Would you like your pennies back?

[minniebeth]

Ok, this is one I've not come across before...
Busy night, we did our once in a great while drive thru fast food.
I gave the girl bills that required change. She then asked me, would you like your pennies back? (It was other change as well.)
Um, yes? My money, even if it is pennies...

I know some businesses do the give a penny/take a penny thing, but I don't think this was the case.

A penny saved is a penny earned. Yes, darn it, I want my pennies back!

 

[chisnpeke]

I work at an amusement park in the summer and you'd be surprised how many people just leave their pennies or throw them on the ground like trash

If it's a group of young guys they usually don't want their pennies, I guess they don't want to carry them around, so I usually ask them if they want their penny back. Otherwise, I assume people want it and they can leave it if they wish.

 

[Imzadi]

You were at a drive thru fast food. They barely know how to count to five. Requiring them to count pennies, "One. . . two. . . umm. . . I think three . . . " is a real strain for their brains.

 

[kimblebee]

You were at a drive thru fast food. They barely know how to count to five. Requiring them to count pennies, "One. . . two. . . umm. . . I think three . . . " is a real strain for their brains.

wow. Just wow

 

[karibritt01]

A lot of the fast food places around here have a charity donation jar by the registers and the windows. (Ronald McDonald House and such.) Maybe she was refering to something like that for the change?

 

[karibritt01]

wow. Just wow

It was a joke. I thought it was funny.

 

[retrodactyl]

It was a joke. I thought it was funny.

Many of those kids are great students working to get through school.

 

[akcire]

A lot of the fast food places around here have a charity donation jar by the registers and the windows. (Ronald McDonald House and such.) Maybe she was refering to something like that for the change?

I was thinking the same thing. Any time I go to McDonald's I will take any change that is paper money, and ask the clerk to put the change in the box for Ronald McDonald House--I volunteer at my local house and know what an excellent job both the international and the local organization does with fiscal responsibility. Nearly all of the money collected in the USA goes into programs to aid families of sick children (more than 95%), and I think I read that in Canada 100% of the donations go toward services.

I would much rather the money go to the charity, than into the vast cavern between the seat and the center console never to be seen again, or the light fingered kid that works at the car wash.

 

[Imzadi]

wow. Just wow

I see you are not from the U.S. Perhaps your experiences in fast food restaurants are different than ours. There was a great thread that was titled something like, "Oh no... You couldn't be that stupid!" but the search didn't bring it up. Maybe someone else has it bookmarked. It was like 15 pages.

It was a hilarious thread full of TRUE stories where so many of us have experienced times at McDonalds drive thrus where you order: 3 cheeseburgers, 2 large fries, 2 shakes, one McNuggets. What you get is: 2 hamburgers, 2 small fries, 2 large Cokes, one McNuggets with only 4 nuggets instead because they couldn't count to 6.

Here is a similar thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=669674

Many of those kids are great students working to get through school.

Well, then my remark doesn't apply to them. . . does it?

 

[Sparx]

I see you are not from the U.S. Perhaps your experiences in fast food restaurants are different than ours. There was a great thread that was titled something like, "Oh no... You couldn't be that stupid!" but the search didn't bring it up. Maybe someone else has it bookmarked. It was like 15 pages.

It was a hilarious thread full of TRUE stories where so many of us have experienced times at McDonalds drive thrus where you order: 3 cheeseburgers, 2 large fries, 2 shakes, one McNuggets. What you get is: 2 hamburgers, 2 small fries, 2 large Cokes, one McNuggets with only 4 nuggets instead because they couldn't count to 6.

Here is a similar thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=669674





Well, then my remark doesn't apply to them. . . does it?

considering the people in the drive through don't prepare or box the food, it doesn't really apply to any of them, does it? perhaps your overall blanket statement of ignorance should be aimed at those who take the order? or those who prepare it. considering that the way it typically works in the restaurant is one person takes, one prepares, and yet another gives you your order.

i think a lot of people on this thread, and the one you linked would take alot away from a shift at mcdonalds, considering its SUCH an easy job and so many stupid people do it. oh yes, i'm sure none of you would ever miscount an order, or forget to put anything in the bag. i mean, you've never forgotten anything or made a mistake in your life, right?

 

[kimblebee]

I guess I just don't see the humor in calling people who work at fast food places stupid. I'm sure I'll get flamed for taking it too seriously but I don't see the humor in it at all. Usually I let things roll off my back but for some reason this really bugs me.

 

[Pluto 2]

You were at a drive thru fast food. They barely know how to count to five. Requiring them to count pennies, "One. . . two. . . umm. . . I think three . . . " is a real strain for their brains.

really uncalled for

 

[sunnyday123]

Back to the topic!


We were at the mall and DD went to buy a water bottle that was 99 cents. She came back and I said, "where's your penny?" because we put ALL of our change in a special wallet I carry to save for....Disney. ( duh!) She said he didn't give it to her. So we went back, stood in line, and I watched the same guy give 3 different people back their pennies. Was ours a special penny he wanted to keep?

When we got to the counter, I told him he "forgot" to give her the change back from her water bottle. He kind of fumbled and tried to hand it back to me, but I said, "No, it's hers."

I'm with you, OP. It's just a penny, but it's my penny darnit and you were basically trying to shortchange my kid because she's a kid.

 

[powellrj]

I guess I just don't see the humor in calling people who work at fast food places stupid. I'm sure I'll get flamed for taking it too seriously but I don't see the humor in it at all. Usually I let things roll off my back but for some reason this really bugs me.

No flames from me, I gotta agree with you.

As for the penny thing, if they have one of those collection things outside the window, I just always tell them to put them in that otherwise I throw them into my change collector. I figure she had been yelled at a few times from people that didn't want to mess with the change that it was easier to ask first.

Both of my DSs worked the drive-thru during high school and its not a job for the weak. They have had things thrown through the window at them, been cursed at and threatened. I always make an effort to be extra nice because you never know what the person in front of you was like. I think the drive-thru is like the internet, people sometimes feel anonymous and think they can act differently than they normally would.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

I do find it strange that they would ask if you wanted your pennies. I can see if they are asking if you wanted to donate, but to just come out and ask abotu pennies without an explaination I find weird.
I always put some of my change in the Ronald McDonald House jar because my sister has used it with her family when my niece was ill and I do appreciate all they have done for her family at the worst time of her life.

On another note I find that calling people that work at fast food restaurants "less intelligent" is just ignorant. At least they are doing something with their lives. I actually have great respect for anyone that can work in such a fast paced job with people looking down on them like they are better than them. It is really fast paced job that i would never want to do. Do you know how many hours the managers work and how little pay they get? Give them a break and just take the service with a grain of salt.

 

[KramBerries]

You were at a drive thru fast food. They barely know how to count to five. Requiring them to count pennies, "One. . . two. . . umm. . . I think three . . . " is a real strain for their brains.

I thought the joke was funny, but I think the over-the-top PC reaction to it is even funnier. I guess we all have different senses of humor. And for the record, I did my share of fast food jobs.

Personally, I think that they should quit making pennies and nickles. Just round everything to the nearest dime. A penny in 1945 was worth more than a dime is today. How much more inflation must occur before people are finally willing drop pennies? They just aren't worth the cost of carrying around anymore.

 

[VillageMama]

I guess I just don't see the humor in calling people who work at fast food places stupid.

Me, either. Around here I'm noticing that the employees are often retirement age people who can't afford to retire, thanks to lay-offs and the recession.

I'm not a fan of the penny but I certainly expect to be given all of my change!

 

[crazyme5kids]

It doesn't matter where you spend your money, from Saks to McDonalds, people of ALL ages can no longer count change back, much less figure out the change to give a customer. The reason why? The registers do the work, no one needs to think about it. Lack of intelligence has nothing to do with it.

As for me I like getting my pennies back.

 

[lucas]

I opened this thread because the same thing happened to me just the other day at CVS. Yes, I want my penny back.

 

[ericamanda01]

I thought the joke was funny, but I think the over-the-top PC reaction to it is even funnier. I guess we all have different senses of humor. And for the record, I did my share of fast food jobs.

Personally, I think that they should quit making pennies and nickles. Just round everything to the nearest dime. A penny in 1945 was worth more than a dime is today. How much more inflation must occur before people are finally willing drop pennies? They just aren't worth the cost of carrying around anymore.

I totally agree with both statements.