a little slice of French life, aka WHY ON EARTH DO THEY DO THIS!?

I am hardly the first expat to write about the exact change phenomenon. I've mentioned it to a few French people, and they have no idea what I'm talking about. I think it's so ingrained in their culture that they just don't notice it. But today I experienced a prime example, and wanted to share.

I went to MonoPrix and picked up some necessities. The total came to 6 euros and 77 cents. I dug through my change purse and came up with 6 euros and 80 cents. I thought that was pretty good, and was half-expecting a nod of appreciation.

Instead, the cashier rolled her eyes and said, "you don't have 7 cents?"

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samdebretagne
How 'bout this one? The lunchlady at la fac used to refuse to sell me sandwiches if I didn't have exact change. They cost 2.65€, and giving her 3€ was no good - she hoarded her change like there was no tomorrow, it was so strange. And she's not the only one who's done it to me either - I love how they prefer to NOT sell something instead of just forking the coins over (or *gasp* going to get more)!
drdave
[いいですね]
On that one topic, David Sedaris probably has the most hilarious recount ever told of a Paris-dwelling man fighting to keep his laundry-change away from the boulangère...
rion
funny i should read this today... I managed exact change at the franprix just an hour ago: €9.83 and I was very pleased with myself.

I also noticed two side effects of digging for exact change: 1. she bagged my stuff while she saw me looking to make exact change (even tho they never bag my stuff!) and 2. i could take my sweet ole time getting the change and everyone is willing to wait because, for heavens sake, it's exact change.
Veronica
[this is good]
I just had to comment on this post, as my roomie and I laugh about this all of the time. Usually, we feign a search through our purses and conjure up the most disappointed and apologetic faces possible as we explain that we only have a 10 Euro bill. They are obsessed with exact change...! Yet another thing that I'll probably never understand...

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