...off topic...

[jofra]

To continue - back in the 80s, a railway station at which I worked had a new ticket office built, in which one window "overlooked" the platforms, useful (vital?) to see when/whether trains had arrived/departed. Unfortunately, the bottom of the (semi-circular/flat TOP) window was at head height, so little other than sky was visble. Our (sensible, through-the-ranks) boss asked our opinions of the new office - "Good, but that window..." etc - so he made enquiries - the response (from the architects)? "What window?" On explaining, the next (and final) response?
"Oh, that's not a window - it's a design feature".....

[sophie]

Reminds me of a design feature in a cottage in Norfolk.. They had thick rope which I thought was to help people up fairly steep stairs to the bedrooms. However it wobbled and was different height in places. When I commented, it was explained to me that I should be using the solid bannister on the left. The thick nautical rope on the right was a design feature!! (the property used to be a fishermans cottage originally)

[EnjoyingTheSun]

I once returned a pair of shoes to a shop because the sole was coming off even though they weren't a cheap and cheerful pair. The girl obviously wasn't keen on giving me my money back and said, "you've been wearing these shoes outside haven't you?"
I replied somewhat shamefaced that I had because they were SHOES and not slippers.

[johnerebus]

TRNC Doctor as I walked into his office, "Oh you're alive?"

TRNC Doctor in a text to a friend of mine, "John is seriously ill. I hope he
survives!"

UK Doctor looking at my notes, "Yes you have been through it haven't you? But they obviously thought it worthwhile keeping you alive".

[13roman58]

A few years ago I opened a packet of biscuits to find them mouldy ,took them back but the manager didn,t want to refund me.

"YOU HAVE OPENED THEM"

[Keithcaley]

at a Supermarket checkout, the till operator was trying to 'swipe' a net bag of oranges, but the laser scanner couldn't read the barcode.

I said "You'd think that it would be able to see that they're oranges, wouldn't you?"

An awkward silence ensued...

[sophie]

This happened on Monday in Lemar. Bloke in front of me handed over plastic card, the checkout girl swiped it about 8 times or more and nothing registered. "I think your card isn't working " I think if you put it in correct way up, it will work." One shamefaced checkout girl.

[EnjoyingTheSun]

I hate having lots of coins in my pocket so if I was paying for some that cost, say £16.72, I would try to give a £20 note and the odd £1.72 i coin.

This would inevitably cause some confusion to the person who totally relies on the till to do their arithmetic.
I would have my coins pushed back and be told that is too much.
I would then plead, "key in the total of what I have given you, trust me its like magic."

Eventually the £21.72 would be keyed in and if by magic £5 would appear as the change to be given.
A surprised and impressed smile of realisation would cross the cashier's face.
I would smile back, the penny had dropped and I've now converted 4 coins into a note.

Then I would come crashing down to earth when the cashier informed me they had no £5 notes and give me 5 pound coins as my change.
I headbutt the counter and exit shop, coins rattling around my pocket.

[sophie]

Enjoyingthesun, your piece must resonate with all of us here. It must have happened so many times. However, one or two checkout personnel seem to be getting the message (or at least are being taught) One guy in Lemar Karaoglanoglu has the maths off pat, so does another bloke in Sha, so maybe you can save your pocket linings.

[EnjoyingTheSun]

Enjoyingthesun, your piece must resonate with all of us here. It must have happened so many times. However, one or two checkout personnel seem to be getting the message (or at least are being taught) One guy in Lemar Karaoglanoglu has the maths off pat, so does another bloke in Sha, so maybe you can save your pocket linings.

TBH I don't do it so much over here because there is a lot of rounding up and down on odd bits but in Britain it does seem to be the case that simple mental arithmetic is dying out and there is an over reliance on calculators and tills etc

[waddo]

I make it a rule to never carry change anywhere. Always pay with notes and take the change home and chuck it into a pot. Time by time I take all my change back to the shop I use most and change it back into notes - the check out staff are always happy to see me and my change bag as it gives them more change to play with and I am happy that I don't have to bother with change rattling round in my pockets - win, win!

Also it gives me a nice surprise when I count up all my "pot" change and find I have lots more money than I first thought - lol.

[EnjoyingTheSun]

I make it a rule to never carry change anywhere. Always pay with notes and take the change home and chuck it into a pot. Time by time I take all my change back to the shop I use most and change it back into notes - the check out staff are always happy to see me and my change bag as it gives them more change to play with and I am happy that I don't have to bother with change rattling round in my pockets - win, win!

Also it gives me a nice surprise when I count up all my "pot" change and find I have lots more money than I first thought - lol.

Apparently when he was at Manchester United Dwight Yorke would never take coins as it spoiled the line of his suits and trousers and leave it as a tip. I guess it's not a biggie when you are earning tens of thousands a week.
Needless to say when he collected his dry cleaning at £7 a pop he was known for never being guilty of getting a ten pound note or even two fivers in his change

[johnerebus]

"but in Britain it does seem to be the case that simple mental arithmetic is dying out and there is an over reliance on calculators and tills etc"

It started a long long time ago. Not the checkout persons fault but the brave new world of press the button or scan the code.

Many, many years ago I sent a cartoon of mine to Private Eye.

Bloke at supermarket checkout asks till girl in his speech bubble, "How much is that please?"

Her speech bubble contained just a bar code total amount.

Paid by Private Eye more than £100 for that bit of fun.

[jofra]

...but in Britain it does seem to be the case that simple mental arithmetic is dying out and there is an over reliance on calculators and tills etc

Approx 40 years ago, our son had started school and they (and we) taught him his "times tables" - he displayed an aptitude for arithmetic ( both mental and paper), but when he went to secondary school, he was frequently chastised for not using a calculator... His work was correct, but he "hadn't used the correct method..."
At about the same time, a work colleague (early 20s) had to book off sick because the batteries in his calculator had died....