7-11 takes 1000-Baht-bill for 100 Baht, shortchanges - your take?

[henrik2000]

Hello, the bill at the 7-11 was 59 THB. I opened my wallet and saw that i only have some 1000-Baht-bills. i showed 1000 THB, asked in Thai, “dai mai khrap?” (can do?) and  the cashier murmured something jolly confirming. 

I received the change of 41 baht. After some fruitless waiting, I said “I still need 900, because I gave you 1,000”. The cashier said “no, you gave me 100”. A tense discussion ensued. At one point someone like perhaps a supervisor counted all the 100 THB bills and the 20 THB bills in the cash register without commenting on it. Stupidly I didn't check if there was any 1,000 THB bill.

My cashier said something about “Thailand Thailand” which I didn't understand. He seemed to insinuate that I confused the 100 and the 1,000 TBH bills because of their slightly similar colors, but I am 1000% sure that I gave him 1,000, and I can distinguish between the two very well. 

Now 4 or 5 staff watched us. Then he opened the cash register again and showed me that there was not a single 1,000 THB bill in it. I hadn't looked for that when they had opened it first for me, but of course my 1,000 THB could have been hidden anywhere, not the least under the stack of 100 THB bills that were there.

Finally I said, “okay up to you”, took my two small things, my 41 THB and left. On the spacious parking lot was my blinking bicycle (7 pm). At least one staff member observed me through the window. I was hoping they would come down, but they didn't and let me leave.

When cycling home I thought, I should have not taken anything - neither the 41 THB change nor the two small things - and should have said instead, “okay, please wait a little, I come back with police”, and see if they follow me to the parking lot. (I would have never contacted police anyway.)

How would you deal such a situation?

Backgrounds: 

It is the 7-Eleven in Samut Songhkram, the one next to the Don Hoi Lot landmark, about 3 km away. I believe that 7-Eleven doesn't get many foreigners. I had shown upon entering the cashiers two photos of anti-mosquito things I had snapped at friends’, and one had helpfully accompanied me to the 2 different shelves where I could find the items. I think I overheard them saying “oh, he speaks Thai” (and they can't know that I understand much less than I speak). They were much more personal with me than, say, a 7-Eleven cashier in Jomtien. 

I believe that I was dressed politely enough (not in sports garb, not in beach garb), but of course seeing me with a bicycle is a minus normally (I think I didn't see more than 3 bicycles total in several days of cycling around the province and locals told me it was silly and dangerous to bicycle; on the same morning a dog had bitten me physically because I bicycled).

Again I know very well that I gave 1,000 in the 7-11, as I am aware that I spent my last 100 THB bills for fish and rice at the Don Hoi Lot market. 

Your take?

 

PS

If you have a comment on getting bitten by a dog that clearly belongs to a rural 1-family-home next to a regular paved road I am interested too.

Edited December 14, 2023 by henrik2000

[tubby johnson]

 

13 minutes ago, henrik2000 said:

on the same morning a dog had bitten me physically because I bicycled

 

After a long day of cycling and the delirium of a dog bite, you may have confused a 100 baht note for a 1000 baht note in the fading evening light.

 

But then, Thailand is the famous Land of Scams .....

[Chris Daley]

There's another scam they do at Cafe Amazon.  You give them 100 and they type in 1000 received.  Then they put 900 in their pocket from the company's profits.  Nice.

Edited December 14, 2023 by Chris Daley

[StayinThailand2much]

There are scams going on at a few 7-Eleven stores, but it's rare. I remember buying stuff at 7-Eleven on Khao San Road several years ago, when the police station was just opposite. Looked on receipt, and saw an item I had neither bought nor received, but that was billed to me. Then there are rare occasions where they try to short-change you by a few coins, while not giving you the receipt. If you tell them, they will just give you that change without even apologising, which is telling. - Again, most 7-Eleven staff are honest IMHO, but there are a select few stores where staff try things. Paying with big notes for small amounts is a bit risky, so it is advisable to keep an eye on what's going on, and complain immediately if there is a discrepancy. Human errors happen, but having staff count the banknotes in the till, and telling you 'no have' doesn't sound like you're going to get it back, as the cops will most probably believe the staff over you. Live and learn! Also, are you sure it wasn't your mistake, perhaps?

Edited December 14, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[delgarcon]

I think you'll find that most, if not all. 7/11s have CCTV, which you can ask to see, in the event of a dispute over payment. If it's refused, you call the old Bill

 

I

12 hours ago, henrik2000 said:

Hello, the bill at the 7-11 was 59 THB. I opened my wallet and saw that i only have some 1000-Baht-bills. i showed 1000 THB, asked in Thai, “dai mai khrap?” (can do?) and  the cashier murmured something jolly confirming. 

I received the change of 41 baht. After some fruitless waiting, I said “I still need 900, because I gave you 1,000”. The cashier said “no, you gave me 100”. A tense discussion ensued. At one point someone like perhaps a supervisor counted all the 100 THB bills and the 20 THB bills in the cash register without commenting on it. Stupidly I didn't check if there was any 1,000 THB bill.

My cashier said something about “Thailand Thailand” which I didn't understand. He seemed to insinuate that I confused the 100 and the 1,000 TBH bills because of their slightly similar colors, but I am 1000% sure that I gave him 1,000, and I can distinguish between the two very well. 

Now 4 or 5 staff watched us. Then he opened the cash register again and showed me that there was not a single 1,000 THB bill in it. I hadn't looked for that when they had opened it first for me, but of course my 1,000 THB could have been hidden anywhere, not the least under the stack of 100 THB bills that were there.

Finally I said, “okay up to you”, took my two small things, my 41 THB and left. On the spacious parking lot was my blinking bicycle (7 pm). At least one staff member observed me through the window. I was hoping they would come down, but they didn't and let me leave.

When cycling home I thought, I should have not taken anything - neither the 41 THB change nor the two small things - and should have said instead, “okay, please wait a little, I come back with police”, and see if they follow me to the parking lot. (I would have never contacted police anyway.)

How would you deal such a situation?

Backgrounds: 

It is the 7-Eleven in Samut Songhkram, the one next to the Don Hoi Lot landmark, about 3 km away. I believe that 7-Eleven doesn't get many foreigners. I had shown upon entering the cashiers two photos of anti-mosquito things I had snapped at friends’, and one had helpfully accompanied me to the 2 different shelves where I could find the items. I think I overheard them saying “oh, he speaks Thai” (and they can't know that I understand much less than I speak). They were much more personal with me than, say, a 7-Eleven cashier in Jomtien. 

I believe that I was dressed politely enough (not in sports garb, not in beach garb), but of course seeing me with a bicycle is a minus normally (I think I didn't see more than 3 bicycles total in several days of cycling around the province and locals told me it was silly and dangerous to bicycle; on the same morning a dog had bitten me physically because I bicycled).

Again I know very well that I gave 1,000 in the 7-11, as I am aware that I spent my last 100 THB bills for fish and rice at the Don Hoi Lot market. 

Your take?

 

PS

If you have a comment on getting bitten by a dog that clearly belongs to a rural 1-family-home next to a regular paved road I am interested too.

 

 

 

[JimTripper]

You need to look at the cashier before breaking a 1000 anywhere. Problem looking guys, no. Female students, yes. 

 

Learn to read people. It becomes second nature after awhile.

[StayinThailand2much]

7 minutes ago, JimTripper said:

You need to look at the cashier before breaking a 1000 anywhere. Problem looking guys, no. Female students, yes. 

 

Learn to read people. It becomes second nature after awhile.

 

On the few occasions when they tried to scam me at 7-Eleven it was always middle-aged women.

Edited December 14, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[josephbloggs]

35 minutes ago, henrik2000 said:

Hello, the bill at the 7-11 was 59 THB. I opened my wallet and saw that i only have some 1000-Baht-bills. i showed 1000 THB, asked in Thai, “dai mai khrap?” (can do?) and  the cashier murmured something jolly confirming. 

I received the change of 41 baht. After some fruitless waiting, I said “I still need 900, because I gave you 1,000”. The cashier said “no, you gave me 100”. A tense discussion ensued. At one point someone like perhaps a supervisor counted all the 100 THB bills and the 20 THB bills in the cash register without commenting on it. Stupidly I didn't check if there was any 1,000 THB bill.

My cashier said something about “Thailand Thailand” which I didn't understand. He seemed to insinuate that I confused the 100 and the 1,000 TBH bills because of their slightly similar colors, but I am 1000% sure that I gave him 1,000, and I can distinguish between the two very well. 

Now 4 or 5 staff watched us. Then he opened the cash register again and showed me that there was not a single 1,000 THB bill in it. I hadn't looked for that when they had opened it first for me, but of course my 1,000 THB could have been hidden anywhere, not the least under the stack of 100 THB bills that were there.

Finally I said, “okay up to you”, took my two small things, my 41 THB and left. On the spacious parking lot was my blinking bicycle (7 pm). At least one staff member observed me through the window. I was hoping they would come down, but they didn't and let me leave.

When cycling home I thought, I should have not taken anything - neither the 41 THB change nor the two small things - and should have said instead, “okay, please wait a little, I come back with police”, and see if they follow me to the parking lot. (I would have never contacted police anyway.)

How would you deal such a situation?

Backgrounds: 

It is the 7-Eleven in Samut Songhkram, the one next to the Don Hoi Lot landmark, about 3 km away. I believe that 7-Eleven doesn't get many foreigners. I had shown upon entering the cashiers two photos of anti-mosquito things I had snapped at friends’, and one had helpfully accompanied me to the 2 different shelves where I could find the items. I think I overheard them saying “oh, he speaks Thai” (and they can't know that I understand much less than I speak). They were much more personal with me than, say, a 7-Eleven cashier in Jomtien. 

I believe that I was dressed politely enough (not in sports garb, not in beach garb), but of course seeing me with a bicycle is a minus normally (I think I didn't see more than 3 bicycles total in several days of cycling around the province and locals told me it was silly and dangerous to bicycle; on the same morning a dog had bitten me physically because I bicycled).

Again I know very well that I gave 1,000 in the 7-11, as I am aware that I spent my last 100 THB bills for fish and rice at the Don Hoi Lot market. 

Your take?

 

PS

If you have a comment on getting bitten by a dog that clearly belongs to a rural 1-family-home next to a regular paved road I am interested too.

In any 7-Eleven I've ever been in (in Bangkok at least) they always say out loud what note you have given them. If I have handed over a thousand they will say, in Thai, "you've given me one thousand" and then count the change back, every single time.

I have to say 7-Eleven staff are amongst the best trained in Thailand and I have never once been scammed in 28 years, in fact quite the opposite; when I have accidentally given too much they point it out and hand back the extra.

Not saying there isn't a rogue 7-Eleven cashier somewhere but it doesn't gel with my experience, their training, or the fact that all cashier areas are covered by CCTV so there is zero chance of them getting away with it if you ask to see the CCTV.

[BenStark]

23 minutes ago, Chris Daley said:

There's another scam they do at Cafe Amazon.  You give them 100 and they type in 1000 received.  Then they put 900 in their pocket from the company's profits.  Nice.

 

You only pretend to be one, or are you one?

[stoner]

27 minutes ago, Chris Daley said:

There's another scam they do at Cafe Amazon.  You give them 100 and they type in 1000 received.  Then they put 900 in their pocket from the company's profits.  Nice.

 

ya but then the till will be short. 

[novacova]

Call the cops and stand there in the store until the cops come to view the surveillance video.

But now not too late, just call the cops.

Edited December 14, 2023 by novacova

[topt]

21 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

In any 7-Eleven I've ever been in (in Bangkok at least) they always say out loud what note you have given them. If I have handed over a thousand they will say, in Thai, "you've given me one thousand" and then count the change back, every single time.

I have to say 7-Eleven staff are amongst the best trained in Thailand and I have never once been scammed in 28 years, in fact quite the opposite; when I have accidentally given too much they point it out and hand back the extra.

Not saying there isn't a rogue 7-Eleven cashier somewhere but it doesn't gel with my experience, their training, or the fact that all cashier areas are covered by CCTV so there is zero chance of them getting away with it if you ask to see the CCTV.

Years ago there used to be quite a few "reports"about this happening in 7/11s and elsewhere.

As you say asking to see the cctv normally resolves it.

[NextG]

1 hour ago, henrik2000 said:

Hello, the bill at the 7-11 was 59 THB. I opened my wallet and saw that i only have some 1000-Baht-bills. i showed 1000 THB, asked in Thai, “dai mai khrap?” (can do?) and  the cashier murmured something jolly confirming. 

I received the change of 41 baht. After some fruitless waiting, I said “I still need 900, because I gave you 1,000”. The cashier said “no, you gave me 100”. A tense discussion ensued. At one point someone like perhaps a supervisor counted all the 100 THB bills and the 20 THB bills in the cash register without commenting on it. Stupidly I didn't check if there was any 1,000 THB bill.

My cashier said something about “Thailand Thailand” which I didn't understand. He seemed to insinuate that I confused the 100 and the 1,000 TBH bills because of their slightly similar colors, but I am 1000% sure that I gave him 1,000, and I can distinguish between the two very well. 

Now 4 or 5 staff watched us. Then he opened the cash register again and showed me that there was not a single 1,000 THB bill in it. I hadn't looked for that when they had opened it first for me, but of course my 1,000 THB could have been hidden anywhere, not the least under the stack of 100 THB bills that were there.

Finally I said, “okay up to you”, took my two small things, my 41 THB and left. On the spacious parking lot was my blinking bicycle (7 pm). At least one staff member observed me through the window. I was hoping they would come down, but they didn't and let me leave.

When cycling home I thought, I should have not taken anything - neither the 41 THB change nor the two small things - and should have said instead, “okay, please wait a little, I come back with police”, and see if they follow me to the parking lot. (I would have never contacted police anyway.)

How would you deal such a situation?

Backgrounds: 

It is the 7-Eleven in Samut Songhkram, the one next to the Don Hoi Lot landmark, about 3 km away. I believe that 7-Eleven doesn't get many foreigners. I had shown upon entering the cashiers two photos of anti-mosquito things I had snapped at friends’, and one had helpfully accompanied me to the 2 different shelves where I could find the items. I think I overheard them saying “oh, he speaks Thai” (and they can't know that I understand much less than I speak). They were much more personal with me than, say, a 7-Eleven cashier in Jomtien. 

I believe that I was dressed politely enough (not in sports garb, not in beach garb), but of course seeing me with a bicycle is a minus normally (I think I didn't see more than 3 bicycles total in several days of cycling around the province and locals told me it was silly and dangerous to bicycle; on the same morning a dog had bitten me physically because I bicycled).

Again I know very well that I gave 1,000 in the 7-11, as I am aware that I spent my last 100 THB bills for fish and rice at the Don Hoi Lot market. 

Your take?

 

PS

If you have a comment on getting bitten by a dog that clearly belongs to a rural 1-family-home next to a regular paved road I am interested too.

If you are sure, go to the police and ask to see the CCTV. You aren’t the first who may have been cheated in that way. It’s an oft documented scam. 

[V8M8]

1 hour ago, Chris Daley said:

There's another scam they do at Cafe Amazon.  You give them 100 and they type in 1000 received.  Then they put 900 in their pocket from the company's profits.  Nice.

How on earth did you crack this Chris, amazing, please let us know?

[V8M8]

Bad luck, move on.

[scorecard]

2 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

There are scams going on at a few 7-Eleven stores, but it's rare. I remember buying stuff at 7-Eleven on Khao San Road several years ago, when the police station was just opposite. Looked on receipt, and saw an item I had neither bought nor received, but that was billed to me. Then there are rare occasions where they try to short-change you by a few coins, while not giving you the receipt. If you tell them, they will just give you that change without even apologising, which is telling. - Again, most 7-Eleven staff are honest IMHO, but there are a select few stores where staff try things. Paying with big notes for small amounts is a bit risky, so it is advisable to keep an eye on what's going on, and complain immediately if there is a discrepancy. Human errors happen, but having staff count the banknotes in the till, and telling you 'no have' doesn't sound like you're going to get it back, as the cops will most probably believe the staff over you. Live and learn! Also, are you sure it wasn't your mistake, perhaps?

 

I regularly visit a 7/11 store close to my hotel in Bkk where I spend half of my life when Im lecturing at 2 unis nearby.

 

Some years back a loud Thai lady insisted she gave 1,000 but only got change of 100. She became very abusive, police called and police requested a district supvr come (in fact had an office in the same store).

 

Police asked several people to clear the store and one cop went outside and held 2 friends of the lady who was claiming wrong change. These 2 were deliberately trying to cause confusion.

 

Police announced that there was no 1,000Baht bill in the drawer and laid out all the notes so they could be seen by all concerned.

 

7 Supvr then told all the staff to never put a 500 or 1,000Baht bill into the drawer until change had been given and customer had walked away, and he showed then where they must (every time / every cashier) put the 500 / 1000 to hold it until the transaction totally completed and customer was walking away. A spot where the customer could not easily try to grab the note.

 

Supvr had by now taken photos of the errant lady customer and her 2 friends. With police still present and paying attention supvr told the 3 lades they were banned for life from ever entering a 7/11 store anywhere in Thailand. And told them their photos would within 1 minute be added to a tablet screen which shows photos of banned customers. Tablet easily seen by staff but not easily seen by customers.

 

The next morning day a sign at every cashier point in Thai and in English "Please check your change before you walk away from the cashier desk".

 

The staff at this 7 still follow the  procedure of not putting 500 or 1,00Baht notes in the drawer until transaction is all completed and customer has taken their purchases, change etc., and walked away.

Edited December 14, 2023 by scorecard

[scubascuba3]

When this happened to me at 7 Eleven they went to review the video, strange they didn't do that

 

At Burger King and Mr DIY twice they tried giving a 100 short. At 7 Eleven you can tell if they are up to something if they don't count the change 3 times

[BritManToo]

7 hours ago, henrik2000 said:

How would you deal such a situation?

All 7-11s have a camera pointed at the till to stop staff stealing. I'd have asked to see the video.

As for the missing note, when stealing they slip it under the till, not in the cash drawer.

[henrik2000]

Hi all, thanks for some good information that I will follow in the next case - ask for CCTV and perhaps fix the 1000 bill visibly under some thing, until the correct change has been shown. Even though this shows open distrust in the cashier and might be seen as an affront. 

 

I hadn't thought about asking for CCTV reviewing. Now I know. 

 

It's surprising (or not) that they themselves didn't offer to check the CCTV, especially as that assumed supervisor demonstratively counted many 100s and 20s in front of my eyes to prove I don't know what.

 

As is said above, I must forget and move on. But I know forgetting is difficult for me. I am still very sure that I gave 1,000, even though there is a tiny chance that I am wrong about that. I remember especially clearly how I had asked the cashier in Thai if he could produce change for a 1,000 bill (I asked to be polite and apologetic, not because I really thought he couldn't produce the change).

 

On a side note, recently I did some bicycle maintenance in a provincial town at a bicycle dealer in a quiet residential area. I thought I had forgotten a small pouch in front of his shop (where some packages lay around  unguarded when I arrived as the shop was still closed at 2 pm). I returned and he showed me the CCTV of our joint maintenance action and the pouch was nowhere to be seen where I thought it should have been visible in front of the shop window. I think I saw many times in the west that cashiers lay a customer's bill openly on top of the till until they have produced the correct change so that you can always watch your bill. 

 

I also believe (like other contributors above) that Thai salespeople and anybody are very honest almost any time. I forgot wallet, camera etc many times and got it back without fuss (somehow this doesn't happen in Cambodia).  I do remember one or two other cases of shortchanging in Thailand including one in a provincial Tesco lotus where after some tense repeated whispering suddenly the correct change had been produced (in the new case described above I had expected the same result; actually I thought at one moment in time the cashier looked very uncertain and might give me the correct change). Also there was a lovely riverside restaurant in Chiang Mai which had a trick with a wrong receipt being described online; exactly the trick described online happened to me, so I was able to point out the “error” and avoid getting cheated.

 

Thanks again, lesson learned.

 

Edited December 14, 2023 by henrik2000

[GypsyT]

It sad when you get cheated. But there are happy endings too.

 

Last week I was in Danang, Vn. I bought one wonderful chocolate pastry for 10 000 VND.

Had walked a block when somebody tapped my shoulder. It was a girl from the store, handing me 40 000VND. I had paid with 50 000VND bill thinking it was 10 000. Those crazy big bills get my head spinning...

 

I thanked her and offered 20 000 but she refused. I felt so good I walked back and bought TWO more -:). Just show my appreciation to this hole-in-wall family bakery.

[JBChiangRai]

17 minutes ago, GypsyT said:

It sad when you get cheated. But there are happy endings too.

 

Last week I was in Danang, Vn. I bought one wonderful chocolate pastry for 10 000 VND.

Had walked a block when somebody tapped my shoulder. It was a girl from the store, handing me 40 000VND. I had paid with 50 000VND bill thinking it was 10 000. Those crazy big bills get my head spinning...

 

I thanked her and offered 20 000 but she refused. I felt so good I walked back and bought TWO more -:). Just show my appreciation to this hole-in-wall family bakery.

 

Was that Paris Levain?

[gargamon]

Pay from your phone with a QR code. No change. Problem solved. 

 

Does 7/11 take QR codes for payment? 

[GypsyT]

I don't think so... nothing fancy but excellent products by granma, mama and daughter. 10min walk from Eden Plaza Hotel.

I tried to walk and track with Google Yellow fellow but doesn't want to. Many many small streets.

[Denim]

13 hours ago, henrik2000 said:

on the same morning a dog had bitten me physically because I bicycled).

 

If a dog bites you here get a rabies jab immediatley. Take no chances. Dog probably ok but if it has got rabies you are a walking dead man without a rabies shot. You CANNOT wait and see if you start feeling unwell , then get jabbed. Too late. You are dead.

 

Doesn't cost much for the jab and is no big deal.

 

https://www.pacificprime.co.th/blog/rabies-outbreaks-in-thailand/

[Peabody]

I always verbally say, in Thai, "This is 1000 baht" when paying with a 1000.

 

[Denim]

34 minutes ago, Peabody said:

I always verbally say, in Thai, "This is 1000 baht" when paying with a 1000.

 

 

Why somebody would add a sad emoji to this beats me.  Good advice and avoids confusion and short change.

[Dante99]

49 minutes ago, Peabody said:

I always verbally say, in Thai, "This is 1000 baht" when paying with a 1000.

 

Sure hope that does not catch on.  Imaging going shopping and all these creatures yelling about the kind of bill they are paying with.  Then the sales people yelling confirmations and after a few minutes yelling the amount of change they are giving.  Not yelling, okay but at least loud talking because whispering would have no point.  Then all the people jockeying for position to take the confirming proof video, checking it then retaking for better exposures.

[Mike Lister]

1 hour ago, Peabody said:

I always verbally say, in Thai, "This is 1000 baht" when paying with a 1000.

 

Me too, and I look for an acknowledgment also

[itsari]

If the cashier had placed the 1000 baht note under the till while handing change of 48 baht to the customer then there would of been 48 baht minus in the till .

I always make it clear that I am handing over a 1000 baht note to the cashier . 

[TheFishman1]

I once bought a bag of Pacio nuts and half the nuts you could not open I brought it back no receipt they gave me a new bag no problem. I’ve never had any problems at 7-Eleven. I always tell them how much money I’m giving them and I always look at the receipt and make sure everything is correct to me after reading your story, it sounds like she ripped you off of your money. She didn’t have to necessarily even put it in the cashier or she could’ve just dropped it under the countertop to retrieve it later I would’ve asked to see the video film, though they all have the video films there and I would’ve said let me see the video film , TIT