[Idiom] We do not give change.

[emp0608]

Hi folks,

If a store doesn't want to provide the service of breaking bills for customers, I think it will put up a sign that says, "We do not make change." But is it also possible to say, "We do not give change" ? Personally I think it's misleading.

Thanks.

 

[SoothingDave]

It's two different things. Not giving change means that you buy something that costs $4 and give them a $5 bill and they don't give you anything back.

 

[Raymott]

Really, is that a thing? The only time I've encountered that is with taxis in Buenos Aires.
You wouldn't be in business long in Australia if you didn't give change.

 

[bubbha]

Really, is that a thing? The only time I've encountered that is with taxis in Buenos Aires.
You wouldn't be in business long in Australia if you didn't give change.

I've seen it with some government offices, too.

In businesses, I've seen signs along the lines of "We do not accept bills above $20" and "We do break bills without purchase."

 

[SoothingDave]

It's not a thing other than with some vending machines if they run out of coins. But, that is what the sign would mean, right?

 

[Tdol]

If a store doesn't want to provide the service of breaking bills for customers, I think it will put up a sign that says, "We do not make change." But is it also possible to say, "We do not give change" ? Personally I think it's misleading.

These don't work. The second doesn't work because stores give change when you make a purchase. The first simply doesn't work. For the situation you're describing, you could say something like You have to make a purchase to get change.

 

[emp0608]

Collins says, "If you make change, you give someone smaller notes, bills, or coins, in exchange for the same value of larger ones." I don't see why "We do not make change" doesn't work.

 

[Matthew Wai]

"Make change" is followed by "for (an amount)" in the following example:
"Can you make change for $20?"—quoted from https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/change

 

[emsr2d2]

Some parking payment machines in the UK make it clear that even if you put in more money than is necessary, you won't get any change. There's usually a sign somewhere near the coin slot that says "No change given". I've seen some machines where the payment for an hour is, for example, 95p and the people in charge of the machines know that lots of people won't have the correct money so they'll put in a £1 coin. They don't get 5p change and the sign makes that clear. Multiply 5p by the number of people who park there even just in one day and the company is making a tidy profit by refusing to give change.

"make change" isn't really used in the UK. If a shop wants to make it clear that you can't go in with a £10 note and ask for a £5 note and five £1 coins (for example), the sign would still say "Sorry, we don't give change". No one would think that meant that if you buy something and pay more than the cost, you won't be given the change that's owed to you.

If someone wants to exchange an amount of money for the same amount of money but in smaller denominations, they would ask the person in the shop something like "Hi. Can you change a twenty?"

 

[emp0608]

Thank you, emsr2d2. The Tokyo Olympics will be held in less than two years and I'm sure there are a lot of stores that want to put up this kind of sign. Woud you agree, in order for anybody to understand the meaning clearly, "We do not break bills without purchase" would be the best choice?

 

[emsr2d2]

Thank you, emsr2d2. The Tokyo Olympics will be held in less than two years and I'm sure there are a lot of stores that want to put up this kind of sign. Woud you agree, in order for anybody to understand the meaning clearly, "We do not break bills without purchase" would be the best choice?

It depends on the target audience. Presumably there will be a lot of different nationalities visiting during the Olympics. I would say it's almost impossible to put up one sign that everyone will understand. I would understand that sign but I suspect some (many?) other BrE speakers would not, mainly because we don't use "break bills" that way. We don't use "bills" for banknotes at all in BrE.

 

[emp0608]

Thanks again. I now see why it's difficult to come up with a sign that everybody understand. How about "Please make a purchase if you need change for your bank note"?

 

[Raymott]

"No change given without a purchase".

 

[Tdol]

No purchase: no change