exact change

"I paid for pizza $15 in exact change." If I paid $20 for a pizza that costs 15, could I say that I got $5 back in exact change meaning that I was not shortchanged?

ostap77 said:

"I paid for pizza 15 $ in exact change." If I paid 20 $ for a pizza that costs 15, could I say that I got 5 $ back in exact change meaning that I was not shortchanged?

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I suppose you could but it really doesn't sound very natural; "I got $5.00 change" sounds better.
"Exact change" usually refers to a payment of the specific amount required. Many urban bus lines in the U.S. accept "exact change only" in their fare machines, meaning that the box will accept only coins and the driver will not change paper bills.

Ostap, note that we say fifteen dollars but write $15.

Rover

Rover_KE said:

Ostap, note that we say fifteen dollars but write $15.

Rover

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If I were paying for goods to the cashier in a small store and wanted to ask if he would accept a 50-dollar bill, would it be OK to ask "Do you change a 50-dollar bill?"

ostap77 said:

If I were paying for goods to the cashier in a small store and wanted to ask if he would accept a 50-dollar bill, would it be OK to ask "Do you change a 50-dollar bill?"

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I'd be more likely to ask "can you change a 50?" "Dollar bill" is implied.

We use "exact change" as discussed above - If what I purchase is $17.52, I pay with a ten, a five, two ones, two quarters, and two pennies. (Although the 52 cents could be another combination, and I could give the $17 as three fives and two ones, or even 17 ones, etc.) The point is that I give the cashier the exact amount of the sale.

Barb_D said:

We use "exact change" as discussed above - If what I purchase is $17.52, I pay with a ten, a five, two ones, two quarters, and two pennies. (Although the 52 cents could be another combination, and I could give the $17 as three fives and two ones, or even 17 ones, etc.) The point is that I give the cashier the exact amount of the sale.

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If I were a cashier, could I ask a cusomer if he was done putting groceries on the counter and wanted me start counting "Shall I coun the sale?"?

Barb_D said:

We use "exact change" as discussed above - If what I purchase is $17.52, I pay with a ten, a five, two ones, two quarters, and two pennies. (Although the 52 cents could be another combination, and I could give the $17 as three fives and two ones, or even 17 ones, etc.) The point is that I give the cashier the exact amount of the sale.

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If I were a cashier, could I ask a customer if he is done putting groceries on the counter and wanted me to start counting "Shall I count the sale?"?

ostap77 said:

If I were a cashier, could I ask a cusomer if he was done putting groceries on the counter and wanted me to start counting "Shall I count the sale?"? No.

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Please check you posts for typos.
"Shall I start ringing it up?"

Actually, I'd be quite surprised by that question. If I've put it on the counter, then that's exactly what I expect the cashier to do. To ask my permission to start is unexpected. Just start scanning and get on with it, I would think.

riquecohen said:

"Exact change" usually refers to a payment of the specific amount required. Many urban bus lines in the U.S. accept "exact change only" in their fare machines, meaning that the box will accept only coins and the driver will not change paper bills.

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♥♦♣♠ NOT A TEACHER ♥♦♣♠
In England, in Swindon in particular, it reads 'Exact fare please', or maybe that was a typical notice on the bus when I was living there.

engee30 said:

♥♦♣♠ NOT A TEACHER ♥♦♣♠
In England, in Swindon in particular, it reads 'Exact fare please', or maybe that was a typical notice on the bus when I was living there.

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Guess it was about paying in exact change for the fare when you were riding the bus somewhere..:up:

ostap77 said:

"I paid for pizza $15 in exact change." If I paid $20 for a pizza that costs 15, could I say that I got $5 back in exact change meaning that I was not shortchanged?

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The answer is quite logical.

Saying that you got back "$5 in exact change" would be odd because you normally expect to receive the exact amount of change back. Why would they give you more or less? Then they'd have to give you additional money, or you'd have to give them back some... So you only specify when something abnormal happened -- shortchanged. Interestingly, there's no opposite for that.

But as a customer you can give them more than the amount required and they'll give you change. That's part of the "service". Requirement for exact change is normally not assumed.

@freezframe: -- shortchanged. Interestingly, there's no opposite for that.

The closest term I can think of is the one I would use myself if I got too much change back – I've been undercharged.

JMurray said:

@freezframe: -- shortchanged. Interestingly, there's no opposite for that.

The closest term I can think of is the one I would use myself if I got too much change back – I've been undercharged.

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I would say "I'm having a good day". ;-)