Do any US stores accept foreign currency?
#16
Re: Do any US stores accept foreign currency?
One of the younger girls I used to work with, as I was explaining about the different names for English money, thought I said "squid" and went "eeeewwww!" She's the same one who asked me what language they spoke in England! Poor soul - although she was a sweet girl, she had no clue whatsoever of life beyond Memphis!
#17
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: Do any US stores accept foreign currency?
That is actually quite a good one
#18
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Eugene, OR
Posts: 1,352
Re: Do any US stores accept foreign currency?
When I went to Ireland for the first time in 2003 I bought some Euros from my bank to take with me. It was a special order and took a week to get in.
My grandmother has successfully paid with dollars overseas twice that I know of. Once in Italy (I quizzed her on the Euro price and the guy actually gave her a fair deal) and once in London at a craft show, but the seller was very pleased to get dollars as he was planning to go to America later that year! And again it was a fair exchange rate.
My grandmother has successfully paid with dollars overseas twice that I know of. Once in Italy (I quizzed her on the Euro price and the guy actually gave her a fair deal) and once in London at a craft show, but the seller was very pleased to get dollars as he was planning to go to America later that year! And again it was a fair exchange rate.
#19
Re: Do any US stores accept foreign currency?
A few stores up in northern Maine accept Canadian dollars, but then they're on the border.
Not seen any of the big stores around here do that though.
Not seen any of the big stores around here do that though.
#20
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,847
Re: Do any US stores accept foreign currency?
Hmm - discovered over the weekend that a local Fry's Food store doesn't seem to take US cash here - other than bills and quarters... Had to take most of contents of piggy bank (well, hippo bank!) back home!
HTS
HTS
#21
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,453
Re: Do any US stores accept foreign currency?
There must be significantly less demand for using foreign currency abroad than there was years ago, since presumably people either use their credit card or debit card for purchases, or (when they arrive in the foreign country) they get a moderate sum from an ATM for small purchases. We visit Canada frequently since we live near the border, and we always keep $100 or so in Canadian currency.. plus a change purse full of Canadian change, much of it collected inadvertently in the US! Sometimes several trips go by and we've not spent any Canadian money, because we've simply used the debit and credit cards..
EDIT: Having said that, an amazingly high proportion of Americans seem to be tinfoil hat types who never use cards, always cash, because they are afraid of the United Nations tracking their movements and purchases etc. Mind you they are the type of people who would never travel abroad.
EDIT: Having said that, an amazingly high proportion of Americans seem to be tinfoil hat types who never use cards, always cash, because they are afraid of the United Nations tracking their movements and purchases etc. Mind you they are the type of people who would never travel abroad.
Last edited by robin1234; Aug 29th 2011 at 6:16 pm. Reason: rambling on.
#22
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Eugene, OR
Posts: 1,352
Re: Do any US stores accept foreign currency?
I enjoy using the Self Checkout machines to get rid of my collections of pennies and nickels.
#23
Account Closed
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 0
Re: Do any US stores accept foreign currency?
Some places in Bellingham will accept Canadian $$ but they will not give a good exchange rate and your better off getting US $ before leaving or using a credit card.
There was a Wal-Mart in South San Diego near the Mexican border that at one time would accept Mexican peso's but haven't been there in years and not sure if they still do.
On the flip side, most major retailers in Canada will accept US currency.
There was a Wal-Mart in South San Diego near the Mexican border that at one time would accept Mexican peso's but haven't been there in years and not sure if they still do.
On the flip side, most major retailers in Canada will accept US currency.
#24
Account Closed
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 928
Re: Do any US stores accept foreign currency?
If banks don't sell foreign currency, where do you get it? Pretty sure DH got his sterling from a bank in his area (town just outside Boston) when he used to come here. Although he may have had to order it.
#25
Re: Do any US stores accept foreign currency?
I've never seen a stores accept foreign currency, but I don't live near to the US border either. But when I was in South Africa, they were keen to get their hands on some of my dollars. I always wonder what they would do with it? Surely USD can't have much monetary value outside the US, or am I naive in thinking that?
#26
Account Closed
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 928
Re: Do any US stores accept foreign currency?
I go to the ATM when I arrive. Its a whole heck of a lot easier & quicker to get it once I arrive, than try to get it from my local bank branch before the flight.
I've never seen a stores accept foreign currency, but I don't live near to the US border either. But when I was in South Africa, they were keen to get their hands on some of my dollars. I always wonder what they would do with it? Surely USD can't have much monetary value outside the US, or am I naive in thinking that?
I've never seen a stores accept foreign currency, but I don't live near to the US border either. But when I was in South Africa, they were keen to get their hands on some of my dollars. I always wonder what they would do with it? Surely USD can't have much monetary value outside the US, or am I naive in thinking that?
#27
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,453
Re: Do any US stores accept foreign currency?
I go to the ATM when I arrive. Its a whole heck of a lot easier & quicker to get it once I arrive, than try to get it from my local bank branch before the flight.
I've never seen a stores accept foreign currency, but I don't live near to the US border either. But when I was in South Africa, they were keen to get their hands on some of my dollars. I always wonder what they would do with it? Surely USD can't have much monetary value outside the US, or am I naive in thinking that?
I've never seen a stores accept foreign currency, but I don't live near to the US border either. But when I was in South Africa, they were keen to get their hands on some of my dollars. I always wonder what they would do with it? Surely USD can't have much monetary value outside the US, or am I naive in thinking that?
#28
Re: Do any US stores accept foreign currency?
Now, compare and contrast with the time I was going to England and had to change my NI banknotes to Bank of England notes because they aren't accepted (or at least weren't at the time) there even though (as a nice bloke in Scotland pointed out to his employee when I was buying fags) they quite clearly say 'Pounds Sterling' on them.
That said, in the eight years I lived in England, I don't think anyone ever refused to take an NI note from me. They usually just looked a bit confused. To save any hassle, whenever I had notes on me after a trip home I would mostly just use them in the self-service machines in Tesco, which are of course set up to take notes from all over the UK.
#29
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: Do any US stores accept foreign currency?
Have you ever seen this?: http://youtube.com/watch?v=gx-a5rYIAOM It's about Scottish money, but the same principle applies and it cracks me up because it's so true!
That said, in the eight years I lived in England, I don't think anyone ever refused to take an NI note from me. They usually just looked a bit confused. To save any hassle, whenever I had notes on me after a trip home I would mostly just use them in the self-service machines in Tesco, which are of course set up to take notes from all over the UK.
That said, in the eight years I lived in England, I don't think anyone ever refused to take an NI note from me. They usually just looked a bit confused. To save any hassle, whenever I had notes on me after a trip home I would mostly just use them in the self-service machines in Tesco, which are of course set up to take notes from all over the UK.
Sometimes I miss the variation in the banknotes out here that we had back home.
#30
Re: Do any US stores accept foreign currency?
I never had the chance to be actually refused, as I had changed all my notes to BoE before I left, based on stories from other people. I was questioned in Scotland, as mentioned, but the owner of the shop explained why they could be accepted.
Sometimes I miss the variation in the banknotes out here that we had back home.
Sometimes I miss the variation in the banknotes out here that we had back home.
My personal favourite was the plastic Northern Bank fiver, although I imagine it *would* have been hard to get that accepted in GB given how crazy it looked. Not sure if they still make it anymore.