SM Malls: give them coins or they’ll keep the cents in your change
By my_january
@my_january (967)
Philippines
August 2, 2011 7:39pm CST
Of course, who wouldn’t know this well-known shopping place in the Philippines? You can find one in most major cities of the archipelago. But this famous mall started to piss me off. I am not sure when all these started but it is so annoying! When you buy something, either department store or supermarket, say for example your bill is 1241.75PHP; the cashier will ask you if you have 1.75PHP so they won’t use coins to give you change. If you say you don’t have what they asked you, they will not give you your exact change. So say you gave 1300PHP for the payment less 1241.75 so she should give you a change of 58.25PHP. But in this case, since you did not give 1.75 or whatever the amount she may ask, she will only give you 58PHP. They will keep the .25cents. Different scenarios like this happen to lots of people, usually if your change has cents as difference.
So I really demand that they give me my exact change but some cashiers are really hard to talk to at times; they will really insist that they don’t have coins for change. I worked as a cashier before at a fast food restaurant and I know that at the end of the day, receipts will be printed out of your post for all the transactions made and the amount of your cashbox must tally on whatever is the total on the printed receipt. If you are deficit, you must pay the difference, and if you are over, you will receive a memo to explain what happened as they want it always exact. I don’t know if this is close to how SM runs it, maybe not. Maybe they have incentives for those cashiers who will be over in their transactions at the end of the day LOL. Or maybe, some cashiers of SM are really not honest. I don’t mean insult here, but I have experienced this even in SM Mall of Asia, and other 4 SM branches.
My aunt told me that they scolded a cashier for doing this. The cashier asked them for 2pesos, (my aunt was with her daughter, my cousin) so they gave the cashier 2 pesos, but my cousin, who was good in computation, realized that the cashier was not giving them exact change in spite of them giving her 2 pesos. Had they not noticed it, they will miss around 3 pesos of their change.
It happened so many times to me and to my relatives and some friends. Have you guys experienced this?
Yes, I understand that they are just coins, but think how many customers’ this particular mall has in a day. Think that these coins, when accumulated can reach hundreds of pesos in a day. Think that these coins, when accumulated across their entire branches can reach thousands of pesos in a day. Think that you are the person who works to earn this money. Think if you’re the one saving it for yourself. For me, it is not true that no one could get rich merely by coins. Look at Henry Sy. He continues to get rich… because of our coins. 
5 people like this
15 responses
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
3 Aug 11
hi my__january thats really crooked. I found out int target store here in the u S if you get two like packages of say an antihistamine the clerk has some way of changing the code on one package to read 13 dollars for a 4.95 cent item then when I tried to make her see that she refused to refund me the overpayment of
8 dollars as I did not have both packages only the one so I just got my money back on that. i had looked all over but could not find what I had done with the one marked 13 dollars. so I got ripped off,. from now on I will check my bill while still in front 
of the cashier.
of the cashier.1 person likes this
@thetis74 (1525)
•
3 Aug 11
Halo Hatley. There was a post of an American who had experienced the same thing you did. So I asked my fiance about this, because he lived in California and Massachussets for a very long time as Consulting Engineer. I asked him if things like that really also happens in the U.S. And he said yes. So these things are everywhere wherever we turn. It is good to be reminded of this again. Now I will be more careful. Very bad people.
@my_january (967)
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
Really, it's happening in the US. Yeah bad people! 
Hatley, sorry to hear that you've experienced that way, but well, at least now you learned to check your bill while still in front of the cashier.
This is something that most of us don't do or forget to do most of the times as we trust these establishments so much that they will compute exactly what is due for us, and will give us the exact change if we are also due for something... But little do we know they've been doing silly things, is it because they know we trust them? They mean business, we give them business... so might as well improve on that relationship for a win-win situation. Yes?
Hatley, sorry to hear that you've experienced that way, but well, at least now you learned to check your bill while still in front of the cashier. This is something that most of us don't do or forget to do most of the times as we trust these establishments so much that they will compute exactly what is due for us, and will give us the exact change if we are also due for something... But little do we know they've been doing silly things, is it because they know we trust them? They mean business, we give them business... so might as well improve on that relationship for a win-win situation. Yes?
@astroversion (210)
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
This happens a lot. Shortchanging is a menace and these businessmen are earning a profit more than they should have. If we insist that we get our change they show you the insides of the cash register for you to get convinced but I don't buy what they are saying. To prevent an untoward incident i bring my own and keep loose coins if ever i have a chance. I find these coins sometimes forgotten on the streets as if they are thrown away for the little value they have. But come on guys it is still money. So to prevent them (huge shopping malls) from reaching deeper into our pockets I suggest we bring along loose coins
1 person likes this
@my_january (967)
• Philippines
4 Aug 11
Good suggestion. But I still believe that it is their responsibility to have coins in their register to prepare for changing their customers. In fact, they are a business, so I bet they have accounts in banks. My Mom works in a bank and she told me that they do entertain bank clients who wants to exchange bills for coins, most importantly if they do have an account with the bank. 
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
Hi!
Yes, I noticed that, too in SM malls. Even in some groceries. And I hate it because I'm not good with computations. So when the cashier asks me for coins, I take out my coin purse from my bag and try to give them what they need so they wouldn't have to change me less. That is why I keep all those coins up to the last cent. So if I see that my bill has point something something, I can pay it with that something something in coins.
Coins are really important! Without five cents you can't have twenty five cents! And yeah, not only Henry Sy will get rich with our coins, we can too if we save them!
So when the cashier asks me for coins, I take out my coin purse from my bag and try to give them what they need so they wouldn't have to change me less. That is why I keep all those coins up to the last cent. So if I see that my bill has point something something, I can pay it with that something something in coins.
Coins are really important! Without five cents you can't have twenty five cents! And yeah, not only Henry Sy will get rich with our coins, we can too if we save them! 
@my_january (967)
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
Oh secretbear, I am not good with computations too, that's why i get pissed off. You know one time, I have thought of buying a small calculator and put a lace around it so I can hang it on my neck every time I go shopping. So if they ask me this amount, i can simply compute how much they have to give me in return. Thank you that you understand my sentiments for these coins... Coins are important! 
1 person likes this
@jobenmakapangyarihan (546)
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
haha.. your last sentence was really funny "look at henry sy. he continues to get rich because of our coins".
i see your point, from now on before giving coins to the cashiers i will try to compute first, if they are cheating on me or not.
no offense to the cashiers here. but i think those extra coins will just be going straight to the pockets of the cashiers, for like what you have said, the computer will print a list of computations on how much the cashier's money should be. and if i am that cashier why will i put all there. i just put it to my wallet and buy something good for myself.. again no offense this is just what i think.
i see your point, from now on before giving coins to the cashiers i will try to compute first, if they are cheating on me or not.
no offense to the cashiers here. but i think those extra coins will just be going straight to the pockets of the cashiers, for like what you have said, the computer will print a list of computations on how much the cashier's money should be. and if i am that cashier why will i put all there. i just put it to my wallet and buy something good for myself.. again no offense this is just what i think.
@swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
Yeah, but aren't there managers or persons of higher positions who watch over them when they close a register?
I believe that a cashier's money should be exactly as stated on the computations. If it's over or under, then it means they cashier is unreliable. I think my mom told me this before.
@my_january (967)
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
jobenmakapangyarihan you know, I don't want to think that they are doing that, like what thetis74 commented on here that these cashiers have really low salary and this might be something they do to compensate that, but doing that to us is not acceptable, NO. We don't earn much that's why I go to SM and buy some stuff. Do you think, if I am earning a lot, do you think If I am rich, will I go at SM to shop? You won't find me there anymore hehehehehe
I agree with Swirlz, yes, a manager will watch over you as you close your register, they are the ones who will see the printed transactions from your post first while you count how much is on your cash box. After you count, they will ask you how much is the total, you must also put the breakdown of the bills and coins you have on a sheet of paper and it will be filed too. So once you give your total, it will be compared against the master receipt and if it's not tallied, then you have a problem.
Do you think, if I am earning a lot, do you think If I am rich, will I go at SM to shop? You won't find me there anymore hehehehehe
I agree with Swirlz, yes, a manager will watch over you as you close your register, they are the ones who will see the printed transactions from your post first while you count how much is on your cash box. After you count, they will ask you how much is the total, you must also put the breakdown of the bills and coins you have on a sheet of paper and it will be filed too. So once you give your total, it will be compared against the master receipt and if it's not tallied, then you have a problem. 
@flowerfest08 (1677)
•
3 Aug 11
yes that happens in department stores and not only in SM some do the same even the small grocery, and if you don't have the centavos that they need what they do is just give you less.
@my_january (967)
• Philippines
4 Aug 11
Yeah you're right... Give them the centavos that they want or they give you less. Unfair. Thanks for posting!
@mclheomar2011 (2)
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
yeah! I notice that and one time I ask the cashier where the money goes to...and the cashier explain why and then lough, I understand why their doing that because they don't want to be shorted at the total tally....and I conclude that the cashier doin that for their safety. :) And I think coin is very important to the cashiers and they must provide every day to avoid arguing clients / customers...
@my_january (967)
• Philippines
4 Aug 11
If they do that to every customer, wouldn't they be over that the total tally at the end of the day? If they over the total, they're still not reliable on doing their job. It is always better to be exact. Thanks for posting.
Thanks for posting. @swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
Yeah they do this. And it's just not in SM. There was no SM in Zamboanga but this happens to me all the time at mall groceries.
Anyway, a couple of experiences regarding this:
First, back in Zamboanga when the cashier asked for coins and I couldn't give it to her, she pointed out that I have some in my coin purse, since I took it out to look for the spare change. I told her it's for my jeepney fare. My man at the line behind me loudly agreed! And we discussed that we couldn't possibly pay the jeepney with a 100 peso bill. If a grocery store doesn't have change how much more a jeepney right?
Second experience, a newer one, it's already here in Manila. I was at the grocery of SM and the cashier asked for coins, 25 cents to be exact. I looked at my coin purse and found only 20 cents. She said it's okay. So weee! I saved 5 cents.
And we discussed that we couldn't possibly pay the jeepney with a 100 peso bill. If a grocery store doesn't have change how much more a jeepney right?
Second experience, a newer one, it's already here in Manila. I was at the grocery of SM and the cashier asked for coins, 25 cents to be exact. I looked at my coin purse and found only 20 cents. She said it's okay. So weee! I saved 5 cents.
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
Yes I share the same sentiments with you. This is the reason why I always demand for exact change no matter how small it may be. They should rather tag an exact price on their commodities if they don't have coins. They should be the one who should prepare for coins because their prices are not exact. Imagine how much extra money they are getting out of those cents that they fail to give to the countless customers?
@my_january (967)
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
Exactly! tag an exact price on their commodities if they can't produce coins for change! Very nice, thank you for mentioning. This is a very good idea that they should consider so all of us won't have problems on paying and giving change.
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
It's now Hans Sy, I think. And you are perfectly right in complaining. I am as pissed as you whenever these cashiers shortchange me because they do not have the coins. I take time to give them lecture about SHORTCHANGING and how it will not get them to heaven.
I have so many complains about SM chain of malls, too. Good that these malls had made our lives more convenient... but one mall is just some 10 kilometers away from each other... and look, I can't see my sunset from the highway anymore. In Baguio, one mylotter said, she misses her pine trees that were her view before. And now there is an SM Blue rising in Katipunan QC, all in violation of the zoning law. All Ateneo can do is put up streamers in protest!
SM, we are grateful for you making our lives a little bit comfortable, but considering your might, give us back our measly coins, and yes, your parking ticket costs too much!
SM, we are grateful for you making our lives a little bit comfortable, but considering your might, give us back our measly coins, and yes, your parking ticket costs too much!@my_january (967)
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
Oh my, I really laugh upon reading your comment- "I take time to give them lecture about SHORTCHANGING and how it will not get them to heaven." This is honestly the first time I've heard this statement and I definitely tell you that it's nice, I really like it! When you say this to cashiers, is it effective? Mostly, I've heard when people are not given exact change or if they get ripped off, they will say "Di bale na, hindi naman nila ikayayaman yan..." But I think that statement doesn't make any sense to me. So from now on, I'll go with your statement, "Give me my exact change, or you'll never get to heaven!" I agree, parking ticket costs too much.
My boyfriend is from Baguio and he too said that Baguio has to sacrifice parts of its natural beauty because of this industrialization. I have seen another BPO company opening soon and has built their building near camp John Hay (not really sure if that's the location). But I saw the building when I was there last Feb and I think, oh let me say I am so sure that they trimmed down lots of pine trees because of that. 
My boyfriend is from Baguio and he too said that Baguio has to sacrifice parts of its natural beauty because of this industrialization. I have seen another BPO company opening soon and has built their building near camp John Hay (not really sure if that's the location). But I saw the building when I was there last Feb and I think, oh let me say I am so sure that they trimmed down lots of pine trees because of that. 1 person likes this
@chiwasaki (4694)
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
Every week I need to go to SM grocery to buy some food and stuffs. I always notice that they really don't give you the change, let us say it is 0.10 cents or 0.25 cents. And let us say my bill is 50 pesos and 10 cents, and it is so happen that I have 10 cents in my wallet, it seems like some cashier are pretty much annoyed if you give them the exact amount. Why? Probably because they can't earn 10 cents from me haha.
@katrinapaz (2436)
• Philippines
4 Aug 11
yes, my sister is also angry at sm malls cashiers for not giving you the exact change but i think if they will be reprimanded or the customer is asking for the exact change that is the only time that the lady will give it, but of course some people are in a hurry that they wont mind to argue with the small coins that make sm richer every minute.
@thetis74 (1525)
•
3 Aug 11
It happens all the time and it is truly annoying. Even other malls are like that. And you can't understand why they can't just go to their banks to get sacks of 25cents coins and keep it in every counter so that they can give you the exact change. That is one major reason why I keep plenty of 25cents coins in my purse because I can't just give all to them which make them even richer. I don't like to waste even a cent for things like these. I would rather add up those cents and give to some beggar if it's the last thing I could do. If indeed they are giving incentives to cashier people to help them do it, that must be to compensate for their very low salary which I heard these owners are giving them. They are giving extra orders to our fellowmen without them knowing that they are given extra duties. And the result, only these owners are getting richer. They never have conscience. They are getting richer out of conscience and even if they hear us say these things, they still wouldn't care. They've been like that for many, many years anyway. It is so sad.
@my_january (967)
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
I also know how low their salary is thetis74, but I don't want to think that they are doing this to compensate for that as it is unacceptable and really bad. I definitely agree with you that they should go to their banks to get sacks of these coins that they need to give consumers their exact change, you know, SM and BDO?! Banco de Oro is also SM. So i think they won't have any issues exchanging bills for for sacks of coins, right?
@goggles213 (735)
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
SM Malls have a lot of people per day going in and out of their supermakets and department stores. Each coin that they keep would eventually amount to something in a day, it's not just unfair, it's almost criminal. I hope that this practice won't go unnoticed anymore, a lot of people is still not aware that this is happening. Money is being stolen us and the worst part about it is that its right under our noses.
@jmay1226 (97)
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
Yes, I agree with this malls are not giving exact amount especially if your change is broken. They won't be giving you the "cents" because maybe for them it is just a little amount but for us buyers it has a big value. They should not tolerate this kind practice because when we are going to sum up all those cents that has not given to the buyer it cost a lot. Management and salesgirl should anticipate this also to have a good relationship with the client. Buyers sometimes are not claiming their cents change because maybe they are running out of time, they don't want hassle or maybe they don't have any coins left. Coins and cents should be prepared by the management and the salesgirl for faster and fair transaction.
@blungel0830 (841)
• Philippines
3 Aug 11
Good that you posted this here. I have been getting into arguments with SM cashiers over their habit of short changing the customers. Ace Hardware cashiers are also notorious for this practice. One time, I brought with me 10 centavo coins and used these to pay them. When I am out of coins, I found it more convenient to pay with my credit card than to argue or scold the cashiers for not giving me the exact change for my purchase.
