Cashiers refuse to let broke woman buy groceries with loose change

Coins as payment: 'Money's money'
By Shellie Bailey-Shah KATU Problem Solver Published: Nov 1, 2011 at 1:31 PM PST Last Updated: Nov 1, 2011 at 3:23 PM PST



PORTLAND, Ore. – A Portland woman says a grocery store wouldn’t let her pay for her family’s food because she was paying for it with loose change.

“Jean” was too embarrassed to show her face or use her real name, but she wanted people to hear her story.

“We had nothing to feed our children with,” she said. “So we broke out the change.”

Jean said she brought $32 in quarters to Save-a-Lot in Southeast Portland. After she grabbed her groceries, she waited until the checkout line cleared so she could pay.

“And when I went up, I told them, you know ‘I have change. Sorry, it’s hard times right now.’ And they go, 'well we can only accept $5,'" Jean said.

“It’s money,” she added. “Money’s money.”

But the clerk wouldn’t budge, Jean said. “I was mortified. Mortified.”

Jean said she went to Fred Meyer, but the store manager insisted she use the change machine where you’re charged a fee of nearly 10 percent. Jean said she couldn’t afford to lose the money and started crying in front of another customer.

“He was disgusted by what they were saying too, and he said ‘I’ll take your change, I’ll buy your change from you.’ And the manager decided OK, go to the change machine and we’ll pay the fee,” Jean said.

Jean said she didn’t want to use gas money to go to her bank because it was far away.

Tuesday, both Fred Meyer and Save-a-Lot responded to calls from KATU News.

"We apologize for the inconvenience the customer experienced at the store," said Fred Meyer Public Affairs Director Melinda Merrill. "Receiving change for a payment is a rare occurrence. Fred Meyer stores do accept change as payment and we will work with our store directors and management teams to ensure they know this."

Save-a-Lot External Communications Manager Chon Tomlin also apologized Tuesday.

"We deeply apologize for the misunderstanding that occurred recently at our SE Foster location. As a corporate policy, we accept all forms of payment, except for American Express. There is no maximum limit on cash payments, specifically those involving coins of any type," Tomlin said.

When the KATU Problem Solvers called around to other grocery stores in our area and said they were from KATU, all of the store managers said loose change was acceptable as payment. But when they called back as customers, they got a different story:

• QFC would only accept $5 or $6 in loose change.
  
• Albertsons said they would only accept $5.
  
• WinCo and Safeway didn’t have a cutoff, but said they tell customers to use the change machine.
  
• Only Whole Foods and New Seasons were open to accepting change, no matter what the amount.
  

The KATU Problem Solvers checked with the Oregon Attorney General, who said while there is a federal law saying coins are legal tender, there is not a law that mandates private businesses accept them as payment.

“If the government issues you the money, they should take it,” said Jean.

tmontyb wrote:Sorry, but money is money. If the cashier has to stand there and count out 50 dollars in change, it's still valid currency.

tmontyb wrote:Sorry, but money is money. If the cashier has to stand there and count out 50 dollars in change, it's still valid currency.

Jason B. wrote:Those smug cashiers and managers probably had a good time rejecting this woman's change too. I understand the policy because counting out change is tedious and holds up the line, but in situations like this where the customers says they're having a hard time and it's all they have BE sensitive and make an exception.

Jason B. wrote:Those smug cashiers and managers probably had a good time rejecting this woman's change too. I understand the policy because counting out change is tedious and holds up the line, but in situations like this where the customers says they're having a hard time and it's all they have BE sensitive and make an exception.

CeCe wrote: people should have compassion. Time's tough for a lot of people now. When people are buying groceries with change the overwhelming majority of the time it's not because they want to be cute.

Minerva wrote:If the cashiers refuse to accept the change it could be store policy for which they are not responsible. And they could possibly lose their jobs if they go against the rule. Jobs being so scare, I can understand the fear of losing a job for not complying with the rules of the company.

Minerva wrote:If the cashiers refuse to accept the change it could be store policy for which they are not responsible. And they could possibly lose their jobs if they go against the rule. Jobs being so scare, I can understand the fear of losing a job for not complying with the rules of the company.

cheaps wrote:

I don't see how accepting valid currency (as someone mentioned) would be against store policy. If it's taking too long, then go to another register. Grocery stores have the benefit of having and being able to open up more than one register.