September 18, 2025 at 8:45 pm

Customer Found A Clever Loophole At The Self Checkout, And The Store Ran Out Of Cash Before The Clock Even Struck Noon

by Benjamin Cottrell

man holding a wad of cash

Pexels/Reddit

People will always find creative ways to save a buck, and sometimes it’s at the store’s expense.

So during one routine shift, one clever customer hopped from one self-checkout to another to withdraw cash without the usual fees, leaving the machines bone-dry.

And the employee couldn’t help but admire the customer’s ingenuity.

Read on for the full story!

Played self checkout for an ATM

Back in the bad old days when I worked retail, cashier at an everything store, I was in charge of self-checkout one day.

It was early, nothing going on, few customers.

But that’s when something peculiar unfolded right before the employee’s eyes.

A guy with a half-full cart came into self-checkout and scanned… one item. He paid for it and got cash back.

He scanned another item, paid, and, you guessed it, got cash back again. After a few times, he moved registers. Same thing.

This employee didn’t even know what to do.

The guy visited at least three before finishing. I didn’t say anything about it to him because, as far as I know, there hadn’t been a rule against it.

But I was told not to allow that in the future. Three machines had to close all morning until the cash could be refilled.

This isn’t an ATM, sir!

Redditors chime in with their thoughts.

This feels like a “phone a friend” type situation.

Screenshot 2025 08 25 at 3.31.52 PM Customer Found A Clever Loophole At The Self Checkout, And The Store Ran Out Of Cash Before The Clock Even Struck Noon

One particular detail sticks out for this user.

Screenshot 2025 08 25 at 3.32.20 PM Customer Found A Clever Loophole At The Self Checkout, And The Store Ran Out Of Cash Before The Clock Even Struck Noon

This commenter can’t decide whether to fault the customer for simply using his resources.

Screenshot 2025 08 25 at 3.33.18 PM Customer Found A Clever Loophole At The Self Checkout, And The Store Ran Out Of Cash Before The Clock Even Struck Noon

This user has attempted something similar in the past.

Screenshot 2025 08 25 at 3.33.56 PM Customer Found A Clever Loophole At The Self Checkout, And The Store Ran Out Of Cash Before The Clock Even Struck Noon

If there’s one clear lesson in retail jobs, it’s to always expect the unexpected.

If you liked that post, check this one about a guy who got revenge on his condo by making his own Christmas light rules.

Benjamin Cottrell | Assistant Editor, Internet Culture

Benjamin Cottrell is an Assistant Editor and contributing writer at TwistedSifter, specializing in internet culture, viral social dynamics, and the moral complexities of online communities. He brings a highly analytical, editorial voice to his reporting on workplace conflicts, malicious compliance, and interpersonal drama, with a specific focus on nuanced stories that lack an obvious villain.

As a published author of rhetorical criticism, Benjamin leverages his academic background in human communication to dissect and elevate viral social media threads. Instead of simply summarizing events, he provides readers with balanced, deep-dive commentary into why the internet reacts the way it does. In addition to his cultural reporting, he is an experienced fine art photography essayist and video game reviewer.

When he isn’t analyzing the latest viral debates, Benjamin is usually chipping away at his extensive video game backlog, hunting down the best new restaurants, or out exploring the city with a camera in hand.

Connect with Benjamin on Instagram and read more of his essays on Substack.