Fritz Schranck relates a story of a mathematically challenged fast-food cashier whose register was broken and couldn’t figure out how to make change (the customer had given the cashier $10 for a bill of $8.95). He goes on to say that he’s heard these sorts of stories before, but he’d never seen it for himself untl then…
But I think I’ve got him beat. A few years ago, I happened to be perusing some titles at the ‘tique, when someone asked the sales clerk what time it was. He picked up a watch, and a confused frown spread across his face. He then grinned, and grabbed a calculater from under the counter and began punching in numbers. At this point he responded to the customer’s quizzical look by explaining “The watch is on military time.” It was 1400 hours (aka 2:00 p.m.)
Your post made me remember a funny thing. Long ago, before electronic cash registers, I was very good at making change. In fact, the amount of change would pop into my head instantly without thought.
But then sometimes someone would hand me the exact amount of a sale, and my brain would just totally freeze and go blank for a few seconds, trying to calculate change where none was needed…
As for those clueless clerks, be thankful. If the cash register wasn’t able to do the heavy thinking, your taxes would probably be paying for their welfare checks…