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Aster's avatar

Was this postmaster out of line to do this to a biker?

Asked by Aster (20023points) November 2nd, 2020
22 responses
“Great Question” (0points)

I went to the small town where my daughter lives but first to the post office. This unkempt man with shoulder length blonde hair pulled up on a motorcycle and gave the postmaster some money. Afterwards we had to stand there endlessly while the postmaster held the money up to the light. In fact, it was such a sad and annoying scene I walked out. Was this unforgivable behavior or warranted? The entire town revolves around church attendance.

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Answers

Darth_Algar's avatar

Sounds like he was checking for counterfeit bills. It’s a pretty common practice these days for retailers to check bills that are $20 or larger. It has nothing to do with the motorcycle, the man’s hair or church attendance in your town.

Dutchess_III's avatar

They do it to me all the time.

ragingloli's avatar

Biker gangs are known criminal organisations.
It was entirely reasonable.

Dutchess_III's avatar

Especially long haired hippy type pinko fag bikers.

Nomore_lockout's avatar

@Dutchess_III LOL A lot of people still have that attitude, too.

Dutchess_III's avatar

@Nomore….I know. >_<

Darth_Algar's avatar

Couple of years back there was a hellacious fight between dozens of Hells Angels and Outlaws (the two gangs have been beefing with each other for decades) at a bar here in my town. Fortunately pulled out anything worse than their fists, but still…

I noticed after that all the bars around town started taking down their “bikers welcome” signs.

doyendroll's avatar

“In fact, it was such a sad and annoying scene I walked out. Was this unforgivable behavior or warranted?”

It was noteworthy.

MrGrimm888's avatar

There’s too much unknown information here.
First off. Was this biker “flying colors?” In other words, was he wearing a vest, with patches?
For example, a %1 patch.
That indicates that he is part of a criminal organization.

Patches, are like certain tattoos. They have a meaning, and are generally earned.

This could have been an informed worker, or a prejudiced worker.

And, another example. What did the bill look like?

There are many variables, not mentioned….

LadyMarissa's avatar

In my town, it doesn’t matter IF you’re the Pastor of the most prominent church, your bill is going to be held up to the light to verify that it’s not counterfeit & then they are going to mark it with a pen to double verify that it is good. Hell, they’ve gotten to where they even check the $1 bills. One of our banks had given out counterfeit bills to one of our more prominent citizens & then they didn’t want to make it good because she had left the location & couldn’t prove that they were the ones who gave it to her. The town was all a twitter for several weeks over that one.

tedibear's avatar

@LadyMarissa – The town needed to de-twitter and be logical. There was no way for the bank to know which bills they gave the customer. It wasn’t about them not wanting to “make it good,” it was about being able to prove what happened.

If the post office wanted be super safe, they would invest in a counterfeit detection scanner. The pens only catch about 65% of counterfeit bills, so they are only one tool.

MrGrimm888's avatar

^There was a scheme, several years ago, where the countifit bills were were $1 bills changed into $20 bills. So. The pens, wouldn’t work.
Just saying.

tedibear's avatar

@MrGrimm888 , that still happens. This is why tellers are taught to count by the faces on the bills, not the numbers. I had a customer with a deli who got ripped off this way twice. I gave him pictures and names of the dead guys so his cashiers knew who to look for.

MrGrimm888's avatar

^Yup. There’s a lot to look for…

Dutchess_III's avatar

I’ve been a teller. We were not taught to look at the faces rather than the denominations.

MrGrimm888's avatar

^Most current bills, have things that you can only see by holding them up to light.
Older bills, don’t.
It is a more modern way, to determine fraudulent currency.

tedibear's avatar

@Dutchess_III – I’ve worked for four banks and have always been taught to look at the faces instead of the denominations. Not saying everyone teaches it that way, just that’s what I’ve learned and what seems to make sense.

@MrGrimm888 – yes, some of the features are very interesting. This video is relevant.

Dutchess_III's avatar

when I was a teller it was in the 90s. Things may have changed.

ragingloli's avatar

Back then you also had to bite coins, to see if they are actually gold plated lead coins.

Dutchess_III's avatar

Did not Raggy!

tedibear's avatar

That’s when I started in banking – the 90’s. Different banks have different training.

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