No Cents No Cents
        Symbol No Pennies


Unofficial Campaign to get rid of the 1 cent coin in Canada

Success! Canada will stop distributing the penny in the Fall 2012.

Canada penny drops in federal budget as Jim Flaherty signals end of one cent coin -- National Post April 30, 2012

Coin Info

What are we to do with the penny?
Stop asking for them. Stop accepting them. Stop giving them. Stop making them!


Some Questions about this Penny Banning Thing (FAQ)

1) Won't we get ripped off by a few cents each time we buy something? (e.g. 3.98 will become $4.00 because there are no pennies)

2) Won't merchants set their prices so that they gain 2 cents each time? Like 1.98, 3.93, every thing will end in 8 or 3.

3) What if there is no tax? Then everything will end in .98 1.98, 2.98 we will get ripped off again.

4) How do I make this work?

5) Why not just use those "give a penny, take a penny" bins?

6) What if I want my two cents?

7) Don't they owe me that change?


Some Answers to this Penny Banning Thing

1) Won't we get ripped off by a few cents each time we buy something? (e.g. 3.98 will become $4.00 because there are no pennies)

Solution: Round final purchased price (up or down) to the nearest 5 cents. This is a difference of +/- 2 cents on any transaction. Overall the difference will be zero. Gain 2 cents here, lose 2 there. It all balances out.
To illustrate:

.01 becomes .00 (- 1 cent less)
.02 becomes .00 (- 2 cents less)
.03 becomes .05 (+ 2 cents more)
.04 becomes .05 (+ 1 cent more)
.05 no pennies, it's a nickel .05

.06 becomes .05 (- 1 cent less)
.07 becomes .05 (- 2 cents less)
.08 becomes .10 (+ 2 cents more)
.09 becomes .10 (+ 1 cent more)
.10 no pennies, it's a dime .10

Coin Trivia: penny, nickel, dime, quarter are American coin names. Canadian coins are the one cent piece, 5 cent piece . . . the loonie, you get the idea.


2)Won't merchants set their prices so that they gain 2 cents each time, like 1.98, 3.93, won't every thing end in 8 or 3?

This won't happen, taxes will change the numbers. 1.98 + 15% tax = 2.28 (2.30), OK poor example. Lets try 3.93 +15% = 4.52 (4.50) OK that's better. The point is that the numbers will vary with different tax rates and different prices. It balances out in the end.
[I am told that in Austarlia some merchants list their prices with the rounding down shown.]


3) What if there is no tax? Then everything will end in .98 1.98, 2.98. Won't we get ripped off again?

If you buy more than one item 2 x.1.98 = 3.96 (3.95) the end result changes again, possibly in your favour. So the price adjusting will not occur, since it defeats itself.


4) How do I make this work?

Once this thing takes off it will be easy. Merchants would post a sign on their storefront or at the cash "No Cents" it would say. I would encourage everyone to patronize such stores. We will actively encourage all store keepers to follow this lead. Its Simple. its Cheaper, its Better. "No Cents, Makes Sense"

Consumers can participate by refusing cents, or just put them in the "give a penny, take a penny" bins.


5) Why not just use those "give a penny, take a penny" bins?

Because there is still the overhead of having pennies in the register and making change, and most people forget to give a penny. Getting rid of pennies would save the Govt. money, business money. Everyone wins when everyone knows how it works.


6) What if I want my two cents?

There will always be people who cling to the past and cents are from the past (change is as well, but that's another campaign). There used to be a half cent (when you could actually buy something with it) and hogsheads were a common unit of measurement. I feel it is time to put the penny to rest.


7) Don't they owe me that change?

Merchants are not required by law to give you change (any change) but they do so because it is good store policy.

Furthermore, merchants can refuse payment if you use more than 25 cents. You cannot pay for a 5$ purchase with cents. They can lawfully refuse it (the bad PR is another issue) And payments of more than $10 in coin (5, 10, 25, 50 cent pieces) can also be refused. Just some more coin trivia for you.


If we get rid of the cent, there will be room in the till for the 2$coin (Toonie)

You may have to forgo up to 4 cents per transaction to get this thing started. Just refuse to take any cents they give you. Leave them on the counter if you have to. I have neither given nor accepted ANY cents since November 1995.

So start now, remember to say "No Cents, please" or "No Pennies for me, thanks"


That's my $0.05 worth

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