Whats worse is when they put it on top of the bills and hand it all back to you at once, like some kind of fucked up magic trick. The shit that I just bought is in my other hand, how in the fuck am I supposed to get this change into my pocket?
One of the things I thought was neat when I visited Japan was that some places would give you change back in a dedicated little tray with rubber “fingers” that made the coins easier to pick up, so you didn’t struggle to pick them off a flat counter.
Cash has been so uncommon in my country for a very long time. It’s like an insult to give a friend cash, like, “Here. This is your problem now.”
I think I used to just hold my open wallet in one hand and accept the cash in the other, slide the coins off, slot the notes in, and grab my stuff. I don’t remember it being annoying. Though our notes were polymer so coins slid easy.
From my time on Reddit years ago this question came up.
Some cashier’s said they reciprocate the exchange back to the customer. If the customer puts cash on the counter for them to pick up, they’ll put the change on the counter in return.
There also was probably some new training from covid where you didn’t want to touch people directly, so those training materials probably still exist
I remember that explanation too. Additionally, in some cultures putting money directly into the hand of another person is frowned upon for various reasons.
It’s possible to drop change into someone’s hands without physically touching them though. I don’t like physical contact either, and on the rare times I pay with cash, I hand it to the cashier without making physical contact.
I remember there was one store I went to that the cashier literally put the change on the counter right beside my outstretched hand and open palm, every time. And it was annoying to pick up change from a stainless steel counter. I know I was being petty, but when I noticed the pattern, I started putting change on the counter (if I paid with coins) when paying so she could experience having to pick up coins one by one from a stainless steel surface.
It may be possible but that doesn’t mean people respect that. Some people go out of their way to touch you when receiving change back by moving their hand up and closing close to yours before youre done letting go of the change. I remember this shit when I was a cashier. Hated it.
The simpler answer is not to even allow it or get close at all.
Nine times out of ten the customer is busy wrangling their items or dealing with their kid. Instead of awkwardly waiting, hand outstretched, I put the change on the counter. I then start prepping for the next customer as we’re timed on the whole process.
If you can’t be bothered to speed up the transaction by using a credit or debit card, don’t be surprised when the cashier can’t be bothered to put the change in your hand.
Handling cash is a nuisance, and slows down the line.
Edit: I know not everyone has a card. I’m talking about people who reach past a dozen of them and pay with cash anyway.