Counting the pennies (or kuruş!)

Pippie


Joined: 02/12/2009
Posts: 1288

Message Posted:
09/01/2010 11:05

Hi, hubby reckons I'm just a tight arse but this has been bugging me for a while and I need to ask your views.



Is it just me or does anyone else get frustrated when you go to a shop, pay your bill and instead of 27 kuruş change due, they just give you 25. Then the next, instead of 4 kuruş, they don't bother with the change. I know there's times when you come out on top (10 instead of 8 for example) but I can't help wondering if over the long term I'm out of pocket. I know there's only certain coins available but surely the shops shouldn't be allowed to say '3.99', if you can't pay 3.99 for example!



I don't mind the odd pennies but when I sit down and think about it, if these big supermarkets have say 1000 customers in a day and take 2 kuruş from each, thats 20TL!! If they were giving it away to charity I'd feel much happier.



Any thoughts???!!

Sazna


Joined: 12/09/2009
Posts: 1177

Message Posted:
09/01/2010 11:25

This drives my husband mad, he had a go at the checkout girl in the Lefkosa Lemar over this as they always leave you short. he wouldn't mind if it was just a one off but when it happens almost every time its just not on.!! Your right they must make quite a bit extra each day doing this.

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
09/01/2010 11:28

Pay with your banks debit card it is then to the correct sum.

chinaeyes


Joined: 13/02/2009
Posts: 425

Message Posted:
09/01/2010 11:32

Hi Pippie

For the last year January 09 to Dec 09 i kept all my reciepts and wrote on them each time i was short changed at all the supermarkets .I concentrated on the ones here in Alsancak as i live here and of course would spend more to support the local community.

Atakara were the worst in not giving you your change,although have to say it was a certain girl who i always tried to avoid if possible,she never used to ring the water exchange bottles through either.In fairness my friends who shop there haven't it seems, had any problems with their change.Being short changed there has cost me 123. 17 ytl.

That for us is a lot of money,we could have had a decent meal out.Needless to say i shop now in Starling and it's only the odd time ,[new girl] when i don't get my change and thats only 10 or 5 kuros.If my usual lady is on the till,sometimes i come out with extra.Swings and roundabouts.

Illeli are good like Starling and Dolmachi the same.

chinaeyes


Joined: 13/02/2009
Posts: 425

Message Posted:
09/01/2010 11:39

continued..from mess.4

I always take lots of small change now and it does help.Also i have become more assertive and will ask for the correct change if its a lot.

It's the same when going out for a meal,you order your food then when the bill comes you have to pay for all the extras which you hadn't asked for.[olives,water,bread.]I know nothing is free in this life and it's really up to us to be brave and just ask or say no thankyou,just have to pluck up the courage and speak.

malsancak


Joined: 23/08/2009
Posts: 2874

Message Posted:
09/01/2010 11:58

They do it because mainly we let them do it, that philosophy covers most of what happens in the Middle East.

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
09/01/2010 12:22

Have a word with Credit West bank, they have this practice down to a fine art!



Richard

Activator


Joined: 23/12/2009
Posts: 44

Message Posted:
09/01/2010 12:41

Tips for tight wads. ( learnt through practice)



Go to the Grove Inn and ask for Vodka and red Bull. The reply is we don't have red bull so i reply it's good job I have then. He still sells his vodka and i get the mixer cheap. Also did the same with Haegermiester one night.



Then you have Mr flippers fish & chips. Advertised at 11 lira with chips. Chips are huge anyway so just ask for 1 chips with two fish, cost 22 lira minus 1 chips = 18 lira. Or even meaner, One large cod and chips for 14 lira and share. Plenty for 2.

Pippie


Joined: 02/12/2009
Posts: 1288

Message Posted:
10/01/2010 18:35

Debit card isn't a bad idea but I don't have one yet, I think I have to wait for my residency to come through first before I can apply.



I'm surprised more people aren't as frustrated by the 'overcharging', are you all just kind hearted or loaded?



I wonder whose pockets all those extra little kurus's goes in to!

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
10/01/2010 18:50

RE msg 1: If this happens a lot, here's a couple of phrases (*) that will get you noticed and more than likely get you your change.

Para eksik (pronounced "para ek-seek") = Some money is missing. (Say this whilst holding out your hand to the till girl/boy).

Or more politely:

Paranın üstü, lütfen ("para-nun oo-stoo, lute-fen") = Change please. (Say this whilst holding out your hand to the till girl/boy).

(*) I've saved this from a former thread about this "problem"...

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
10/01/2010 18:52

I always taje a bag of change, You can imagine what we ssprnd on a daily basis. The big ones get frustraterd with me. Illies however no probs. If this went to a charity then Iwould fprgive them xxxx

cyprusishome


Joined: 31/03/2007
Posts: 2381

Message Posted:
10/01/2010 20:29

Card is the easy way in the "larger" shops and for large sums.



Otherwise I always give under the amount where possible.



Works wonders in Credit West Brinsley. Not had a problem yet.

scruff


Joined: 15/07/2008
Posts: 1070

Message Posted:
10/01/2010 21:28

Brinsley.

Pay your bills in Creditwest direct from your current account, assuming this is what you are doing when you say you are short changed. Why pay bills in cash?

I too use a local credit card for nearly everything now. It doesn't stop others getting short changed, but at least I no longer do. It really is the best way to stop this very old, habit occurring here.

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
10/01/2010 23:03

5 years or so ago, it was common practice for all shops to give you a sweetie or two, or perhaps a box of matches to make up the shortfall in the amount of change tendered.

I seem to remember Frank Gillin saying that he had managed to pay part of a supermarket 'bill' in sweets or whatever, and when the girl protested, he simply pointed out that she had given them to him in the first place

I was advised by a respected member of this forum to make a point of carrying a selection of small change, so that I would always be in a position to offer 'slightly less' than the amount requested, thus skewing the odds in my favour...

It works!

Thank you '*****'!