A Penny For Your (Lack Of) Thoughts

(In Canada we are in the process of phasing out the penny from our currency. This means we round up or down to the nearest $.05. So, $1.99 would be $2, $4.72 would be $4.70, etc. Unfortunately, this is causing a lot of confusion for customers and employees alike.)

Cashier: “Okay, so that will be $7.55, and… oh, oops! I meant $7.50. I keep getting mixed up by those pennies!”

Me: “Wait… $7.55 is okay. No need to round off.”

Cashier: “Yes, it’s because of the penny thing… you haven’t heard? Gotta round everything up or down now. So, $7.50.”

Me: “Uh, yeah. Okay, thanks.”

(I hand her $7.60, hoping that when she inputs the amount into her register she will catch her mistake. I begin to put my lunch on a tray to walk to a table, but as I turn she grabs my arm.)

Cashier: “Here honey, your dime back. I think you misunderstood; it was only $7.50, not $7.60. It’s that penny thing, you know.”

Me: “Okay… well, thank you. I guess I misunderstood.” *I take the dime*

Cashier: “It’s okay, this penny thing is really confusing. You know, they said it wouldn’t affect our ability to balance our tills since we’d lose a cent here and gain one there, but my till is always off by dollars and dollars every shift. It makes no sense to me at all!”

Me: “Clearly. Have a good night.”

Cashier: “You have a good night too, sweetie!”