Criag123,Originally Posted by Craig123
You are not striking a nerve, I am just trying to correct inaccuracies. In your first post you state some businesses here "insist" on being paid in US$. That is illegal. ALL Jamaican businesses must accept Jamaican dollars. With about 70% of all visitors to the island being from the US$, bills are often presented in US$ as a convenience to 70% of Jamaica's visitors. If the JA$ amount is not on the bill, just ask them for it as you intend to pay in Jamaican dollars. We deal with this often in bars or restaurants in other parts of the island. And yes, they assume Lisa/Bnewb is American.
You then say that if a visitor pays in Jamaican currency they always get the "short end". That is not accurate. If a visitor or local pays in the Jamaican dollar, they never get the "short end". Visitors and locals will always get the best value possible by paying in Jamaican dollars.
Now about this extra "layer" of conversion for Canadians. Lisa is Canadian understands the Canadian perspective intimately. There is no need for any non-American to have any US$ on them at any time. Canadians and visitors from the European Union, Britain, Russia, Japan, Cayman Island, Mexico, Brazil and even Greece (grin), etc. can change their local currency at the cambio or bank into the Jamaican local currency and get the best deal possible.
You admit you always pay in JA$. That is smart advice for everyone to follow as paying in any other currency you will not get the going cambio/bank rate. The exchange rate you get from the bar or restaurant will have a convenience charge as businesses are doing this as service for their clients and not acting as a cambio.
