- Advertisement -

Lagrimas Perdio .

AS a child, I was an avid collector of coins, especially since at the time all there were were centavo coins. These days, I find myself falling back on old habits but this time it’s because there seems to hardly be any use for centavo coins. Except for when their weight becomes burdensome in our wallets and handbags, we actually never give it any thought.

- Advertisement -

There has been so much talk lately about how the economic downturn is affecting everyone’s wallet and capacity to spend. That point cannot be argued. But there seems to be a casual disregard for money if the issue boils down to centavos. I first noticed it a few years back when I would go to the grocery store. Although I try to have some loose small change in my wallet, there are always times when I have none available. I was a little bit surprised when the cashiers would ask me if it was okay to give me candies instead of exact change. Since I always like to have some mints in my bag, I would just nod and not give it any more thought.

One day, someone mentioned that the candies they were giving instead of coins in the grocery store were more expensive than if you bought them at a sari-sari. Which turned out to be true, after some diligent research. So I was getting shortchanged in more ways than one. I started asking the cashiers why they never seemed to have enough small change in their register drawers. The response was that all they had was what was given to them at the start of the shift, and there was never enough.

So lately I’ve been paying more attention to how coins change hands. First and most important, it upsets me that the newly minted editions of our peso coins look so similar to each other. The possibility of handing over less or more money has exponentially increased. This would not be so disturbing if the law of averages applied, but people only seem to notice the wrong coins if they are being paid less than expected. I hardly if ever hear someone return a large denomination coin if the mistake leans in that direction.

We also don’t really have any appreciation for our peso coins anymore unless it’s to keep them stored in the car ashtray for the park-your-car boys or the randomly wandering beggar. I actually prefer to save them for those little kids who hang around gas stations selling the ubiquitous rags, who will usually get more than what the rags I’m buying are worth. A friend suggested that I store them in a sock and keep it by my bed to swing at intruders if they should violate my domicile. I’ve discovered that those things pack quite a punch.

I’ve also noticed that there are no more one centavo coins circulating. Now this actually does distress me. As customers, we have placed too much trust on the electronic cash registers which automatically figure out how much we have purchased, how much tax we have to pay, and how much of a discount we get, if any. Those things are programmed to be very accurate, in fact, down to the last centavo. As consumers, we do our best to appear alert and aware. When that piece of paper tape is handed to us, we usually will check that there are no extra or additional charges loaded onto the bill. Then we quickly scroll down to the total and reach into our wallets to hand over payment which is almost always more than the bill. So we know we’re going to get change. Rarely does a customer pay the exact amount.

And for some unexplainable reason, we seldom check if we have gotten the exact change back. We will look at the tape which tells us how much change we are supposed to get, and if the money is anywhere within range of what it’s supposed to be, we’re okay with that. I don’t know that there is anyone who has diligently taken the time to keep track of how much we have not gotten back in change. I’m almost sure that number would be up there.

Grocery cashiers have gotten used to asking the customer for change. I can’t quite fathom the logic there. Perhaps in a way they are trying to appear that they are concerned with making the exact transaction, while preserving the integrity of their cash drawers. We also have unthinkingly gotten into the habit of looking in our wallets to see if we have it. But that usually doesn’t go any lower than a peso.

I’ve gotten into the habit of actually checking my change before I leave the cash counter. It makes the cashier a bit nervous, and certainly irritated because I tend to hold up the line. But I figure it’s my money so they better wait. What I’ve discovered is this: the law of averages only works out for the benefit of the cashier. They will either overchange or underchange the customer, depending on how they have been trained to handle these situations. The other day, the cashier lady owed me 0.85 centavos. I figure she should have given me a whole peso instead and make up the shortage of 0.15 centavos with her next customer. But no. She was certainly displeased when I brought this to her attention.

It is understandable that it is the responsibility of management to supply their cashiers with enough coins in their change fund to be able to conduct business quite comfortable while their shift lasts. But then I actually asked a cashier what happens to the excess they have in their cash box, since I’m sure the amount is not going to match what they register spits out when they do am X or Z reading at the end of the shift. Evidently, any excess must be surrendered to management, and any shortage must be deducted from the cashier’s pay. So now I’m wondering just how much money retailers actually make on this change business.

I’ve gotten to keeping my change in clear glass jars, and taking out what I think I will need before leaving the house. If people paid attention to how those centavos add up, they would be surprised at how much money they are allowing to slip through their fingers. Until things change, all I can say is this: President Duterte, please make sure that change is coming.

Disclaimer

Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.

- Advertisement -