topic Re: Grocery Store Checkers - I have a question for you, thanks. in Community Chat

Grocery Store Checkers - I have a question for you, thanks.

house_cat — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 02:44:45 GMT

I went to my local grocery store on Thursday 12/31 and spent almost $180. I requested $40 cash back, which I rarely do. The checker was very friendly, a man I've seen there many times, as I shop at that store regularly.

I don't spend cash often, and I didn't spend any cash since then. Today I found the receipt in my wallet with the $40 cash back accounted for, but the cash isn't there.

Could I have lost it? I suppose, but it's not likely. I think more probably the checker was telling me about the rewards points and survey at the bottom of the reciept and forgot to give me my cash. There is nowhere else I would have put the cash other than into my wallet with the receipt.

So, to make a short story long - is there any way for the store to tell at this point if there was a mistake with my transaction last week?

When I was a cashier many years ago, we had to reconcile our drawers every night. Is this still the case?

I'm ready to chalk this one up to stupidity on my part for not paying attention, but I'm wondering if I have any other recourse.

Thank you.

Re: Grocery Store Checkers - I have a question for you, thanks.

Reba055 — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 02:52:15 GMT

@house_cat wrote:
I went to my local grocery store on Thursday 12/31 and spent almost $180. I requested $40 cash back, which I rarely do. The checker was very friendly, a man I've seen there many times, as I shop at that store regularly.
I don't spend cash often, and I didn't spend any cash since then. Today I found the receipt in my wallet with the $40 cash back accounted for, but the cash isn't there.

Could I have lost it? I suppose, but it's not likely. I think more probably the checker was telling me about the rewards points and survey at the bottom of the reciept and forgot to give me my cash. There is nowhere else I would have put the cash other than into my wallet with the receipt.

So, to make a short story long - is there any way for the store to tell at this point if there was a mistake with my transaction last week?

When I was a cashier many years ago, we had to reconcile our drawers every night. Is this still the case?

I'm ready to chalk this one up to stupidity on my part for not paying attention, but I'm wondering if I have any other recourse.

Thank you.

I don't work in a grocery store, but they know if they were over.

Edited: That being said, for $40 im not sure I would hassle with it. Not that $40 is not much, but it sounds like you aren't really sure yourself that you didn't get the money. I would probably bring it up to them in a very non confrontational manner and ask if they can check to see it they were over. If it's a big deal, I'd let it go.

Re: Grocery Store Checkers - I have a question for you, thanks.

IamMrsG — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 02:49:10 GMT

@house_cat I cringe for you to hear of this, and understand your angst about it. Why don't you call the customer service desk at your grocery store and ask them about balancing out drawers after a shift? "Couldn't hurt." I wish you the best of luck.

Re: Grocery Store Checkers - I have a question for you, thanks.

millieshops — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 02:51:24 GMT

In the stores I use, they still do count - so if he had a $40 overage, they'd have a record.

My stores give a manager's name and a phone number on every receipt. Call them and ask questions.

ETA - Does your receipt show the cashier's name? Around here I see that on the receipts.

Re: Grocery Store Checkers - I have a question for you, thanks.

1jenniferjuniper — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 02:49:43 GMT

Cashiers are still required to balance their cash drawer. I f the cashier forgot to give your 40.00 cash back their drawer would have been 40.00 over.

Re: Grocery Store Checkers - I have a question for you, thanks.

house_cat — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 02:50:04 GMT

I'm planning to stop by there tomorrow and ask about it, but I thought I'd get some insight before I make a fool of myself.

Re: Grocery Store Checkers - I have a question for you, thanks.

Annabellethecat66 — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 02:53:35 GMT

@house_cat No. You need to contact the store. Tell them the problem. They have to count out their money before and after.

Probably the cashier came up over on his or her 'drawer'. It should show up when they recounted the drawer.

If it doesn't show up and you are pretty sure they didn't give you the money then the boss needs to be notified. Maybe there is a pattern there.

My guess is they just made a mistake and it showed up.

So, call the store and talk to the manager, just the manager (you don't want to start any rumors). Tell him/her the problem. Most stores will give you the money, especially if you've shopped there before.

Odds are the cashier will remember you. Never, never let things go like that. It isn't right to you and if there is a pattern the store manager would want to know to look out for it.

Please get back to us and let us know what happens. Again, my guess is it is just a mistake on the cashier's part and they realized the difference in the til but maybe this store doesn't know who to contact.

Re: Grocery Store Checkers - I have a question for you, thanks.

IamMrsG — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 02:54:35 GMT

@house_cat wrote:
I'm planning to stop by there tomorrow and ask about it, but I thought I'd get some insight before I make a fool of myself.

@house_cat Be sure to take your register receipt with you. Good luck!

Re: Grocery Store Checkers - I have a question for you, thanks.

millieshops — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 02:56:55 GMT

@house_cat I'd really love to see the day that looking for $40 is ever foolish.

I'm returning a little bottle of ground thyme tomorrow. I was buying spices and picked up 2 instead of what I really needed. It's worth less than $3, but I certainly don't need it, so keeping it would be foolish in my mind.

Go try to find that $40!

Re: Grocery Store Checkers - I have a question for you, thanks.

GCR18 — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 02:58:37 GMT

I would go in person and talk to the person at the service desk. During the day, it's likely the service desk manager working. In high school, I worked at the service desk. They will have records. Cashiers get warnings or fired based on those records.

Re: Grocery Store Checkers - I have a question for you, thanks.

Mary Bailey — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 02:59:19 GMT

I'm not a checker but frequently take cash out.

The checkers usually circle cash back & put it on top of the receipt when handing it to me.

I agree with calling the store to see if the checker was over on that day.

Re: Grocery Store Checkers - I have a question for you, thanks.

Lucky Charm — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 03:00:12 GMT

Yes they are very aware of all transactions at each cash register.

I went to use a Home Depot gift card I bought at a grocery store and the Home Depot clerk said it had a $0 balance. I had just pulled it off the cardboard, so I knew it was unused.

Didn't have that little slip they give you for each gift card you buy, but called the grocery store and told them exactly whose line I was in (identified the checker) and they checked the records for that day and that drawer was off exactly $100 I was told. They gave me another gift card for the original amount.

Re: Grocery Store Checkers - I have a question for you, thanks.

Irshgrl31201 — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 03:00:14 GMT

@house_cat wrote:
I went to my local grocery store on Thursday 12/31 and spent almost $180. I requested $40 cash back, which I rarely do. The checker was very friendly, a man I've seen there many times, as I shop at that store regularly.
I don't spend cash often, and I didn't spend any cash since then. Today I found the receipt in my wallet with the $40 cash back accounted for, but the cash isn't there.

Could I have lost it? I suppose, but it's not likely. I think more probably the checker was telling me about the rewards points and survey at the bottom of the reciept and forgot to give me my cash. There is nowhere else I would have put the cash other than into my wallet with the receipt.

So, to make a short story long - is there any way for the store to tell at this point if there was a mistake with my transaction last week?

When I was a cashier many years ago, we had to reconcile our drawers every night. Is this still the case?

I'm ready to chalk this one up to stupidity on my part for not paying attention, but I'm wondering if I have any other recourse.

Thank you.

Yes. You can. Simply call the store and explained what happened. If he made an honest mistake and forgot to give you the money (which does happen) then it will be over. If he stole it then there are store cameras all over the place but especially in the front where the registers are. Unless he has magician like skills, they will be able to see it. I would call immediately.

Most likely he forgot it.

Re: Grocery Store Checkers - I have a question for you, thanks.

Scooby Doo — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 03:07:06 GMT

I worked as a cashier for a grocery store for 15 years. The drawers are counted at the end of every shift and any discrepancy is annotated in the records. They need to keep a record of the cashier's accuracy to make sure they are doing their job properly (and to weed out thiefs). Take your receipt back to the store and show them the register number, date and time of transaction. They should then do an audit and be able to refund your money, if that's the case. It happens.

Re: Grocery Store Checkers - I have a question for you, thanks.

Irshgrl31201 — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 03:10:44 GMT

@Reba055 wrote:
@house_cat wrote:
I went to my local grocery store on Thursday 12/31 and spent almost $180. I requested $40 cash back, which I rarely do. The checker was very friendly, a man I've seen there many times, as I shop at that store regularly.
I don't spend cash often, and I didn't spend any cash since then. Today I found the receipt in my wallet with the $40 cash back accounted for, but the cash isn't there.

Could I have lost it? I suppose, but it's not likely. I think more probably the checker was telling me about the rewards points and survey at the bottom of the reciept and forgot to give me my cash. There is nowhere else I would have put the cash other than into my wallet with the receipt.

So, to make a short story long - is there any way for the store to tell at this point if there was a mistake with my transaction last week?

When I was a cashier many years ago, we had to reconcile our drawers every night. Is this still the case?

I'm ready to chalk this one up to stupidity on my part for not paying attention, but I'm wondering if I have any other recourse.

Thank you.
I don't work in a grocery store, but they know if they were over.

Edited: That being said, for $40 im not sure I would hassle with it. Not that $40 is not much, but it sounds like you aren't really sure yourself that you didn't get the money. I would probably bring it up to them in a very non confrontational manner and ask if they can check to see it they were over. If it's a big deal, I'd let it go.

lol! Yeah, I totally don't agree with that at all. Even if I were a billionaire, I would never be so foolish as to throw $40 away. She isn't sure but it is a very easy fix to find out because if it was a mistake, they will already know about it and if the cashier pocketed it that will be easily proven by cameras and they need to get rid of a cashier like that immediately so I feel even if she isn't sure, she needs to find out.

Re: Grocery Store Checkers - I have a question for you, thanks.

Reba055 — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 03:12:00 GMT

@millieshops wrote:
@house_cat I'd really love to see the day that looking for $40 is ever foolish.

I'm returning a little bottle of ground thyme tomorrow. I was buying spices and picked up 2 instead of what I really needed. It's worth less than $3, but I certainly don't need it, so keeping it would be foolish in my mind.

Go try to find that $40!

i agree, nothing foolish about it. I think the issue is not knowing for sure that you didn't get it that is the hesitation. Only housecat can judge that. I do some things with laser precision and I would do the same thing OP talked about. Straight to my wallet with the receipt. I have been out and about lately not feeling well though and have been a bit ditzy. I'd hate to make the store go through all that and possibly question an employee if I weren't completely sure.

Believe it or not, I was shorted at the bank drive through recently. Of course I noticed right away as I always count my money before driving off. I've never been shorted ever before, ever, at any bank.. They had to shutdown the cashier, I had to go inside, and it took a bit of time for them to count and find it.

Then, no kidding, the next week, they gave me $100 too much (different cashier). I told her, same thing basically followed as before, and yes, she gave me too much, lol. They were so grateful. The cashier was almost in tears because she said she wouldn't have found it until she closed out that evening and it would have taken a long, long time to find it. She thanked me about 10 times, lol.

I have banked there forever. Never any issues. Not new employees. What a fluke!!

Re: Grocery Store Checkers - I have a question for you, thanks.

brii — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 03:19:48 GMT

You should definitely go and tell them what happened. The drawer would have been $40 over that night.

You may have to go through corporate to get your money, but $40 is a lot of money, IMO. I would try to get it back too.

Re: Grocery Store Checkers - I have a question for you, thanks.

sophiamarie — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 03:21:01 GMT

Take the receipt with you and go (or call) the Customer Service Mgr. and tell him/her the name of the cashier which is printed at the bottom of your receipt..... The registers are balanced out at the end of every cashier's shift, so there should be no problem. Personally, I think the cashier just made a mistake. They know where the cameras are and unless he/she has a record of not being honest, then they will gladly give you your money. That drawer should be $40 over......

There is no reason to let this go. Honest mistakes happen all the time.....

Re: Grocery Store Checkers - I have a question for you, thanks.

Reba055 — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 03:42:19 GMT

@Irshgrl31201 wrote:
@Reba055 wrote:
@house_cat wrote:
I went to my local grocery store on Thursday 12/31 and spent almost $180. I requested $40 cash back, which I rarely do. The checker was very friendly, a man I've seen there many times, as I shop at that store regularly.
I don't spend cash often, and I didn't spend any cash since then. Today I found the receipt in my wallet with the $40 cash back accounted for, but the cash isn't there.

Could I have lost it? I suppose, but it's not likely. I think more probably the checker was telling me about the rewards points and survey at the bottom of the reciept and forgot to give me my cash. There is nowhere else I would have put the cash other than into my wallet with the receipt.

So, to make a short story long - is there any way for the store to tell at this point if there was a mistake with my transaction last week?

When I was a cashier many years ago, we had to reconcile our drawers every night. Is this still the case?

I'm ready to chalk this one up to stupidity on my part for not paying attention, but I'm wondering if I have any other recourse.

Thank you.
I don't work in a grocery store, but they know if they were over.

Edited: That being said, for $40 im not sure I would hassle with it. Not that $40 is not much, but it sounds like you aren't really sure yourself that you didn't get the money. I would probably bring it up to them in a very non confrontational manner and ask if they can check to see it they were over. If it's a big deal, I'd let it go.
lol! Yeah, I totally don't agree with that at all. Even if I were a billionaire, I would never be so foolish as to throw $40 away. She isn't sure but it is a very easy fix to find out because if it was a mistake, they will already know about it and if the cashier pocketed it that will be easily proven by cameras and they need to get rid of a cashier like that immediately so I feel even if she isn't sure, she needs to find out.

Well you've obviously never accused your husband of using your debit card and not giving it back because you always, always put it away immediately in your wallet only to have to eat crow after you find it sitting on the coffee table then remember you got a phone call you took before you put your debit card in your wallet, set the card down on the table, did 100 things after the phone call, then realized your debit card wasn't in your wallet. LOL. Then you can have the Rosanne Roseannadanna moment, "never mind". 😄😄. And yeah, I ran all that together on purpose.

Just sayin'

Re: Grocery Store Checkers - I have a question for you, thanks.

house_cat — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 03:45:25 GMT

I thought I made it clear, but I guess I didn't - I'm not accusing the cashier of stealing the money. I think it was an oversight on his part, and then on mine. When he took out my receipt he wrote his name on it and circled the online survey at the bottom. I told him that I always do the survey, in hopes of winning a $5000 shopping spree and we both chuckled about the likelihood of that. I think that distraction caused him to forget to give me the cash back and the fact that I am in a perpetual hurry caused me to not notice it.

I have the receipt and I will bring it with me tomorrow. Certainly I will be non-confrontational.

I'll let you know how it goes :-)