While in JA, I try my best to avoid any establishment that post their prices in US $ only.
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While in JA, I try my best to avoid any establishment that post their prices in US $ only.
lmao!Quote:
Originally Posted by limo mon
[QUOTE=rastagirl777;29771]"I'm a firm proponent of changing your money to local currency no matter what.
I thought the same , but after my last 2 trips I'm not that firm about it. Like I post before for me its seems best to take small U.S. dollars.
The next time you encounter that situation, ask them for the exchange rate that they use. If you have your cellphone - use the calculator feature on it or ask them to use their calculator if you dont have a cell phone. Then apply the exchange rate that they offer - and pay accordingly. If It does sound like if they "cant explain it" - then they may indeed be applying the calculation wrong. In otherwords - it may be a simple mistake.Quote:
Originally Posted by Limo Mon
I have received incorrect bills every now and then, and if I feel like it is anything to be worried about, then I do the calculations myself. If the bill is wrong, I simply show them the results and always end up paying the correct amount. But to be honest - in the situaiton described above with the coffee - I wouldnt think twice about paying either $120j or $140j cause I would probably give them $150j and say keep the change... at most we are talking about an error of twenty cents in us$....
This isn't about what you would pay or I would pay we had 2 cups coffee and left them 500J's. The point is they beat the J's up its no mistake . Lets say old days red stripe 1 U.S. dollar or 50 J's with street rate of 60 to 1 they never pull out calculator, you say paying in J's they say give me 50 you say U.S. they say 1 dollar. you make out paying in J's be it 10 or 20 cents its adds up over days. Now days street rate 80 to 1 , buy something priced at 10 U.S. dollars it should cost me 800 J's but they say no 950 if paying in J's. Now tell me that's not beating up your own dollars? So when you pay them in J's the rate is 95 to 1 but they tell you no. Like I said this happened more then once and at more then 1 place. You can walk to most beach places order 2 beers and they need get the calculator to figure out how much in J's . That never use to be like that even when prices where in J's. I see it as A calculator beaten not a mistake.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob
Limo Mon,
Please let me know where they have an exchange rate of 95 to 1 for us$ - I would love to go there and make a deal with them for all the us$ I can find! No problem!
I do not know of any "street rate" being 80 to 1, the street rate I am familiar with is 85 to 1. For certain places, they do have their own exchange rates and they are often posted somewhere on the property. You pay whatever the establishment has as their exchange rate - you cannot assume any "street rate" applies to a given business.
I am confused as to why you had what you described happen at more than 1 place. In all my years here - using up to 4 different currencies, I have never experienced this happening. And there are very few places in Negril that I have not been.
So please, do not feel hesitant to let us all know where we can get 95 to 1 for the us$.
You wont get that rate you have to pay that rate I think you miss my point. It's like im in the U.S. and buying something for 1 dollar and I want to pay in J's they want 95 J's I can see that but I'm not in the U.S. I'm in Jamaica . If you want to exchange U.S. you get 75 to 1 so Rob you cant make no dollars thats why its a beat up and when I say street rate of 80 last week most places be it jerk cart or beach resort it was 80 some 82 to 1 . Cambio was 84 to 1 last week. Maybe they seen me coming and gave special rates. but around town its was 80 to 1Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob
Rob so you understand If i buy something for 10 U.S. dollars in Jamaica and give them a U.S. 20 my change is 10 U.S. but they so no we give you change in J's and only give me 750J's. Then if I buy something for 10 U.S. dollars while in Jamaica and pay in J's they want 950 J's.
?? I am confused. I have never experienced what you describe I mostly use JDs in Negril but when I use USD I always receive the correct change (usually the going exchange rate 84 or 85 to $1US). If I pay for a meal listed at $10 - I give them $850J or if I pay with a US$20 they give me back $850J. I usually calculate myself but when I ask them how much in Js its always the going rate and trus me I watch every dollar regardless of US or J. It sucks if someone is trying to take advantage of you - maybe they are adding in a service tax or something?????
Not so for me last 2 trips previous trips it was like posted, I liked when all prices where in J's and I exchange my U.S. for J's and paid in J's that wasnt so at most places on the beach this trips some the last but more this time. Another poster post about the same treatment. Cambio was at 84 most place are lower then that I didnt see the 85 to 1 you talk about in places on beach and cliffs or at the cambio. 80 norm some 82 to, but when they price in U.S. now and you pay in J's you dont get the 80 to 1 they say its 82 to 1 but they give 75 percent of the exchange so its not 82 to 1. Thats what they figure out on the calculators now a days never seen calculator so much even when buy 2 beers or 1 beer 1 coke they get the calculator out when im paying in J's while in Jamaica why? Its there dollar I'm paying with.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sweetness