BD: Business idea for you!

My transaction at Crate & Barrel today, purchasing 4 glasses and a mixing bowl as wedding gifts:

Cashier: The total is $89.10
Me: How much was that bowl again?
Cashier: $32.95
Me: If the glasses were $10 each and the bowl was less than $40, why is the total before tax $82?
Cashier: The total is $89.10
Me: Yes, I see that, but that's not right. The glasses cost $40, the bowl costs less than $40, the total before tax should be less than $80.
Cashier: That's the total before tax, it's $82.70
Me: That's not right
Cashier: The total is $89.10. Do you want to look at my screen?
Me: Yes, I do. See. That says $39.80 for the 4 glasses. That says $32.95 for the one bowl. But the total says $82.70. That can't be.
Cashier: Oh.

He then quickly punched a bunch of buttons and the total changed to what it should have been.

What the hell? There was nothing other than those two items listed on that screen. From the numbers I'd guess that there was an extra glass scanned it a $9.95, but it didn't show on that screen. The 4 glasses were grouped together and showed a single price of $39.80. Seemed a little fishy.

But worse was that it took 5 minutes to convince this guy that <$40+<$40 shouldn't be more than $80.

I made cherry chip cupcakes. I think I'll go have one!

Even I know that!

I think because 99.9% of anyone on a cash register these days cannot even make change. Back in my days of retail (when dinosaurs walked the earth) we had to know or learn how to count change back. Now all cashiers do is scan the item and believe the screen, no thought involved whatsoever.

Good for you for paying attention, I wonder how many don't?

That's what Crate & Barrel are relying on....

Well spotted, GD.

Hey, I'm a cashier!!

But, really, some days I don't want to think and do leave it to the register. I try and pay attention, though. I don't like guests to be ripped off.

I'm sure I'm not innocent, I've made mistakes. BUT they will have anyone cashier. My sweet little friend, straight from the Philipines, they had her cashiering. They had me shadow her and then keep an eye on her. She finally asked me, showing me the money, the dimes 'These are 1 cent?' and the quarters, with all of the different state designs, totally confused her!!

One cashier totally just let the screen do the talking and almost gave the guest back over $60 in change! I forget exactly what was the problem but their total was only about $10.

Well, GD, good for you!! That is your right, too bad that it happened, I think it makes everyone look bad when someone screws up so bad. I wonder why it happened? Did you look at your receipt? Any clues?

{oh, and I'm really not offended....I am one who would like to think I am good at math and money....some days though when things are hectic and too many guests going through, I'd rather not think.}

BD: Recipe books, m'dear! The food's not the hard, part, it's everything else involved in opening a food service business that is :)

Somehow I could totally see you becoming a master baker and opening your own cupcake business...

(waiting for the obvious misquotes to roll in)