In the Heartlands
5-cent coins still money, so why HarbourFront news stand rejects them?

When STOMPer Sim tried to buy newspapers from a news stand at HarbourFront Interchange, she was left puzzled as the vendor rejected the five-cent coins she handed over, claiming that the coins were not an acceptable mode of payment.

It was as if the newspaper vendor did not consider a five-cent coin as an authentic form of money, she says.

In an email dated November 17, Sim says:

"Today, I went to HarbourFront Bus Interchange Newspaper Shop to buy Chinese newspapers and it cost $0.80.

"I gave the seller one 50-cent coin, one 20-cent coin and two five-cent coins.

"The seller rejected my five-cents. He told me that five-cents was not excepted in newspaper shop.

"I'm curious because a five-cent coin is also money. Why he didn't he want to accept it?"

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18 comments
xoxohuda said   on 17 Jun, 2010   Report as offensive  
I had a similar experience at Hougang bus interchange Buzz stand. I have been waiting for the bus for ten minutes and I felt thirsty so I decided to buy a bottled drink. I got out of the queue and bought the drink which cost $1.30. I gave a dollar coin, one 10 cents coin and four 5 cents coin. The cashier refused to take my 5 cents coin and I had no other coins with me. At that point of time my bus came so I rushed and gave her $2 note. She gave me change but by then I had missed my bus and had to wait another 15 minutes. What I thought would be a quick transaction had made me missed my bus and waste my time.
papardumz said   on 22 Nov, 2009   Report as offensive  
It legal tender. Legal. Make a police report.
novaman_sg said   on 20 Nov, 2009   Report as offensive  
Please dont miss the point. Stomper said two 5-cents coin. Not 16 or higher hypothetical numbers. So, vendor should not have problem accepting the coins. My neighbourhood shop-n-save accepts the four 5-cent coins that I gave.
aries181818 said   on 19 Nov, 2009   Report as offensive  
dun buy lor....simple as dat!!!! Its also to teach that stupid salesman a lesson too!!!
gracesccc said   on 19 Nov, 2009   Report as offensive  
Maybe a one sided story.If u pay me 80cents,with 16pc of 5cts,then naturally i too will b unhappy,though i'm fully aware its legal tender till $2.00,However,if its true about ur story,u pay only with two 5cts,then nobody can reject u..just nobody dare!if he don't want 2answer 2majistrate judges. RELAX! like me,as long as u know u do nobody harm..
jiulongzi said   on 19 Nov, 2009   Report as offensive  
5 cents used to be able to buy food etc but not know? simple, means we are in inflation, price of everything is inflated, so it render the 5cents worthless, have seen many ppl throw them away oso. but keep them and monopolise them, somday, when the market is short of 5cents, you can sell them at a higher price! reverse the adverse correct!
waitrose said   on 19 Nov, 2009   Report as offensive  
Well. Stomper Sim should ask himself. Would he have like it if the shop gave him those 5-cent coins as change?
wherewillyoube said   on 19 Nov, 2009   Report as offensive  
How many times to vendors have to be reminded that 5 cent coins are still declared as legal tender by the government and by law, it's illegal to refuse to accept legal tender for payments.