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While waiting in line at a Shanghai department store to pay for her clothes, Shen Jie just felt it was unfair that the cashier was using a machine to check if customers' money is genuine, but customers can't check the change they receive from the store.
"It's not that I doubt the notes are real, it's just unfair for us customers," said Shen, 31.
Apparently, she isn't the only person concerned with the problem.
After receiving complaints about the issue, the Shanghai Commercial Commission is pushing local department stores to take steps allowing customers to check their bank notes in the store, said spokesman Zhu Chenggang.
"To satisfy customers in the city and further raise service standards, the commission is going to suggest big department stores offer such a service," said the spokesman.
While the recommendation, which will be published following Spring Festival, carries no legal weight, stores are expected to follow the directive.
The commission will ask all local retailers, including major department stores and shopping centers, to allow customers to check their bank notes at cash registers, or set up one examination machine just for customers.
"It's nice," said Long Hua, a 28-year-old white-collar worker.
"It means the government is thinking about consumers, and not just worried about making money."
Retailers are less pleased.
"I don't think there is much need for the customers to check their bills," said Zhou Yumin, a manager staff with the New World City.
Almost all local shopping centers and stores have installed scanning machines to check counterfeit currency; however, the figure is not available of how many fake notes were seized in the city last year.
(eastday.com January 8, 2003)
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