AIBU to ask how I check the money politely?

[Scienceseeker]

Lady coming to collect something for over £200. She’s paying cash.

How do I say politely I want to check the money before handing the item over?

Why do you need to be polite? Coz you're a woman?

No because it's POLITE. FFS not everything is a feminist issue.

^ never ever heard a man ask how can I do this normal reasonable thing but politely.

I prefer people to count it in front of me when I hand over cash so that they know that I am being honest there and then, rather than having a seed of doubt in their mind but being too polite to check.

Whenever I buy something like this I hand over the money and ask them to ‘count through to double check’ in some way. It just saves any awkward feelings, if they don’t offer that then just count it out yourself. It won’t be seen as rude.

In India it is not culturally rude to painstakingly count your change in front of the person-- in fact they think you're a dope if you dont! I always cringe a bit cos I'm so British. If you're embarrassed could you hand it to a partner behind you to count while you chat at the door?

Of course you count the money. Why would this be an issue?

@Scienceseeker

Lady coming to collect something for over £200. She’s paying cash.

How do I say politely I want to check the money before handing the item over?

If she is a polite lady she will either, count the money into your hand, OR expect and be perfectly happy to stand there while you to count it for yourself.

Either way, you see and count the cash before handing over the goods.

She might suggest you count it. If not I’d just say “shall we count it together?” And proceed to do so.

@OneTC

I never exchange money with anyone without checking then and there. If someone didn't count money before they handed it over I'd be slightly suspicious

Why??

I hand people the money I know us correct. I don't need to count it again. It's up to them to count it if they want to.

I'm not a bank teller, nor dishonest.

Don’t accept £50 notes. I did, for a FB marketplace sale, and not being familiar with them I didn’t check properly but realised as soon as I shut the door and saw “not for resale” or similar in tiny letters. I messaged him saying I was a police officer (I’m not) and had his car reg and cctv (I didn’t) and he came back with the item saying it was an honest mistake. Gave him 15 mins to go to the cash point but never saw him again. I now make a point of saying no 50’s when I arrange the sale.

Honestly, you're overthinking this! I've never bought/sold anything online and not had the money counted/counted the money before handing it over. Totally normal.

Keep the item in the hall, open the door - all smiles. 'Hi, thanks for coming etc. Great, we said £200? Want to come in and just check everything is OK with the item just whilst I count it?'

If there's any oddness from her, which there won't be, a breezy - 'nothing personal I just like to double check for both of us!'

Its not impolite to count the money! Do you think you could hand a wad of notes to a bank clerk or the Post Office counter, and they'd take it on trust?

You are being reasonable if you count the money in front of her.

You are not being reasonable if you lick your finger each time as you flick past each note.

@LoveSpringDaffs

If you count it into their hand then they cant do any funny business or slight of hand when they count it. It would be very easy for someone to say you were £20 short if they've managed to slip £20 away whilst counting, especially if you're looking st the item.

Always count it into their hand.

Just count it in front of her. I sometimes count twice. The amount of times I've been handed cash which has been short is really quite surprising.

I moved house recently and sold a lot of things on facebook. I often found some people would stand and count out the money infront of me, to make sure they were giving me the right amount and so I could see they were.

Just count it. 8 had this once and they'd overpaid by £20,so they were happy I did.

It's okay to count it. No need to say anything.

Actually, you'll be lucky if they have it all and hand it over without trying to negotiate all over again or asking to pay in installments.

It's all sorted OP has done it!

When she arrives, ask for the money and count it in front of her then hand over the item

I sold something at 180 the other day. I didn't bother checking the money. Just took it and checked it when they left. I counted it as soon as they went out the door. Took 2 seconds and they were still outside so could have went out and spoke to them before they left. Also had 2 people over pay me for things that I've sold and had plenty of time to run out and give them their money back.

Why??

I hand people the money I know us correct. I don't need to count it again. It's up to them to count it if they want to.

I'm not a bank teller, nor dishonest.

Maybe you're honest, I wouldn't know. However bank teller is about the gold standard of cash handling and they count (or weigh) everything out, and everything in, as should everyone imo. When people deviate from obvious good practice I am suspicious

Just count it out in front of her, if it's short "sorry I think you forgot insert missing amount here" if it's correct, hand over the item. It's not rude to want to check you're not getting ripped off.

Don’t accept 50s. Count the money.

@FayKnights

If you feel embarrassed counting it, imagine how even cringier you will feel if it’s short and you need to then chase for the missing money!

Guarantee the sort of person to feel embarrassed at checking the cash would also be the sort of person to let missing cash go cos it's 'not worth the hassle of chasing it' aka afraid of conflict lol

She won’t mind your counting the money if she’s got nothing to hide