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USPS · Money Handling and Accuracy

At the end of your shift, your cash drawer is short by a small amount. What is the BEST action?

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

Recount carefully, then report the discrepancy honestly to your supervisor and follow the established cash-handling procedures

  1. A Recount carefully, then report the discrepancy honestly to your supervisor and follow the established cash-handling procedures
  2. B Quietly add your own money to cover it and say nothing
  3. C Take a little extra next time to make up for it
  4. D Blame a coworker

Why this is the answer

Cash handling integrity is critical in a retail role, and the exam tests honesty directly. The best response to a drawer discrepancy is to recount carefully and then report it honestly to a supervisor, following the established cash-handling procedures. Secretly covering the shortage, planning to take extra later, or blaming a coworker are all integrity failures — even quietly covering a shortage with your own money conceals a discrepancy that procedures require be reported and investigated. The VEA strongly screens for honesty in money handling, so transparent, by-the-book reporting is always the strongest choice.
Source: USPS 477 VEA — Cash Handling Integrity

Practice more questions

This question is from our USPS Exam Practice Tests practice test. Take the full practice test to test your knowledge across all Money Handling and Accuracy and other topics.

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About this topic: Money Handling and Accuracy

Money handling items assess accuracy and honesty with cash, change and transactions. Double-checking and following cash procedures are consistently the expected answers. This is one of 8 VEA 477 (Customer Service) questions on money handling and accuracy, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our USPS exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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