Would you have accepted this offer, or did we embarrass her?

[WestendVBroadway]

I was in a discount store earlier. There was a lady being served, 1 lady behind her in queue, then me. None of us knew each other. First lady was buying an item that cost less that £1.00. She offered a £10 note. The cashier asked if customer had anything smaller as there was not sufficient change in the till. The customer said she had nothing smaller, and apparently either had no card to use, or choose not to for such a small amount. I said that she could just put it with my stuff and I would happily pay for it. The lady in front of me also offered to pay for it to help her out. The customer said she couldn't accept the kind offer. I suggested she just pay it forward, and other customer said to think of it as a Christmas gift. The original customer quickly disappeared before myself of other lady could pay for it. So , AIBU to think it was just a goodwill thing to do? Would you have accepted it, or was it embarrassing? Just to add there were no other customers around, so we didn't make her look like a charity case.

I wouldn't personally offer because the amount was so paltry it was always going to be embarrassing for them. If it was ten quid or so I'd offer, but if someone gave me 70p or something and told me to pay it forward I'd probably curl up and die.

I’d have accepted, such a small sum really isn’t putting anyone out.

It was nice of both you and the other customer to offer, but I wouldn't have accepted either. I'd have just gone to another shop. At this point in my life I am not short of money so I would accept a 'gift' (however small) from someone I didn't know / couldn't return it to.
Different from those needing the cash to get home, or needing to buy toilet roll or something crucial when on the tightest of budgets.

I can see why she wouldn’t accept, but think it was a kind gesture on your part. I also wonder whether the shop could have been a bit more helpful.

I'd have accepted it, and said that I would certainly pay the favor forward (and then done so). She obviously had the money to spend, I don't know why she would have been embarrassed by this in the least.

@wannalivelikecommonpeople

That was kind of you to offer. Poor lady obviously felt embarrassed

But how did
The shop not have £9 in the float? Stupid

Many people don't use cash these days, so it limits the amount coming in.

If it's a small shop, a run of people buying low priced items to change a note, which people often do, either because they need the change for parking or whatever, or simply because they don't have a smaller amount, could wipe out the change they have.

It's always been like this, sometimes, some shops struggle to keep the amount of change they need.

Who knows why the woman didn't accept the offer? Maybe she didn't actually need the item, maybe she did need the change and having her item paid for wouldn't have helped, or maybe she was embarrased, who knows.