Can we talk about the guy who tried to pay for a latte with a handful of foreign coins?

Last Tuesday at the cafe, a customer plunked down a fistful of euros and yen on the counter for his $5.75 drink. I had to explain, politely, that we only take US currency or card. He got really upset and said, 'Money is money, you should just take it.' I had to get my manager, and the whole thing held up the line for ten minutes. Has anyone else had someone try to pay with completely wrong currency?

3 comments

3 Comments

clairem4710d ago

Oh man, that reminds me of something my friend Sam saw at her bookstore. A tourist once tried to buy a novel with a mix of Canadian coins and what looked like old British pennies, just a whole jangly mess. She said the guy seemed genuinely confused when she said no, like the concept of different money was totally new to him. It held things up forever while they found his card. Like, do people not realize how exchange rates even work? It creates such a hassle for everyone stuck waiting behind them.

piperwhite10d ago

My cousin worked at a coffee shop near the airport and saw this weekly. Someone would try to pay with euros or pesos and just stare blankly when told no. It's like vera_campbell said, it shows a total lack of awareness for the worker and everyone in line. That confusion over different money being real is just wild to me. You'd think basic travel prep would include learning about currency. It turns a simple transaction into a whole stressful event for no reason.

vera_campbell10d ago

Witness this all the time at the bus station. People dig out a pile of random change from their pockets, half of it from other countries or old tokens, and just expect the driver to sort it out. It shows a total lack of awareness for the person stuck dealing with it. They act like their time is the only one that matters.