It seems that certain major anchor retailers in Benoni are not aware of what is legal currency.
I had a rather shameful experience when a till operator refused to take two five cent pieces for 10 cents, stating they did not deal in five cent pieces because their money security firm refused to take them.
To move me on, and without my noticing, as I protested, the next person in the queue behind me paid the 10 cents due.
My protest was on principle, and I immediately turned to that kind lady to return her money, for I had other coins on hand.
She refused my refunding her, which rather embarrassed me, but I thank her for her kind motive.
I later took the step of finding out whether the five cent coin is legal tender. It is!
I was informed that while the Reserve Bank was no longer making any more of these coins, and was withdrawing any that came to them, the five cent piece was still legal tender.
One banker said I could take five cent coins to any bank teller, and they would substitute alternate coins.
I know small retailers who still use the five cent coin, and still give five cent coins as change.
I think the big retailers who refuse five cent pieces are being unfair and leave a customer with bad taste of “this is our policy, take it or leave it”!
Retailers vary in their till slip cash rounding, some to five cents and others to 10 cents.
Sad and unnecessary confusion.
