Well , today I learned that if you lay your money down on the counter instead of handing it to them , it is highly offensive . I was paying with cash and the bills came out of my front pocket kind of crumpled . I placed a five on the counter and was straightening out a one and saw the clerk roll her eyes . I laid the one on top and when she gave me my change she placed it on the counter even though I put my hand out .
I mentioned this to my sister who said that this was definitely " A thing " among a certain demographic . She said that her daughter had told her about it . First I heard of it .

New to me, but I rarely have cash.

I'd think the fact that you were visibly getting a second bill out/straight, would get you a bit of grace for it, over just slapping some cash on the counter.

And they put 98 cents on top of a one dollar bill and try to hand it to you. When the change scatters across the counter and floor I walk out and say keep the change!

Had the same thing happen a year ago and I got quite a lecture on my rudeness.

Eh , people are always thinking of new ways to be offended .

If I put the money on the counter, I would expect any change back the same way.

Although, I would normally hand it to the person to make sure it doesn't blow away.

I’m not exactly antique yet but I’ve always known that laying the money down rather than handing it is rude. I just assume the offense is you’re either inferring they are dirty, below you, or just making them work to get it. A micro aggression. I guess throwing it down would upgrade it to a show of dominance.

Plastic. No handling of dirty money. But there are exceptions to the rule also.

You hand the money to the clerk. If the clerk figiures the bill in pencil on the counter and then spits to wipe it out while handing your sandwich to you with the other hand. Now that is truly offensive.

I have been laying money out when it is a precise amount.

Example: Utility bull $127.57 I'll lay five $20s then $20 and $5 and two $1s, and the change two quarters a nickel and 2 pennies.

If someone held their hand out I would hand it to them.

Never had anyone take issue, they take it up as they count it and return the stub and or receipt.


If I pump gas and am paying cash, I typically round it up to nearest $20 and walk in and hand them cash or wait for change if I have to break a $100.

If I present and they don't reach, I will lay it down.

I also make eye contact and smile, say thank you.


And I have done this around the world and encountered many people of lots of cultures and never had any situations where I experienced anything negative of the money handling.

The fuq?

My response to that would be to do it on purpose in the future just to piss them off.

I used to work at 7-Eleven in my early college days. It's not what you do, but how you do it. No big deal, when the customers just laid the money on the counter. But, when they actually threw the money, I returned the favor. Treat people the way you want to be treated. But, when people act like assholes, I can be one, too.

My guess is it's because you were using cash. The clerk had to work a little more.

quote:

Originally posted by selogic:
Well , today I learned that if you lay your money down on the counter instead of handing it to them , it is highly offensive.

I did not know that.

To clarify . I walked up to the counter and set two soft drinks down for her to scan . She never greeted me when I approached . After she scanned them she did not tell me the total . I had to look at the card scanner to see the total . I pulled two crumpled bills out of my pocket and unfolded a fiver and laid it down . This triggered her eye roll . I then unfolded the one dollar bill and placed it down on top . She took the change from her register and although I stuck my hand out , she placed it on the counter . There was a reason I handled my cash the way I did and it had nothing to with her race , etc.

quote:

Originally posted by Krazeehorse:
My guess is it's because you were using cash. The clerk had to work a little more.

My guess it's because fewer and fewer people are able to actually make change. I handed a girl a $100 bill for a $20 (and some change) order. She stared at it then walked it over to her manager.

He give her 4 20s and some smaller bills. She stared at those and handed them all to me. I gave her the exact amount and was on my way.

quote:

Originally posted by selogic:
...There was a reason I handled my cash the way I did and it had nothing to with her race , etc.

The only hint of race was the "demographic" thing in your original post that your sister mentioned. No one here even suggested it had anything to do with race.

It wasn't because I gave her cash . Apparently it was because of the way I did it .

Weird. It's funny how just the opposite is considered the appropriate way in other countries.

I know in Germany they really did not like or do handing of cash directly from hand to hand in stores. There was always a little tray or plate there at the counter that you were expected to place your money and the cashier would then pick it up then place your change back on the plate.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
Weird. It's funny how just the opposite is considered the appropriate way in other countries.

I know in Germany they really did not like or do handing of cash directly from hand to hand in stores. There was always a little tray or plate there at the counter that you were expected to place your money and the cashier would then pick it up then place your change back on the plate.

Japan too , I think .