When I was a cashier (erm, eons ago) we were taught to count change back to the customers by handing over the change first, and then the cash. As an example, for a $7.83 purchase paid for with $10, we'd first hand over .17 cents "that makes $8," and then hand back $2, "...and $2 makes $10."
It really wasn't necessary to verbally count the money back, but more importantly we handed the customer the change (so they could hold it in their palm) and then the paper money (which they'd usually take with their fingers).
Nowadays, it seems that electronic cash registers have removed the need/ability to do basic mathematics in our heads. So, when I get change back from a purchase, the cashier (having been told by the register that my change is, say, $3.73) hands me the paper money and then POURS the coin money on top of it. This invariably results in dropping the coins all over the place and/or being unable to properly put the money away in your wallet without grappling with coins, cash, purchases, wallet, and people glaring behind you waiting for you to step away from the register. Worse when you are at a drive-thru, and the change just falls to the ground.
My questions are:
Does this annoy anyone else?
Why do cashiers do this? When did they start?
