Unless they are working with decimal places beyond the hundredths and it is bigger than 1000, then a calculator shouldn't be necessary. I'm all for using computers to expedite the math process (and, in fact, believe that kids should be taught to use computers in tandem with problems), but if you don't know simple arithmetic you probably shouldn't be working with money.
BUT. In defense of the cashiers, I must say that any coupon, unless it has a scannable barcode, will always add on at least another minute to the process. Its not because they can't do math, its because the coupon interrupts the thinking process and forces the person's mind to change tracks from "okay, this is the total" to "I need to do this and this and then this and finally this is the total before tax, add on the tax and this is the real total."
BUT. In defense of the cashiers, I must say that any coupon, unless it has a scannable barcode, will always add on at least another minute to the process. Its not because they can't do math, its because the coupon interrupts the thinking process and forces the person's mind to change tracks from "okay, this is the total" to "I need to do this and this and then this and finally this is the total before tax, add on the tax and this is the real total."