It's the principal of the matter ... Literally!
One of my all time greatest annoyances (i refuse to use the saying "pet peeves"), is getting gypped by cashiers. It's one thing to have it done every once in a while, but it happens allllll the time for me! Maybe i'm just super unlucky, but i seriously have to question a receipt at LEAST once a week.
Just the other day I was picking up a bbq sandwich with mashed potatoes, and it rang up as $13.00. Being in DC i didn't think much of it at first, but then a co-worker's meal rang up at $11.00, and he got MORE than i did, i was like wtf!, right?
So i asked the cashier why mine was more, and i got back a very annoyed "well i'm Sorrrrrrry okay, i thought you got something else!" wow. Anyone who knows me can tell you i'm a pretty un-confrontational guy (you know, those who curse people out in their head, but never to their face), so why this girl had to get all uppity was beyond me.
At any rate (a saying that i do like), she had a manager correct the bill and i gladly accepted my $3.50 back. That's a HUGE difference!
So, what do YOU do when this happens? Do you go back, cut in line, and begin your questioning - others call this "bitching" - or do you simply let it slide? I don't think there's a solid answer here, but i do know there's a way to avoid it altogether.
How do you avoid this? Simple. Review your total BEFORE you pay.
That's all there is to it. No one else is gonna look out for your wallet, so making it a habit to pay attention can go a long way. And if you slip, don't worry about it - you're only human like the rest of us. That being said, it's not always easy. A whole bunch of variables can play a part in speaking up:
The point at which you notice this discrepancy.
For me, this is the determining factor. If i've made my purchase and am now sitting on my couch back at home realizing that an error has occurred, there's no way in hell i'm going back to raise a stink about it. I usually blame myself for not catching it earlier, and try to take home a nice little lesson from it ;) which i will no-doubt repeat again at another time anyway...haha.
If i notice it while mid-swipe of my credit card, however, you better believe i'll bring it up! These occurrences are the best because i don't even have to think about it - i just react naturally.
The actual amount in question.
I'm willing to guess this is the biggest one for people. If you got gypped a couple of pennies, i doubt you'd bring it up no matter where you notice it, it's just not worth your time. As the amounts go up though, i say from about 50 cents and up, the odds you'll speak up go along with it.
For me, this amount is usually around 75 cents - once it hits that mark, i'll start asking questions right away. Now, if i'm at home realizing this, then forget about it. I'm not gonna waste my time going back. BUT, if i'm at home and the amount is a good $4.00+, i'd be tempted to turn back around! Or at the very least call the store and see if i can do something about it over the phone.
The strictness of your budget.
A couple of dollars to one person can mean a whole lot more to another, especially if you have a family to look out for. At least that's what they say ;) I think your age also plays a big part in this. My grandma would hold up a line for 10 cents, bless her heart, while i was to lazy to pick up a dime yesterday on the street (sorry Mr. Change Race!).
The Confidence you have, or do not have, in yourself.
It takes balls to speak up when this stuff happens, no doubt about it. It's one thing if you're the only one in the store on a weeknight, but you drop that person downtown in DC/NYC during rush hour to complain about 25 cents, you better know how to take it! Every once in a while i can pull this off, but i wouldn't stake any money it.
In a perfect world we wouldn't have to worry about this, but unfort. employees have been known to smoke crack every now and then.
This time around i happened to stand my ground, but I've been known to let more than a few dollars slip out of my pocket in the past. And the only thing i can do to cope is to hit myself upside the head and tell my self i shoulda had a V-8!
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Just the other day I was picking up a bbq sandwich with mashed potatoes, and it rang up as $13.00. Being in DC i didn't think much of it at first, but then a co-worker's meal rang up at $11.00, and he got MORE than i did, i was like wtf!, right?
So i asked the cashier why mine was more, and i got back a very annoyed "well i'm Sorrrrrrry okay, i thought you got something else!" wow. Anyone who knows me can tell you i'm a pretty un-confrontational guy (you know, those who curse people out in their head, but never to their face), so why this girl had to get all uppity was beyond me.
At any rate (a saying that i do like), she had a manager correct the bill and i gladly accepted my $3.50 back. That's a HUGE difference!
So, what do YOU do when this happens? Do you go back, cut in line, and begin your questioning - others call this "bitching" - or do you simply let it slide? I don't think there's a solid answer here, but i do know there's a way to avoid it altogether.
How do you avoid this? Simple. Review your total BEFORE you pay.
That's all there is to it. No one else is gonna look out for your wallet, so making it a habit to pay attention can go a long way. And if you slip, don't worry about it - you're only human like the rest of us. That being said, it's not always easy. A whole bunch of variables can play a part in speaking up:
The point at which you notice this discrepancy.
For me, this is the determining factor. If i've made my purchase and am now sitting on my couch back at home realizing that an error has occurred, there's no way in hell i'm going back to raise a stink about it. I usually blame myself for not catching it earlier, and try to take home a nice little lesson from it ;) which i will no-doubt repeat again at another time anyway...haha.
If i notice it while mid-swipe of my credit card, however, you better believe i'll bring it up! These occurrences are the best because i don't even have to think about it - i just react naturally.
The actual amount in question.
I'm willing to guess this is the biggest one for people. If you got gypped a couple of pennies, i doubt you'd bring it up no matter where you notice it, it's just not worth your time. As the amounts go up though, i say from about 50 cents and up, the odds you'll speak up go along with it.
For me, this amount is usually around 75 cents - once it hits that mark, i'll start asking questions right away. Now, if i'm at home realizing this, then forget about it. I'm not gonna waste my time going back. BUT, if i'm at home and the amount is a good $4.00+, i'd be tempted to turn back around! Or at the very least call the store and see if i can do something about it over the phone.
The strictness of your budget.
A couple of dollars to one person can mean a whole lot more to another, especially if you have a family to look out for. At least that's what they say ;) I think your age also plays a big part in this. My grandma would hold up a line for 10 cents, bless her heart, while i was to lazy to pick up a dime yesterday on the street (sorry Mr. Change Race!).
The Confidence you have, or do not have, in yourself.
It takes balls to speak up when this stuff happens, no doubt about it. It's one thing if you're the only one in the store on a weeknight, but you drop that person downtown in DC/NYC during rush hour to complain about 25 cents, you better know how to take it! Every once in a while i can pull this off, but i wouldn't stake any money it.
In a perfect world we wouldn't have to worry about this, but unfort. employees have been known to smoke crack every now and then.
This time around i happened to stand my ground, but I've been known to let more than a few dollars slip out of my pocket in the past. And the only thing i can do to cope is to hit myself upside the head and tell my self i shoulda had a V-8!
Labels: money management, saving ideas
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posted by J. Money at
12:03 PM
10 Comments:
What a rude cashier!
I definitely say something every time. I am known for checking receipts and watching the screens at the grocery store!
This happens to me a lot too :(
I say something, if you didn't get the product it is free profit for the store, or a sneaky employee who can do a refund later and pocket the cash. Although it is usually an honest mistake.
It is my money, I will stand up for it.
While we're on the subject of not saying things (e.g., pet peeves), you should think about removing "gypped" from your wardrobe. It's am ethnic slur against the Roma, or gypsies, and falls into the "Indian giver" category of sayings based on nasty stereotypes.
I always check my receipts for overcharging. Mistakes, honest or otherwise, happen, and those few extra dollars and cents here and there can add up to a lot, just like everything else!
I also found the "gyp" comment interesting. Found this site, which researched the subject more:
http://www.defectiveyeti.com/archives/000648.html
Of particular note is that it was obviously not intended offensively, regardless of origin. Even in the dictionary, as a noun it may have been a shortening of "gypsy", but as a verb it clearly is just a synonym for "cheat".
dolly iris - Watching the screens is def. a good thing to do! Sucky it happens to you, hopefully it stops soon :)
ck photo - yeah, usually i find it's just a mistake...but you're right, it's your money and you're the only one who has a stake in it!
anonymous - Interesting that you said that, but duly noted ;)
I actually had it spelled "Gipped" at first, but a colleague informed me it was misspelled! So i changed it.
BUT, since you then piqued (sp?) my interest, I googled it and found that "Gipped" was actually slang for "Gypped" and that spelling it with a Y was the correct way.
- http://www.thefreedictionary.com/gipped
- http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_/gipped.html
Who knows what's true and what's not really. I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic or not, but it's good to know that people may take offense.
So thanks for sharing it :)
Who knows when it comes down to it
Ooooh, good researching Anonymous #2! looks like we were commenting at the same time ;)
and that # does add up for sure, just wish i wasn't lazy sometimes!
Good post! I find this happens to me all of the time. It drives my husband crazy when I question the total, but if I am saving at least a few dollars each week or two by paying close attention then that adds up to a few hundred a year!
I also try and use the U-Scan at the grocery store so that I see the price of every item being scanned without any distractions.
Actually, gyp is not a derogatory shortening of gypsy. A gyp is a type of servant at Oxford, (known for taking advantage of his opportunities to get tips out of the students) and comes from the Greek word for vulture.
This is similar to the misconception that the word "niggardly" has some sort of etymological relationship with the derogatory term "nigger" in which the mis-informed take offense simply because words sound similar.
Notably, Gypsy itself can be considered a derogatory term, and I believe the preferred form is Roma.
I always review my receipt before I leave the store. One of my grocery stores will give you the item free if it scans wrong (then you hope you've bought several!). But I've even asked for nickel back if it's incorrect. I just smile nicely and say hey, it all adds up, I might need that nickel!
I thought Indian giver was a phrase reflecting poorly on the whites, not the Indians. It was the whites who repeatedly gave the Indians land reservations and treaties which were then taken back, or not honored.
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