Calling all Canadians... what's up with this?? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JordaanDMC-12 · #1 06-04-2010, 02:57 PM

I came across this twice last night apart from the 10+ other times it's already happened and I just thought I'd ask you all..

I work at a drustore and I live in a place where we get lots of Canadians for tourism, and when they come and pay they are just flabbergasted that we don't except Canadian currency, then they go on to saying: "Well it's okay, our dollar is going to be worth more than yours soon anyway" and i'm like "okay?" and then going on to call our money funny money, I almost find it kind of rude, they act oh so nice but are so snobby....

That's how it always starts too, they walk up and in a sarcastic voice say "I take it you don't take Canadian money right?" and me thinking their just joking around/being funny because I would think they know when you visit another country you usually pay with their currency say "naw I'm sorry" and then they get all "why not???" and get all defensive about it like I just told them their money was crap or something, then they go on to the "well, ours will be worth more than yours soon".

And the reason I'm posting this is because they ALL do that, and say the exact same thing, I almost wanted to say something back yesterday but hesitated because of my job's sake. Can we go to any place in Canada and pay with American money? And even if we couldn't I think it would be fun/cool using another currency, and would't at all tell Canadians in their faces their money was "funny money" or be like "well our money is worth more than yours" it just looks bad and is rude.

So my question/s is, can we pay with American currency anywhere in Canada? or do we need to pay in Canadian? Is it just me or is it rude when they tell me how "theirs will be worth more soon", and our money is "funny money".. And it's not like I'm rude to them or anything when they come in, I usually like to ask where in Canada they're from and go on saying how I'd like to take a drive up to B.C. but when they pull that bs I'm almost sorry I was nice to them because it steams me after the 10+ times hearing all that.

TX76513 · #2 06-04-2010, 03:01 PM

Who uses cash anymore? sheesh. Just tell them you don't take cash - anyones. Debit or Credit only.

JordaanDMC-12 · #3 06-04-2010, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

Who uses cash anymore? sheesh. Just tell them you don't take cash - anyones. Debit or Credit only.

I still get people who pay with checks! and while they stand there writing it out the entire store comes and wants to check out at the same time lol

mgburg · #4 06-04-2010, 03:23 PM

Try changing the Canadians coins in at a US Bank. Better yet, call one and ask them what they would give you if you walked up to one of their windows with a sack of $20.00 of Canadian coins.

The answer?

Nothing.

I just called my bank and they told me I'd get a total of $19.16...That's $0.958/USD...but ONLY if it was Canadian PAPER DOLLARS, not the coins. They won't take the coins and they said you have every legal right to refuse the foreign currency.

You're not getting your fair market value for your product if you take one dime, nickel or penny in Canadian.

Sure, the Canadians will take the USD...no problem...they just made $0.042 off your transaction.

Remember, that's TODAY'S Exchange Rate...I can't tell you what tomorrow's may be...and it's only good if you're a member of that bank, have an account and you want to wait 'til the Federal Reserve exchanges the paper first...that's the other kicker...you have to wait 'til the Fed turns the transaction around before you get your reduced-dollar's worth.

Isn't being International fun?

BTW, the exchange rate was a lot worse for the Canadians a few years back...I remember being told by another bank that they'd only give me $0.75/USD. That was, maybe, about 5 years ago.

I guarantee you...if that gal is right about their money soon being as valuable as ours, she won't be bringing in Canadian to buy her drugs...it would be stupid on her part then.

I'm thinking I'm going to hang on to those Canadians coins a little longer...hell, the way "O" is pushing his pet projects down everyone's throat, I might exchange my greenbacks for some Cunuckbucks really soon!!!! Yah dar' hey! Doncha' know!

JordaanDMC-12 · #5 06-04-2010, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgburg

Try changing the Canadians coins in at a US Bank. Better yet, call one and ask them what they would give you if you walked up to one of their windows with a sack of $20.00 of Canadian coins.

The answer?

Nothing.

I just called my bank and they told me I'd get a total of $19.16...That's $0.958/USD...but ONLY if it was Canadian PAPER DOLLARS, not the coins. They won't take the coins and they said you have every legal right to refuse the foreign currency.

You're not getting your fair market value for your product if you take one dime, nickel or penny in Canadian.

Sure, the Canadians will take the USD...no problem...they just made $0.042 off your transaction.

Remember, that's TODAY'S Exchange Rate...I can't tell you what tomorrow's may be...and it's only good if you're a member of that bank, have an account and you want to wait 'til the Federal Reserve exchanges the paper first...that's the other kicker...you have to wait 'til the Fed turns the transaction around before you get your reduced-dollar's worth.

Isn't being International fun?

Ahhhhhh okay cool, thank you for posting this, I forgot about the coins and how our banks won't exchange them, it happened with me also when I came back from a trip to Australia and New Zealand and had all these 1$ and 5$ coins and the bank wouldn't take them.

Yes! being international is great fun! lol

kerry · #6 06-04-2010, 03:45 PM

I think most Canadian businesses accept US dollars. Hell, in India, they'll take the US dollar. Just take their dollars.

By the way, on a related topic. I have a friend who was getting pissed that every time he gave a cashier a large bill, they would pull out the detector pen and check to see if it was a forgery. He bought a detector pen. When the cashier gives him back bills, he pulls out his pen and checks them. He says most cashiers take offense.

panZZer · #7 06-08-2010, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

Who uses cash anymore? sheesh. Just tell them you don't take cash - anyones. Debit or Credit only.

A LOT more people than did before oct 2008--When reality of how people live ...set in.

Pavka007 · #8 06-04-2010, 03:05 PM

WOW, this takes me by surprise. I love BC, I use to live for some period of time in Vancouver and I find the Canadians in general as very polite people. Like every place there are some exceptions but as a whole they are great.
I don't really know what make them talk to you like that but I am really surprised.

jcyuhn · #9 06-04-2010, 03:12 PM

Many, if not most, businesses in Canada accept US currency. Your customers probably just assume the reverse is true as well, and are shocked when it is not. I grew up close enough to the border to watch curling on CBC, and back then local businesses would accept Canadian currency. Of course, that was all before the invention of credit cards

amosfella · #10 06-04-2010, 09:05 PM

I don't know a place around where I live that won't accept american currency, coins and all... However, some find it rude that you don't reciprocate...
There was a place in texas where the owner was a money collector. He would take my money for his collection, as well as just about everyone else's to the extent that he had a full collection of that country's currency...

Graplr · #11 06-04-2010, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amosfella

However, some find it rude that you don't reciprocate...

Well it's not like it is the cashier's decision to NOT take Canadian money.

TnBob · #12 06-05-2010, 01:37 AM

The unmentioned issue is going to the bank with them. I deposited some Canadian funds in mine and it took 3 weeks to get credit.

BobK · #13 06-07-2010, 08:04 AM

Years ago when Canadian money was only worth 70% or so of US, we used to get stuck with a lot of their coins. I would keep them in the car and use them in the city's parking meters. Somehow gave me a good feeling to make the city eat them since they were nailing us every chance they got.

Chas H · #14 06-04-2010, 09:23 PM

Back when I prepped race cars, we would go to Canada for the Mossport race. There's no big towns near the track so exchanging US to Canadian wasn't really possible. The food stands at the track accepted US dollars 1 for 1 for Canadian, which at the time was worth 75 cents, then give change in Canadian. We got hosed both ways.
It's not easy in the states to exchange currency and the vig to do so is high. I don't blame a business for refusing to accept Canadian currency.

t walgamuth · #15 06-04-2010, 09:59 PM

We used to go up fishing every year. Most Canadians in small towns are very very nice.

They get sick of Americans coming up and spending money like water and resent that their money is usually worth less, so when ever it is worth more you cannot blame them for being excited about it.

Just smile and explain what the store policy is.

eh?.....you hoser!