.

First off, the machine does not count out the change, it tells the cashier what amount to give you but the cashier has to count out (hopefully) the correct amount.

Technology has changed the way they count out the change….so maybe a return to the old technology is the answer? Now, you know that’s not going to happen!!! If it doesn’t matter whether they give you coins or bills first then it should not be a big deal for them to do the opposite of what they’re used to doing so, might I suggest that while the cashier is ringing up your order, you politely say to her “when you give me my change, please make sure to put the coins in my palm first and then the bills.” If she doesn’t comply, then reprimand her for not complying with your request or ask to see a supervisor and complain…that should speed up your exit. I see old people do this effortlessly all the time without dropping their change or holding up the line…..they don’t seem to have a problem with chewing gum and walking at the same time either.

[Wilber]

Put a couple of bills on your hand, pile some coins on top then close your fist. See what happens.

[BZBee]

Put a couple of bills on your hand, pile some coins on top then close your fist. See what happens.

Because as stated before I very rarely use money, I had to try your suggestion. I put 3 bills in my palm, then a bunch of coins (2 quarters, 3 dimes, 5 nickles, and 15 pennies).....know what happened? None fell out; and my hands aren't all that big. I doubt that 25 coins would be needed to make your change.

[geoffrey]

It may be a waist of time but if you don't sign your card, it is stolen and used, the bank can deny any responsibility.

I sign my cards, but I don't really care if people check.

Cash may not be the most convenient thing to use but it does have its advantages.

Absolutely. I try to only pay with cash at pubs and resturants now. What are they doing with you card in the back? Who knows. Like I've said, I'm not really concerned with financial loss, that's why people use credit cards, they are protected. I am concerned though of the hassle.

[BZBee]

Absolutely. I try to only pay with cash at pubs and resturants now. What are they doing with you card in the back? Who knows. Like I've said, I'm not really concerned with financial loss, that's why people use credit cards, they are protected. I am concerned though of the hassle.

I don't go to bars but at restaurants I would pay with cash when possible. At the grocery store, however, I use my debit card because I save more money that way. Before debit cards, I would go to the bank to withdraw the amount I thought I would need to pay for the groceries and then have to make sure I didn't go over that amount...thankfully, I never did and always had money left over. That leftover money would never make it back into my bank account....I'd spend it on crap (my fault, I know), but now all that is taken out is the actual cost of the groceries and the rest stays where it belongs....in the bank until needed.