Old Man Yells At Cloud

[bartc]

On 19/09/2017 11:46, Larry Martell wrote:
> On Mon, Sep 18, 2017 at 11:23 PM, Dan Sommers <dan at tombstonezero.net> wrote:
>> How relevant is the "people use calculators to do arithmetic" argument
>> today?  Okay, so I'm old and cynical, but I know [young] people who
>> don't (can't?) calculate a gratuity without an app or a web page.
> 
> I use a calculator all the time - not for calculating a tip though.
> Sometimes I use bc (when I can't find my calculator in the morass of
> my desk).
> 
> True story - the other day I was in a store and my total was $10.12. I
> pulled out a $20, and the cashier (probably age 23 or so) immediately
> entered $20 as the amount tendered. Then I said "Let me see if I have
> the $0.12." I did not, but I had $0.15 so I handed her $20.15. She
> literally froze in place with a classic deer in the headlights stare.
> I said "$10.03" She said "What?" I said "$10.03 is my change." She
> said "What?" I said "Just give me $10." She did not reply, opened the
> drawer below her register, rummaged around and came out with one of
> those giant key calculators, and with a look of dogged determination,
> did the calculation, looked at me and said proudly "$10.03 is your
> change."

My bill in a store came to £3.20 (GBP3.20), so I handed over £10.20.

I was given back £16.90 in change!

It turned out the cashier had entered £20.10 as the amount tendered. It 
was sorted out in the end.

Sometimes its easier not to be bother making the figures come out better.

-- 
bartc