No more new pennies

[wxfree]

I had my first rounding experience last month.  At Walmart I was due 49 cents and was given 50.  The receipt accounted for the 1 cent saying something about rounding.  This was at a self-service checkout.  Later at a different store (I use cash routinely) I got change at a self-service machine with pennies included.  Walmart may have decided that they'll spend less by rounding than by hauling pennies around.

[Scott5114]

I had my first rounding experience last month.  At Walmart I was due 49 cents and was given 50.  The receipt accounted for the 1 cent saying something about rounding.  This was at a self-service checkout.  Later at a different store (I use cash routinely) I got change at a self-service machine with pennies included.  Walmart may have decided that they'll spend less by rounding than by hauling pennies around.

I know someone who works at Walmart who said that the store's computer system knows how many pennies the store has available, and if there's a shortage, it will automatically turn rounding on or off as needed. So if I came in behind you and dumped 400 pennies into that self-checkout it might have switched rounding back off.

[Road Hog]

7-Eleven has done away with pennies — at least the local one. My total was $4.97 and I got a nickel in change for a $5.

[Ted$8roadFan]

My favorite local supermarket has a sign warning of the penny shortage and asking people to make correct change (as many others do). But they have yet to adopt rounding; I got Pennie's back in change. Better add them to the coffee can.

[Plutonic Panda]

7-Eleven has done away with pennies — at least the local one. My total was $4.97 and I got a nickel in change for a $5.

I'll have to test that at the one here at sunset and La Brea. Though I usually don't use Cash anymore I'll have to go out of my way but now I'm curious.

[Ted$8roadFan]

I went to a Dunkin yesterday for coffee and a muffin. My purchase was rounded - I couldn't tell if it was up or down. All I know is I didn't get any change. That wouldn't have happened pre-penny demise.

[kphoger]

I couldn't tell if it was up or down.

wut

[mgk920]

The USMint is making a few 'Pennies' with the '1776-2026' dating (all 2026 USA coins will have that for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence), but they will be available in collector Mint and Proof sets only.

Mike

[formulanone]

I couldn't tell if it was up or down.

wut

Gravity market closed at 9.832 m/s in heavy trading yesterday.

[wxfree]

I couldn't tell if it was up or down.

wut

Gravity market closed at 9.832 m/s in heavy trading yesterday.

The quote I saw was in m/s².  That trading was both heavy and accelerated.

[formulanone]

I couldn't tell if it was up or down.

wut

Gravity market closed at 9.832 m/s in heavy trading yesterday.

The quote I saw was in m/s².  That trading was both heavy and accelerated.

Ah, the Preferred Stock of seconds.

[ClassicHasClass]

I couldn't tell if it was up or down.

wut

Gravity market closed at 9.832 m/s in heavy trading yesterday.

The quote I saw was in m/s².  That trading was both heavy and accelerated.

Probably market inertia.

[kkt]

I wonder how we'll feel when we've spent up the last penny in our lives...

The only times I recall having used American currency since pandemic lockdowns are:

• Tips (wheelchair pushers for my wife at the airport, valet parking, etc.)
• Lottery tickets
• "Green stamps" for requesting QSL cards for amateur radio contacts

I've been home from London for just over two weeks, and I still haven't bothered to swap the also-unnecessary Pound notes for American dollars in my wallet.  (I did make a point of making a couple of purchases with Pounds and Icelandic Kroná for the purpose of getting some coins as souvenirs...)

I do, however, expect to need to use cash occasionally when I visit Germany in a few weeks, although even there I understand that enough places have started accepting plastic/contactless in the past few years that I could do without but-for public pay toilets.

I paid cash to one of the mechanics who works where I take my car to be fixed to teach me to put the unusual tire chains on my car one Saturday morning.

[Road Hog]

I took a Mason jar full of my saved pennies to work the other day for 2 reasons: 1) to cash in on a financial reserve that probably numbers in the low hundreds of dollars over a few years; 2) mostly to assuage my boss, who is convinced we're on a handbasket to Pennygeddon (even though my local 7-Eleven has already eliminated pennies).

[Road Hog]

Per my previous, businesses have been slow to price items in nickel increments (.95 as opposed to .99). Guess they're going to keep trying to suck in zinc with a copper patina as long as they can. Local sales taxes (mine locally is 8.25%) kind of queer the deal as well.

[vdeane]

Per my previous, businesses have been slow to price items in nickel increments (.95 as opposed to .99). Guess they're going to keep trying to suck in zinc with a copper patina as long as they can. Local sales taxes (mine locally is 8.25%) kind of queer the deal as well.

I think you answered their own question there.  As long as sales tax is on top of the price, there is no point whatsoever to changing the price from .99 to .95.

[hotdogPi]

Per my previous, businesses have been slow to price items in nickel increments (.95 as opposed to .99). Guess they're going to keep trying to suck in zinc with a copper patina as long as they can. Local sales taxes (mine locally is 8.25%) kind of queer the deal as well.

I think you answered their own question there.  As long as sales tax is on top of the price, there is no point whatsoever to changing the price from .99 to .95.

How about grocery stores, where most items are not taxable?

As for other types of stores, clothing is not taxable in Massachusetts, but I don't think it's that widespread elsewhere in the United States.

[fwydriver405]

As for other types of stores, clothing is not taxable in Massachusetts, but I don't think it's that widespread elsewhere in the United States.

I thought this was only up to $175.00 (source):

Tax-Exempt Items & Sales

The following categories of sales or types of transactions are generally exempted from the sales/use tax:

Food & clothing

Sales of food for human consumption (other than meals sold by a restaurant) and clothing costing $175 or less. For items that cost more than $175, sales tax is only due on the amount over $175 per item.

[kphoger]

Now I wonder:  is there any law preventing the grocery store from selling honey ham at the deli counter for, say, $11.899 per pound?

[Road Hog]

Every state is different on what is tax-exempt and what isn't. In multiple states including Texas and bordering states, certain items are exempt from sales taxes with a state-issued permit. Mostly farm-related but also governmental agencies and non-profits.

[kalvado]

Now I wonder:  is there any law preventing the grocery store from selling honey ham at the deli counter for, say, $11.899 per pound?

If gas stations can post $3.259..
Meaningless for balance accuracy reasons though

[Scott5114]

How about grocery stores, where most items are not taxable?

This is only true in certain states and for certain items. When I left Oklahoma, every single item at the grocery store was taxed. In Nevada, grocery items are not taxed, but I've noticed some weirdness in what is considered a grocery item and what isn't. And it takes just one non-grocery item to throw pennies into the equation.

[1995hoo]

How about grocery stores, where most items are not taxable?

This is only true in certain states and for certain items. When I left Oklahoma, every single item at the grocery store was taxed. In Nevada, grocery items are not taxed, but I've noticed some weirdness in what is considered a grocery item and what isn't. And it takes just one non-grocery item to throw pennies into the equation.

Exactly, and then there are states like Virginia where different items are taxed at different rates even at the grocery store. Most "staple foods" and "personal hygiene products" are taxed at a reduced rate, but prepared foods (e.g., rotisserie chickens), alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and non-food items sold at the grocery store are subject to the regular sales tax. I believe I read somewhere that the definition of "prepared foods" was recently expanded. Either way, when I do the grocery shopping the receipt almost always has two different lines showing tax at different rates.

[kalvado]

How about grocery stores, where most items are not taxable?

This is only true in certain states and for certain items. When I left Oklahoma, every single item at the grocery store was taxed. In Nevada, grocery items are not taxed, but I've noticed some weirdness in what is considered a grocery item and what isn't. And it takes just one non-grocery item to throw pennies into the equation.

Single item sold by weight would go to smallest fraction of billing unit. E.g. I have a package of pork chops in a fridge, 1.08 lb @ $4.79/lb=$5.1732, rounded to $5.17... so?

[mgk920]

Per my previous, businesses have been slow to price items in nickel increments (.95 as opposed to .99). Guess they're going to keep trying to suck in zinc with a copper patina as long as they can. Local sales taxes (mine locally is 8.25%) kind of queer the deal as well.

I think you answered their own question there.  As long as sales tax is on top of the price, there is no point whatsoever to changing the price from .99 to .95.

How about grocery stores, where most items are not taxable?

As for other types of stores, clothing is not taxable in Massachusetts, but I don't think it's that widespread elsewhere in the Unisted States.

. Clothing is also sale tax exempt in Minnesota.  OTOH, in Wisconsin, you DON'T post sale taxes on price tags.  At the end of the day, a business adds up the total of all 'taxable' sales and the remits whatever the local percentage rate of that is to the state revenue department.  It is very simple.  At the retail checkout, you add whatever that is for the sales on to the slip.  Any 'breakage' error at the end of the day evens out over time.

Mike