The Press — The Disappearance of Small Coins
If the small coins of 1, 2, and 5 millimes have been out of circulation for a long time, those of 10 and 20 millimes are becoming increasingly rare. However, in terms of accounting, everything is still recorded, whether it's at the level of bank accounts, invoices, or cash registers, creating a discrepancy between the amount paid and the actual cost of purchases or goods bought. The exception is made for payments by check or bank card, where the customer pays the exact amount.
It is also true that few people check the "insignificant" numbers after the decimal point, whether it's on their bank statement, invoice, or cash register receipt. However, when accumulated, these numbers, to which few people pay great importance, can become colossal sums at the end of a day, a week, or a year.
Sometimes, this is also the subject of altercations between a demanding and meticulous customer and a careless cashier, making one wonder why there is a dispute over just 20 millimes, for example. "I'm not going to get rich with your insignificant millimes," the cashier would defend themselves. "Neither will I! It's a matter of principle!" the customer would retort, probably stressed by the rising prices of certain products...
But most customers say nothing, even for 50 or 100 millimes less, especially if the cashier apologizes for not having small change. A good practice, rare indeed, but one that should be systematic.
Some large retailers have created applications that allow customers to accumulate small change not returned on an account linked to their loyalty card, in order to return it to them on their next visit. An initiative appreciated by some consumers who may not know that the personal data voluntarily provided to the distribution network via the "loyalty card" would allow the latter to use their purchase details (free of charge) to analyze consumer behavior, while this money is theirs by right!
It goes without saying that the average Tunisian, generous and with a "big heart," as they say in Tunisian dialect, does not attach too much importance to the "small right." Many merchants occasionally give up to 100 or 200 millimes to their customers, in order to facilitate buying and selling operations.
Many customers also think that "50 millimes for me or for you, it's not the end of the world," and a smile attests to this. But many people give in reluctantly, out of conformity and to avoid being labeled as greedy...
In other parts of the world, regardless of the payment method, small change is returned with great accuracy, and some people have even accumulated a treasure over their entire lifetime.
There, not returning small change for any reason is considered theft, in accordance with the adage that says, "Who steals an egg steals an ox!"
