Just popped up to the One-Stop to get some batteries for that thing that makes the little arrow move around on my computer screen.
The lady in front of me’s total came to £28 odd, she proffered payment with a £50 note.
My word you’d have thought the Martians had landed and Jebus had walked in and announced the End of Days
Bells were rung, managers were summoned, discussions were had, plans made, note inspected.
The note in question was then borne away by a manager to the back room, whence it was returned to the lady in the more appropriate and less faint inducing form of two twenties and a ten.
Payment was then proffered and accepted, the Martians went back to their ship to throw darts at a photo of Orson Wells and Jebus went over to the Pick n’Mix.
I’ve never understood the British publics and particularly the shopkeeps afearedness of The Nifty,
Yes, a way back there were spates of forgeries but I’ve not heard of one in years and even up to a few years ago it was a lot of money to have in one note and I suppose the risk of losing it in one go was perhaps a bit much.
But it’s not even as if the lady was trying to ‘break’ it by just buying a box of matches. Her bill was £28.00 FFS
But given that fact that nowadays £50 doesn’t really buy that much and certainly shops will process many times that amount in the course of a days business.
I really don’t understand the reaction.
4 comments:
It probably wasn't the fact that she was paying with a £50 note, it was that she was paying in cash at all!
The problem with the £50 is that it doesn't have all the anti-forgery bells and whistles that the £5, £10, and £20 have, especially the ultraviolet ink that shopkeepers can easliy see under a UV light source. Its a pretty old note and well past due for replacement.
Saying that, I've had very little hassle when paying with fifties.
@Delphius
That I did not know , I assumed that it had been upgraded along with all the others, but kept the same basic design. (so rarely do I see one)
I, for my sins, do business with what can be described as an 'old fashioned' scrap man. He pays cash, from a bulging wallet, often in £50s. I have used them in pubs and got the odd funny look, and usually use the line 'Don't worry, the inks dry now!'. Never been refused though. Best to use them in big chain stores or pubs as the minimum wage staff couldn't care less about their bosses profits. Small private shops are more cagey.
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