Can you divide by 2 in your head?
This post is a rant, so if you are not in the mood just skip it!This morning I entered our local supermarket and saw a large display of Easter candy and related items spread across a large table with a sign that read 75% off!
I like a bargain, so I stopped and took a look. I found some cute boxes of cookies that were originally $4.48 marked down price of $2.24.
When it rang up at that price, I mentioned to the 19 year old (-ish) cashier that $2.24 was only a 50% reduction off of $4.48, not the 75% as marked.
She looked at the item and said, "no- that is the 75% off the original price of $4.48" We went back and forth a few times and I was AMAZED that she was not able to calculate that $2.24 was 50% of $4.48. She insisted that it was 75% off of the original price of $4.48. She was very pleasant and nice about it- but she was also convinced it was the right price. She did suggest that I could talk to a manager.
Is it me?? Will this new generation not be able to do ANY math in their heads? I don't think she even knew that dividing by 2 is the same as 50%
As I said, this post is a rant -but I am curious if you have any thoughts to share. Thanks.
In case you are curious. I did not buy the cookies. We are better off not eating them, and I didn't want to wait for a manager. It was 7 AM and staffing was light, if almost not existent.
MY NOTES:
I am assuming that the sign for 75% off was recently changed from 50% off, but no one bothered to reprice the merchandise.
